Out of the ashes

We thought we’d stub out our year-long series on collectibles with a look at the weird and wonderful world of ashtrays

As this is the last in the current series on collectibles, it seemed appropriate to turn our attention to a part of the beerdrinking culture which is also coming to an end.

Smoking is banned in the world’s bars in many places including Ireland, parts of the United States and Scotland, and is set to be outlawed in the rest of the United Kingdom next spring.

For the branded ashtray, used by tobacco companies and brewers alike for marketing purposes since the 1950s, this is bad news.

But for collectors of these many and varied items, there might be a silver lining to the cloud which hangs over smoking.

Collector Rob Albury said: “As ashtrays are no longer needed in pubs, they are more likely to attract interest from collectors.” He can’t predict how much they are likely to rise in value, but his argument makes sense. And he’s applying his theory in a rather grand attempt to make some money for charity.

A drink with friends at The Bridge Inn at Amberley, West Sussex produced the idea.

“I am collecting as many ashtrays as I can. I want to collect enough so that we can display them at Amberley Working Museum, and then, after a time, auction them off,” said Rob.

The auction is planned for some time next spring, possibly timed to coincide with the introduction of the smoking ban in England and Wales.

The charity in question is Cancer Research. At the moment few ashtrays are worth more than £6, but Rob is hoping bidders will see their money as a combination of charity and inve.....

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By Andrew Burnyeat

Section : Collector's corner

Page number : 57