The Samuel I. Davis Company was a large business that at one time had factories in New York City, West Tampa and Key West.
Based out of New York City, the Davis Brothers always did well as cigar makers. In 1904, they made a decision to build a factory for themselves in West Tampa. They manufactured cigars at this factory until 1910 when there was a fire that caused quite a bit of damage. After the fire, this building would be purchased by the Balbin Bros. Company and that is who the building is mostly remembered for.
Needing a new location, the company moved to 900 N. Howard Ave in West Tampa and stayed there for the rest of the business’s tenure.
The business was incorporated in New York in 1907. The members of the corporation were brothers Samuel and Fred Davis (President and Treasurer respectively), Lewis B. Winstock (Vice President), Adolph Froehlich (Secretary) and Herbert Davis (Assistant Secretary).[su_pullquote]Brands: Harvester, El Sidelo, Valli-Valli, Par Fay, Sam Sloane, Plankinton, Allanson Junior, That’s the Why, Alfred Nobel, Adolph Froehlich brands sold for 5, 10 and 15 cents. Upon introduction of the Sam Sloane line, retail shops began dedicating entire display windows for the 5 cent cigar due to its popular price point. [/su_pullquote]
These men had been in the cigar business for many years before, they just got to a level where they felt the need to incorporate.
The New York factory location was 50 East 81st Street at the corner of E 81st and First Avenue.
The New York factory had over one hundred tabaqueros from Puerto Rico working there. Most factories had lectors on hand to read to the workers as they rolled cigars. Samuel I Davis seemed a little different as they had two lectors. One would read the news during the morning hours and one would read novels during the afternoon.
Throughout the history of the cigar industry, there were times of worker unrest and many strikes / work stoppages. The Davis factory was no exception to these issues.
At one point, in December 1895, the Socialist Trade and Labor Alliance was formed in New York. The main purpose for this alliance was to form an opposition union of cigar makers. This new union was named the Pioneer Cigar Maker’s Alliance. This new alliance was ordered to take the place of the workers striking against Samuel I. Davis. An ad was placed in a local newspaper that read: “Cigar makers wanted for hand work, at wages of nine dollars twenty-five cents to seventeen dollars per thousand”. It was signed, “Pioneer Cigar Makers of the Socialist Trade and Labor Alliance. Inquire at S. Davis & Co., 250 East 81st Street”.
Photo Gallery (click images for full view)
Top Row: Harritos, Private label, Rey del Rey by New York-Tampa Co., El Sidelo
2nd Row: 2010 factory photos
3rd Row: El Sidelo trade ads
By far, the most talked about brand in the portfolio was El Sidelo. So much so, the factory in Tampa would produce the cigar exclusively. After Samuel I. Davis’ death in 1916, it would go by the name The El Sidelo Factory instead of Samuel I. Davis & Co. The El Sidelo factory was constantly noted in the trades for being one of the busiest in Tampa.
On May 15, 1919, six cigar manufacturers agreed to merge together and form the Consolidated Cigar Corporation. Those six manufacturers were E. M. Schwartz & Company of New York, T. J. Dunn & Co of New York, Jose Lovera of Tampa, Lillies Cigar Co of Detroit, El Sidelo Cigar Co of Tampa and Samuel I. Davis Cigar Co of Tampa. El Sidelo was a subsidiary of Samuel I. Davis.
D. Emil Klein, one of the vice presidents, was in charge of domestic leaf purchases. Fred Davis was in charge of purchases in Havana. This assignment made sense since before his death, Samuel I. Davis had taken care of traveling to Havana to purchase tobacco.
Some of the popular cigar brands that came along with this consolidation were Henry George, Harvester, El Sidelo, Mozart, Adion, El Producto, La Azora and Dutch Masters.
Since mergers and acquisitions can be messy affairs, one trade magazine took notice that the Samuel I. Davis Co was shipping so many new orders of many new vitolas that you could not tell that they were in the middle of a change in control.
Fred Davis was also very involved in many of the industry’s organizations. In 1919, he was awarded a watch by the Cigar Manufacturers of Greater New York for all of his efforts on behalf of the Industry. Fred was the President of the association at the time of his award.
After Fred Davis’ time at Consolidated Cigar was over, he started the New York-Tampa Cigar Co. with Luis Toro in 1921. They had factories in Tampa and Perth Amboy, NJ.
Fred Davis leaves New York-Tampa Cigar and forms a new business with Leon Schwab. The company is incorporated as Schwab, Davis & Company in 1925. They immediately turn around and purchase the New York-Tampa Cigar Co., among others.
The Samuel I. Davis cigar factory at 900 N. Howard Ave is currently vacant. It was last purchased in 1994 for $275,000. The building’s value is currently valued at a little over $1 million.
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