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In 1847, almost by accident,
Tom Smith invented the cracker. It was a simple
idea, which became an integral part of British celebration
and tradition, which still continues today, 150
years on. In it's simple form a cracker is a small
cardboard tube covered in a brightly colored twist
of paper.
When
the cracker is 'pulled' by two people, each holding
one end of the twisted paper, the friction creates
a small explosive 'pop' produced by a narrow strip
of chemically impregnated paper. The cardboard tube
tumbles a bright paper hat, a small gift, a balloon
and a motto or joke.
At
the turn of the century, Tom Smith produced crackers
not only for the Christmas season but also to celebrate
every major occasion from The Paris Exhibition in
1900 to War Heroes in 1918 and The World Tour in
1926 of Prince Edward, The Prince of Wales.
Contents
were tailored to each box; grotesque or artistic
masks, puzzles, conundrums, tiny treasures, jewels,
games and mottoes, and most of the beautifully illustrated
boxes, crackers and hats, from fezzes to sheiks''
head dresses, were made by hand. The fully illustrated
catalogues, which date back to 1877, provide an
exceptional visual history of British social and
political evolvement over an entire century.
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