Thank you for your patience while we retrieve your images.


Sporty window display created by our uncle.

The local neighbourhood football club SML (‘Sport Maakt Lenig’) was in line for promotion to the second division. Antoon had asked his brother-in law Frans Leferink for assistance in organising a special window display for the occasion.

Once past the modern shopfront, through the heavy steel door, the first thing the customer would notice was the elaborate chrome decorated ‘candlestick’ on the counter, about two feet high.
Its gas flame was ready to light a cigarette or a ‘bolknak’ for the customer who just acquired one. In the early 1930’s Ritmeester brought this type of cigar on the market and it became famous amongst the smoking public. The gas lighter is ideal because no odours are released, while petrol lighter, a candle or a match can spoil the cigar, as it is sensitive to fumes.
The three-tier stand on the counter held many fine looking cedar-lined boxes filled with all kinds and shapes of well-known brands such as Willem II, Aida, Schimmelpennick, Karel I, Hofnar, and many more. Cigars needed to be kept in certain conditions so not to lose their quality, Dad’s eye was apparently often on the thermometer to be sure the temperature stayed between 18-20 degrees C. and the humidity around 60%.
Sporty window display created by our uncle.