The "Original" Smith Brothers Black Licorice Cough Drops

Manufactured by F&F Laboratories

Did you know that Smith Brothers Cough Drop boxes portray one of the world's most famous trademarks?

William and Andrew Smith were sons of the founder of Smith Brothers and their nicknames were Trade and Mark respectively. The company was one of America's first cough drop manufacturers and was founded in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1847

The Smith Family were originally the owners of a small restaurant and it wasn't under a customer showed them a “homemade remedy” for coughs that these illustrious cough drops were first introduced

The first batch was sold exclusively in their restaurant and soon became a hit due to the cold climate and harsh winters characteristic of upstate New York

As their popularity and reputation grew, it became evident that these cough drops / candy could became successful on a national level and they placed their first advertisement offering a product aimed at those “afflicted with hoarseness, cough or coldsÖ”

Upon the death of their father in 1866, the two brothers inherited the company and formally changed the name to Smith Brothers and thus an Americana candy legend was “officially” born

As imitation has long been considered the highest form of flattery, it goes without saying that their have been countless imitations and the Smith Brothers addressed this by placing their pictures on their packaging

One of the great ironies of this story is that the word TRADE appeared under the picture of William and MARK appeared under the picture of Andrew thus creating their “trademarkÖ”

Please note that we also offer these cough drops in Wild Cherry Flavor (Item #7738)