Tag: Christmas_Cracker > Made up in Britain: Christmas Cracker : Tom Smith 1860
Christmas Cracker
Inventor
Inventor Tom Smith
Tom Smith
Born18 October 1823
London
Died13 March 1869 | Age 45


Tom Smith 1860

Tom Smith was a hard working confectioner always looking for ideas to further his business. On a trip to Paris in 1846 Tom discovered the “bon-bon” sugared almond, wrapped in a twist of tissue paper. He added a motto inside the sweet and had moderate success selling it in Britain.
christmas cracker
christmas cracker


He tried adding trinkets or small toys to inspire the product sales with limited success. Then after throwing a log onto a fire it gave out a loud crackle that gave him the idea of making his bon-bon pop as it was pulled apart.

The cracker is born
Tom Smith Cracker cover from 1906.\nSanta before Coca-Cola invented him!
Tom Smith Cracker cover from 1906.
Santa before Coca-Cola invented him!

Eureka! Now it all came together. The tube to hold the toy, a corny joke and a paper hat all flew out of the product when two people pulled it apart with cracking sound. By 1900 the company were producing 13 million crackers a year.

Over the next few years his idea evolved and grew and he moved from his original premises in Clerkenwell, East London, England to Finsbury Square in the City. Tom left his business to his three sons: Tom, Henry and Walter. In 1953 the firm merged with Caley Crackers and moved out to Norwich.
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In History
  • 21 September 1936.
    This month 87 years ago the world lost Frank Hornby
  • 01 September 1976.
    This month 47 years ago the world lost Percy Shaw
  • 10 September 1960.
    This month 63 years ago the world lost Harold Gillies
  • 01 September 1806.
    This month 217 years ago the world lost Edward Nairne
  • 21 September 1836.
    This month 187 years ago the world lost John Stafford Smith
  • 01 September 1846.
    This month 177 years ago the world lost Edwin Beard Budding
  • 25 September 1936.
    On this day 87 years ago William Horlick
  • Christmas Cracker. 200 years ago 18/10/1823 Tom Smith was born
  • 17 September 1877.
    This month 146 years ago the world lost William Henry Fox Talbot
  • 18 September 1938.
    This month 85 years ago the world lost William Fletcher
  • Marshall Amplification. 100 years ago 29/7/1923 Jim Marshall was born
  • 10 September 1938.
    This month 85 years ago the world lost Charles Cruft
  • 18 September 1967.
    This month 56 years ago the world lost John Cockcroft
  • 16 September 1890.
    This month 133 years ago the world lost Louis Le Prince
  • 50 years ago in 1973 The first stable LCD is announced to the world.
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