On all of the tobacco tags I have ever seen, the little prongs are pointed
to facilitate pushing them into either a plank or single plug of tobacco.
I have seen several tobacco planks which had the tags stuck in them evey
few inches.  The more tobacco you purchased, the more redeeemable tags you
collected.  I have seen little "do-dahs"  (technical term) which are small
metal plates with some form of square or rectangular shaped prongs which
are inserted into slots on another object and then folded in from the rear.
These are usually a manufacturer identification tag on some object like an
electrical box.  At least, that is the only example I am SURE that I have
seen.  Not a common way of applying identification to an object since it
requires a seperate step in manufacture.

Smoke


Smoke (Michael A.) Pfeiffer, RPA
Ozark-St. Francis National Forests
605 West Main Street
Russellville, Arkansas 72801
(479) 968-2354  Ext. 233
e-mail:  [log in to unmask]

It is easier to get forgiveness than permission.




                      Carl Steen
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                      Sent by:                 Subject: "PLUG" Tobacco Tins and now tags
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                      04/21/2003 12:50
                      PM
                      Please respond
                      to HISTORICAL
                      ARCHAEOLOGY






I'm going to show my ignorance here. I have a small oval tag (22x17mm) with
two small ears on the back for attachment (by sticking them into the tagged
item). The front is stamped "Magic." Is this a plug tobacco tag? Turn of
the 20th century context. thanks, Carl Steen