Show me your Cajon!

[Luca]

Did that grab your attention...? 

Hi FoH,

I have been looking around on the web for pictures (both past and present) of boxes of Cajons. I can't seem to find any apart from an LfD Cajon @Fuzz showed me last night.

Has anyone seen any (mainly Cuban) Cajons in the flesh (No not the other Cajon if you were thinking that)? It would be great if we can all see some pictures!

[cmbarton]

Here’s mine.  Sounds beautiful, and has a nice deep bass.

[cookj1]

[Derboesekoenig]

You want to see my cajones??? I don't think so buddy 

try onlinecigarauctions.com

Should be plenty

 

[IanMcLean68]

3 hours ago, Derboesekoenig said:

You want to see my cajones??? I don't think so buddy 

try onlinecigarauctions.com

Should be plenty

 

Nah, he only wants to see one of them ?

... and only if you brush the mould off first.

[BinBin]

Hmmmmmmm...what are cajons?

[JohnS]

1 hour ago, BinBin said:

Hmmmmmmm...what are cajons?

50-count and 100-count boxes discontiuned as packaging for Habanos cigars around the 1980s.

(Photo courtesy of Cuban Cigar Website)

[Luca]

5 hours ago, JohnS said:

50-count and 100-count boxes discontiuned as packaging for Habanos cigars around the 1980s.

(Photo courtesy of Cuban Cigar Website)

I remember reading somewhere that they also came at 75 count. Is that correct?

[JohnS]

On 9/21/2018 at 12:44 PM, Luca said:

I remember reading somewhere that they also came at 75 count. Is that correct?

I haven't read that myself, but I wouldn't necessarily discount it either.

[MrGlass]

On 9/21/2018 at 12:44 PM, Luca said:

I remember reading somewhere that they also came at 75 count. Is that correct?

For what it's worth, there was a special release of the Trinidad Fundadores in 1998 that came in a cajon of 75.

[Luca]

32 minutes ago, MrGlass said:

For what it's worth, there was a special release of the Trinidad Fundadores in 1998 that came in a cajon of 75.

Anyone on this forum lucky enough to have owned one?

[Jack]

This is something I wrote on another cigar board many years ago that may be of interest.

Cuban Humidors of the Revolution - Series of 1960

---

Series of 1960

The revolution has become more like “daily business” and Castro’s Cuba has some problems. While the people love him and The Revolution, there are still bills to pay and the interruption of tobacco and sugar production has not been good for the economy. Not to mention nationalizing the most profitable businesses and closing those that don’t fit the new political model (i.e. casinos.)

Celia Sanchez was Castro’s secretary and confident (some say more, quien sabe…) The Series of 1960 is attributed to an idea Senora Sanchez had to help jumpstart people back into the idea of actually working for a living. Artisans from all over Cuba were called to help in the endeavors of the day to put Cuba back into a stable economic situation. The tobacco crop and cigars were always a high profit item for Cuba and the concept of showcasing Cuba’s natural resources (the people, tobacco, and sugar) made sense. The expenditure to achieve this was nothing – all the materials were already at hand.

Finely engraved (carved) humidors (Estuche Tallado) and boxes filled with 50 to 250 of Cuba’s best cigars became diplomatic gifts as a new Cuba made its first tentative ventures into the world.

I do not know all of what comprised the Series of 1960. From what I’ve read (and guessed at) this is the list that I have so far:

Carved Humidor tops and panels (Estuche Tallado):

La yunta de bueyes (the yoke of oxen)*
La casita de Trinidad (the small house of Trinidad)
El cañaveral (the sugar-cane plantation) †
El Morro (the Morro Castle)
El bohio (the hut)†
La cosecha de tabaco (the tobacco harvest)*
El Capitolio (the Capitolio)**

The Discovery*
The Cane Harvest*
The Horse Cart*

*Shown in Cubatabaco Luxurious Cabinets
†Shown in Min Ron Nee’s An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Post-Revolution Havana Cigars

One additional item is mentioned as being part of the Series. It is “El Barrelito”. This is a miniature example of the barrels used to age tobacco for 3-5 years in the pre-1970 era. It contains 25 No. 4’s according to Luxurious Cabinets and is an often overlooked piece of Cuban tobacco and cigar history. The only markings are “Hecho en Cuba” on the bottom. An example is shown in my gallery

If anyone wishes to add to this history I welcome your comments.

 

---------------------------------------------

 

Since that time we've learned of one or two possible others and also many similar ones that were made pre-revolution, but not in a series or mass produced.  Some of these are on Paolo Juker's fine website.  Others were listed in Yannick David's gallerie catalog (ca, 2003) when he ran the business "around cigars" in Belgium.

 

While these certainly are remarkable works of art they are not made of the highest quality materials (hinges and locks are not holding up well) and it is likely any that are found nowadays will require some level of restoration.  Apparently losing the key and then prying open the cabinet was common practice.  I only recently found a source for near duplicates of the originals so now I have enough (plus two extras) for my boxes.  You will also see the carved tops turned into wall hangings, and sometimes just the carving is re-framed into a more picture-like format.  I'm not convinced either way regarding the white wash applied to many of these boxes.  Early and Pre-Revolution ones seem to all be lacquered natural wood.  It's possible that early Series of 1960 boxes were also free of paint.  Also possible is they were stripped at one point.  The paint allows a further enhancing of the details with a darker finish applied appropriately.

 

 

[Jack]

El Barrelito

 

 

[99call]

On 9/20/2018 at 2:50 AM, Luca said:

It would be great if we can all see some pictures!

I've been looking for years for my perfect desktop humidor, and just managed to pick up this beauty. with all it's original inserts, and no cracks. 

 

 

[Luca]

Thank you so much @99call for posting this. Very interesting. What a great find! Do you have any info on the brand? I can't find it on Cuban cigar website

[99call]

15 minutes ago, Luca said:

Thank you so much @99call for posting this. Very interesting. What a great find! Do you have any info on the brand? I can't find it on Cuban cigar website

Lord Rosebery was an Ex-Prime Minister, so I'm imagining it's just either his personal supply (unlikely), or I brand set up, as for many prominent figures of the day. So far i've seen around about a 100 brands not on the CCW, there is likely many many more

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archibald_Primrose,_5th_Earl_of_Rosebery

heres another box (a bit smashed up), and a enamel sign.

 

[Luca]

On 10/5/2018 at 9:08 AM, Jack said:

This is something I wrote on another cigar board many years ago that may be of interest.

Cuban Humidors of the Revolution - Series of 1960

---

Series of 1960

The revolution has become more like “daily business” and Castro’s Cuba has some problems. While the people love him and The Revolution, there are still bills to pay and the interruption of tobacco and sugar production has not been good for the economy. Not to mention nationalizing the most profitable businesses and closing those that don’t fit the new political model (i.e. casinos.)

Celia Sanchez was Castro’s secretary and confident (some say more, quien sabe…) The Series of 1960 is attributed to an idea Senora Sanchez had to help jumpstart people back into the idea of actually working for a living. Artisans from all over Cuba were called to help in the endeavors of the day to put Cuba back into a stable economic situation. The tobacco crop and cigars were always a high profit item for Cuba and the concept of showcasing Cuba’s natural resources (the people, tobacco, and sugar) made sense. The expenditure to achieve this was nothing – all the materials were already at hand.

Finely engraved (carved) humidors (Estuche Tallado) and boxes filled with 50 to 250 of Cuba’s best cigars became diplomatic gifts as a new Cuba made its first tentative ventures into the world.

I do not know all of what comprised the Series of 1960. From what I’ve read (and guessed at) this is the list that I have so far:

Carved Humidor tops and panels (Estuche Tallado):

La yunta de bueyes (the yoke of oxen)*
La casita de Trinidad (the small house of Trinidad)
El cañaveral (the sugar-cane plantation) †
El Morro (the Morro Castle)
El bohio (the hut)†
La cosecha de tabaco (the tobacco harvest)*
El Capitolio (the Capitolio)**

The Discovery*
The Cane Harvest*
The Horse Cart*

*Shown in Cubatabaco Luxurious Cabinets
†Shown in Min Ron Nee’s An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Post-Revolution Havana Cigars

One additional item is mentioned as being part of the Series. It is “El Barrelito”. This is a miniature example of the barrels used to age tobacco for 3-5 years in the pre-1970 era. It contains 25 No. 4’s according to Luxurious Cabinets and is an often overlooked piece of Cuban tobacco and cigar history. The only markings are “Hecho en Cuba” on the bottom. An example is shown in my gallery

If anyone wishes to add to this history I welcome your comments.

 

---------------------------------------------

 

Since that time we've learned of one or two possible others and also many similar ones that were made pre-revolution, but not in a series or mass produced.  Some of these are on Paolo Juker's fine website.  Others were listed in Yannick David's gallerie catalog (ca, 2003) when he ran the business "around cigars" in Belgium.

 

While these certainly are remarkable works of art they are not made of the highest quality materials (hinges and locks are not holding up well) and it is likely any that are found nowadays will require some level of restoration.  Apparently losing the key and then prying open the cabinet was common practice.  I only recently found a source for near duplicates of the originals so now I have enough (plus two extras) for my boxes.  You will also see the carved tops turned into wall hangings, and sometimes just the carving is re-framed into a more picture-like format.  I'm not convinced either way regarding the white wash applied to many of these boxes.  Early and Pre-Revolution ones seem to all be lacquered natural wood.  It's possible that early Series of 1960 boxes were also free of paint.  Also possible is they were stripped at one point.  The paint allows a further enhancing of the details with a darker finish applied appropriately.

 

 

Those pictures are beautiful. Thank you for posting!

[99call]

I'm on fire, just picked this up. incredibly rare,  if I'm right.

Finial legs may be a later addition, but they strangely work, so maybe original. My new dry box. YEeesssss!

 

[Puros Y Vino]

58 minutes ago, 99call said:

I'm on fire, just picked this up. incredibly rare,  if I'm right.

Finial legs may be a later addition, but they strangely work, so maybe original. My new dry box. YEeesssss!

 

 

 

Very cool. Please post blurrier pictures for maximum effect.   Any backstory for this bad boy?

[99call]

Just now, bundwallah said:

Very cool. Please post blurrier pictures for maximum effect.   Any backstory for this bad boy?

Ha sellers pics. Will redo the when it arrives. Not much back story apart from I've never seen anything like this before. And I've been looking for a good 20yrs

[Puros Y Vino]

While this one is not Cuban, it is very Cajon like.  Once it is restored, it will be put to good use housing Monsdales, as they fit perfectly.

 

[99call]

Just now, bundwallah said:

While this one is not Cuban, it is very Cajon like.  Once it is restored, it will be put to good use housing Monsdales, as they fit perfectly.

 

Nice and clean too, that's always a must

[Luca]

Very interesting pictures! Thank you for sharing @bundwallah and @99call !! Much appreciated

[99call]

On 11/16/2018 at 2:07 PM, bundwallah said:

Very cool. Please post blurrier pictures for maximum effect.   Any backstory for this bad boy?

Better pics (as promised).   Such a lovely little box. the knob is brown patinated bronze, and the feet appear to be made from the exact same colour cedar, initially I wasn't so sure, but I think they may be original (even though one is slightly mis-alighned). Stamp on the bottom looks to age it in the late 1950's.  Still with it's original pencil squiggle mark. Can still smell sweet tobacco in the box. 

 

[Burningman]

Wow that is a fantastic find. I'm sure it will be a great conversation piece as well...