Cooke's of Coventry c.1898

Does anyone have any information about Cooke's of Coventry. They were a tobacco, cigar and cigarette company that were in operation at the end of the 19th century. I have a match striker advertising the company, that was made in 1898. Cigar brands mentioned are - Godiva Specials, Marian Rothchilds and Villamala Londres. I would appreciate any information or facts about this company that you may know. Thank you. Alan

Hello tobaccoman, so it was you who bought it on eBay in Sept. David Cooke, 81, Far Gosford St. Tobacco/cigar manufacturer and employer. Do not know if this is the same David Cooke but I think it might be. David Cooke chairman of Cov City, received a life ban for fixing a football match between Cov and Bury. Ban, 1923. He remained a benefactor to Cov City until his death and wrote off all debts to City to the tune of £7,380 in his will. Hope this helps.

Hi mattash, thank you for responding, yes it was me who bought this match striker. I have been trying to find out about this company ever since but have found it difficult. After exhausting the tobacco records I thought I would try the Coventry contacts. It would seem that the David Cooke you mention could be the one who was chairman of Coventry City, at least it gives me something to work on. Thank you.

Hi, Cookes Tobacco, Cigar and Cigarette Company - 7, Smithford St, Coventry. 1890 directory. Cheers.

Hi to you both & hi all I remember a match striker patent row when Swan Vesta & Morelands were fighting over control. Was it known as the ever-ready match? Edited by member, 31st Dec 2013 5:36 pm

Thanks for this information, please can you tell me what directory you are referring to. Regards

Sorry, don't know the answer to your question. Regards

Sorry Philip but this is a "Match holder and striker" ceramic bowl. If Tobaccoman would care to put a photo on it would help everyone. Sorry, brain not working right, This image care off eBay. Erase if you have to. Tobaccoman, Historical Directories=Location=Warwickshire=Bennett's=(sorry, 1914)=Image 33

Hi & thank you, Someone invented a device that looked like a matchbox, that when you opened it, there was a copper match on a chain, which you lit like an ordinary match by striking it along the hand held box, it had lighter fuel inside it. Fearful that it would end match production, Morelands paid a fortune to buy the patent, so preventing its wholesale production. By the time the patent expired, petrol lighters had been introduced. I think! (I only know of this because it was part of patent study in my Business Studies) Edited by member, 31st Dec 2013 6:48 pm

David Cooke CCFC even if the name is spelt wrong on photo, I have more info on him later

David Cooke CCFC Chairman was a local tobacconist who had launched a brand called 'Three Cups Tobacco' prior to becoming chairman.

The shop most people knew as Godiva Newsagents in Hales Street was owned by "Cooks Tobacco Co." although that might be an official misprint? They had a registered office in Enterprise House, Albany Road. It was part of the "Orr & Philpott" cinema and retail chain.

David Cooke was involved in the Coventry City scandal. Season 1891-92 saw Singers FC as the proud holders of three cups; The Birmingham, The Walsall, and The Wednesbury. A local man David Cooke - later to become chairman - launched '3 Cups Tobacco' to celebrate the event. The season of 1919-1920 saw off-field events bringing Coventry City into the news. The club were in their first league season and they were next to bottom with three games left to play. Two of these games were against Bury. Coventry drew 2-2 at Bury and won the final game 2-1 meaning that Lincoln dropped out of the league instead of Coventry. It took three years for the story to emerge but, in March 1923, an FA commission concluded that 'an arrangement was made between Bury and Coventry City, allowing the latter to win'. Ten officials, including Coventry Chairman David Cooke, were banned from football for life. This does not seem to have stopped Cooke continuing as a benefactor to the club as, at his death in 1932, his will wrote-off club debts to the tune of £7,380. This season also saw a couple of other club records set. The team failed to collect a point until 18 October when they drew 0-0 with Fulham. They did not win a match until Christmas Day, when they beat Stoke 3-2, a run of 19 games without a victory. They also went the equivalent of 11 games, 997 minutes, without scoring, which is believed to still be a league record. Edited by member, 6th Jan 2014 10:58 pm

Thanks to everyone who has supplied information to my original enquiry about Cooke's of Coventry, the tobacco, cigar and cigarette manufacturer. Unfortunately, despite all the kind response, I am no nearer to finding any evidence of this company's existence, other than the name on the match striker in my possesion. Any more details about this company would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Tobaccoman There are several references to Cooke's Tobacco Co. on the online newspaper site in the Coventry Evening Telegraph but all in 1916. There are a lot of adverts for staff, mostly travellers and the addresses given are 8 Cross Cheaping and High Street. On the 24/10/1916 they announced that in view of the very early closing they would remain open at lunch time. In February 1916 due to the prohibition of the import of tobacco David Cooke undertook to supply cigarettes to prisoners of war at cost until the end of the war with free labour, packing, paper & string. There are several adverts for selling packing cases. I can find no adverts that refer to manufacture of cigarettes or for staff except for women packers. In 1891 he is living at 81 Far Gosford Street and calls himself a tobacco and cigar manufacturer but in 1901 and 1911 calls himself a tobacco, cigar and cigarette merchant. In 1911 he is living at "Queenswood", 7 Park Road Edited by member, 12th Jan 2014 3:35 pm