BrandBenson and Hedges U.S.A.

History

Benson and Hedges, who started their tobacco business in London, England, began to expand overseas with the opening of a branch in New York City in 1899. Their factory was established at 32, West 18th Street, and they also had a retail location near the corner of 5th Avenue and 39th Street from 1906 to 1950. During this period, Benson and Hedges specialized in making premium cigarettes using various blends of tobacco from around the world. A particularily unique creation of theirs from this period was Parliament cigarettes, a brand which featured a recessed filter mouthpiece, which is still made today.

In 1928, the parent company sold their American subsidiary to a group of American interests (among whom included Hitt, Farwell & Company, and the Murray Hill Trust Company). The next major change came in 1954, when Benson and Hedges U.S.A. was bought by and merged with Philip Morris. Philip Morris has kept the Benson and Hedges name alive over the succeeding years; it is credited with starting the 100 millimetre cigarette craze when Benson and Hedges 100's were introduced with a unique ad campaign in 1966 ("Oh, the disadvantages of the new Benson and Hedges").

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Cigarette Packs

Pre-1954 Brands

• Benson and Hedges Gardenia (design 1) S-10-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Gardenia (design 2) S-10-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Magnolia S-10-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Old Gubek No. 1 Cork S-10-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Russian S-10-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Russian No. 3 Plain (design 1a) S-10-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Russian No. 3 Plain (design 1b) S-10-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Russian No. 3 Gold Tip S-10-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Russian No. 5 S-10-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Turkish Crown Gold S-10-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Turkish No. 1 [Plain] (design 1) S-10-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Turkish No. 1 Plain (design 2) S-10-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Turkish No. 1 Gold S-10-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Turkish No. 15 (design 1a) S-10-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges [Turkish] No. 15 (design 1b) S-10-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Virginia Oval Cork S-10-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Watermark S-10-B - U.S.A.

Post-1954 Brands

• Benson and Hedges Filter Mouthpiece [Originally 'Parliament'] KS-20-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges de Luxe S-20-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges de Luxe KS-20-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Filter Mouthpiece KS-20-B - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Filter KS-20-H - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Special Kings KS-20-H - U.S.A.

• Benson and Hedges Special Kings Menthol KS-20-H - U.S.A.

• Benson and Hedges 100's (version 1a) L-20-H - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges 100's (version 1a) L-20-S - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges 100's (version 1b) L-20-H - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges 100's (version 1b) L-20-S - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges 100's (version 2) L-20-H - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges 100's (version 2) L-20-S - U.S.A.

• Benson and Hedges Menthol 100's (version 1a) L-20-H - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Menthol 100's (version 1a) L-20-S - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Menthol 100's (version 1b) L-20-H - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Menthol 100's (version 1b) L-20-S - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Menthol 100's (version 2) L-20-H - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Menthol 100's (version 2) L-20-S - U.S.A.

• Benson and Hedges Special Kings Lights KS-20-H - U.S.A.

• Benson and Hedges Lights 100's (version 1) L-20-S - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Lights 100's (version 2a) L-20-H - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Lights 100's (version 2b) L-20-H - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Lights 100's (version 2b) L-20-S - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Lights 100's (version 3) L-20-H - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Lights 100's (version 3) L-20-S - U.S.A.

• Benson and Hedges Menthol Lights 100's (version 1) L-20-S - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Menthol Lights 100's (version 2) L-20-H - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Menthol Lights 100's (version 2) L-20-S - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Menthol Lights 100's (version 3) L-20-H - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges Menthol Lights 100's (version 3) L-20-S - U.S.A.

• Benson and Hedges de Luxe Ultra Lights (version 1a) L-20-H - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges de Luxe Ultra Lights (version 1b) L-20-H - U.S.A.

• Benson and Hedges de Luxe Menthol Ultra Lights (version 1a) L-20-H - U.S.A.
• Benson and Hedges de Luxe Menthol Ultra Lights (version 1b) L-20-H - U.S.A.

• Benson and Hedges De-Nic KS-20-H - U.S.A.

Vintage Advertising Links

• Benson and Hedges 100's T.V. cigarette ads

See Also

Other "B" Brand cigarettes