Pre-War Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

1924 Imperial Tobacco The Reason Why Overview

The 1924 Imperial Tobacco The Reason Why set is a 50-card set that was distributed in Canada (by the Imperial Tobacco Company of Canada Limited). It is listed in the American Card Catalog as C32, as it is a Canadian issue.

As mentioned in the title of the set, this was an educational type of tobacco card set that explained certain traditions or how/why products were made. It is largely a non-sports sets, but does include two sports-related cards.

One card (No. 9) is related to the sport of golf and answers the question why the golf ball has an uneven surface. The back details the story of how golf balls were originally smooth and it was discovered that balls with dents in them actually traveled farther. Thus, the balls were then created with the dimples.

The same question with the regard to the golf balls was also addressed in a separate tobacco card set as a Wills tobacco set named ‘Do You Know’ includes a similar card.

The other sports-related card is one for horse racing as the card (No. 41) answers the question of why a horse wears blinkers (blinders), which is to keep the horse focused and not distracted by things it may see to its sides.

Cards feature color images on the front inside of a thin red border line while the backs with the descriptions are printed entirely in blue ink.

Near Parallel Set

It should also be noted that a larger, similar set was issued in 1924 by Gallaher in the UK. That set includes these 50 cards but also 50 for more for a total of 100 and the two sets can easily be confused since they have the same design.

The cards, however, can be distinguished without much trouble. The Imperial Tobacco cards have that name printed on the backs while the Gallaher cards have that name. In addition, the Imperial cards have ‘Series of 50’ on theirs while Gallaher’s state they are part of a ‘Series of 100.’

Not much difference in price, if any, is known.

1924 Imperial Tobacco The Reason Why Checklist

1. A motor tyre valve does not allow air to escape
2. A sirloin is so named
3. Ship’s sails are often perforated
4. A sailor’s collar has white lines
5. A tailor’s thimble has no top
6. Rontgen rays are called x-rays
7. An eclipse occurs
8. A mooring rope has a tin disc
9. A golf ball is uneven on the surface
10. A figure head was carved on old war vessels
11. A ship has figures on its bows
12. A grenadier wears a bearskin
13. A coin works an automatic machine
14. An iron ship floats
15. A chemist’s shop shows coloured bottles
16. Pawnbrokers have the three-ball sign
17. Telephone wires rotate
18. We call an Englishman “John Bull”
19. Large saws have a notch on top
20. A datum line is seen
21. A gun barrel is rifled
22. A miner’s lamp cannot set fire to gas
23. Sections of railway lines are not laid close together
24. Some idols have many heads
25. Valves and crystals are used in wireless
26. A clock has IIII for IV
27. Yeoman of the guard are called beef-eaters
28. Lightning strikes some objects but not others
29. A waterspout occurs
30. We shake hands
31. We have lines on our hands
32. People do not walk under ladders
33. A fuse is necessary
34. A vacuum flask keeps liquids hot
35. A silver coin has a milled edge
36. Railway wheels are tapped
37. A coal mine has an anemometer
38. Women wear wedding rings
39. Steamer funnels have bands round
40. A cage of white mice is carried in a submarine
41. A horse wears blinkers
42. An electric bell rings when we touch the button
43. There are three flags in the Union Jack
44. An electric lamp glows
45. Wheels have curved spokes
46. Sailors wear baggy pants
47. A submarine cable is very thick
48. We get the different seasons
49. Belfry windows have slanting boards
50. Moths fly against a candle flame