Remembering the CIG-ROLL-ETT

By Steve Staub (Staub Manufacturing Solutions)

Now, I’m not a smoker, so frankly I don’t quite appreciate the need for this product. To me it looks fairly simple to roll your own cigarettes, but I think that John Kappeler might disagree.

You see on February 3, 1932, Mr. Kappeler (a Daytonian) filed an application with the U.S. Patent office for the CIG-ROLL-ETT, a fancy tool to roll cigarettes. As stated in the patent “The principal object of the invention is the provision of a cigarette roller of simple construction, incorporating means for compressing and rolling the tobacco into cylindrical shape, and for applying a paper to the rolled tobacco.” Apparently the U.S. Patent office agreed with Mr. Kappeler and on September 24, 1935 he was granted patent # 2,015,312.

This is a really neat looking piece. The plastic is the old Bakelite type of material with swirls almost looking like marble. Now I’m not sure when plastic injection molding was invented but to me that is how it looks like it was made. Luckily this unit is in perfect condition in the original box and even comes with a set of instructions.

I don't know how successful this company was because when I looked up the address on Kenilworth Ave. as listed on the enclosed literature it is for a home located in Dayton in a residential neighborhood. 

 The tag line on the Suggestions page claims “Yours for the cigarette, with the tobacco you like best, rolled by a Cig-Roll-Ett.”

Some day I will have to find someone that rolls their own cigarettes and let them borrow this unit to see how it works… until then it looks good just sitting on the shelf in my office. For your enjoyment we have included links to a copy of the original patent and several extra pictures (Suggestions and Instructions).

Do you know anything about this company or John Kappeler? Ever use a Cig-Roll-Ett or know someone who did? When was plastic injection molding first used? If you know any of these answers please share.