Hayward Pipe Mixture — Full 7 oz Tin — The Blend Bing Crosby Smoked (c. 1964–1967)

Offered here is a full seven ounce tin of Hayward Pipe Mixture, the same American blend photographed beside Bing Crosby in his 1953 autobiography Call Me Lucky, resting near his pipe in a candid dressing-room moment between scenes. It is not staged or highlighted. It is simply present, which is often the surest sign of a tobacco genuinely used.

Hayward Pipe Mixture first appeared on American counters through the St. Louis firm of Moss and Lowenhaupt, described plainly as a mixture of four of the finest tobaccos grown. It was one of the earliest domestic blends to bridge the space between straight American Burley mixtures and the fuller English tobaccos then arriving from overseas. For many smokers, it offered the best of both worlds: depth without heaviness and flavor without fatigue.

By mid century, production moved under the Rum and Maple Tobacco Corporation, a subsidiary of Larus and Brother, the same Richmond house responsible for Edgeworth. The formula remained unchanged. Burley provided a dry, nutty foundation. Virginia leaf added brightness and a natural sweetness. A measured portion of Latakia supplied a soft smoky note that appeared as the bowl progressed, shaping the smoke without dominating it. The blend was advertised as absolutely free from aromatic and artificial flavorings, and the tobacco delivered exactly that experience.

In the pipe, Hayward behaves with the ease of a well-made mixture. It lights readily, burns evenly, and finishes clean. The opening shows warm grain and mild sweetness. The middle settles into balance, and the final third carries a gentle earthy note from the Latakia that remains cool to the heel. The room note is mild and tobacco-forward, the sort once common in offices, studies, and clubrooms when pipes were part of daily life.

The blend’s balance earned it admirers well beyond the counter. British novelist J B Priestley remarked that Hayward was the finest American tobacco he encountered while traveling in the United States. Bing Crosby’s preference is documented in Call Me Lucky, where the tin appears not as a prop, but as part of the setting. Crosby was known to favor mixtures that were neither harsh nor overly strong, and Hayward’s construction suits that preference perfectly.

The tin offered here is a full seven ounce example dating to circa 1964–1967, produced before the end of original Hayward manufacture. The presence of a ZIP code on the label places it after 1963, while the Rum and Maple imprint places it before the 1968 Larus reorganization. The tin shows strong label color, honest age, and the settled look of a piece that has been stored carefully rather than handled.

For the collector seeking a clear example of a classic American English mixture, or for the pipe smoker curious to experience what the Crooner actually preferred, this tin offers that opportunity in a form seldom encountered.


Details:

-Hayward Pipe Mixture
-Full seven ounce tin
-Manufacturer: Rum and Maple Tobacco Corporation
-Era: Circa 1964–1967
-Blend: Burley, Virginia, light Latakia
-Absolutely free from aromatic and artificial flavorings
-Tin and label in excellent vintage condition with light age patina

This auction contains tobacco.  If you live in certain states, you will be unable to purchase this product.