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The Rolinx

Cigarette Dispenser
1950-1959 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Mechanical tabletop cigrarette dispenser made from cream urea formaldehyde, with imitation crocodile skin detailing. The mechanism is operated by raising the roller-shutter, this propels five arms forwards from inside the dispenser presenting the operator with five cigarettes. The arms are reloaded with a cigarette when the shutter is closed. The dispenser is refilled through an opening on the front which is covered by a removable panel. Inside, there is space for twenty-five cigarettes.

On the removable front panel '600' is printed in gold lettering, and on the back, 'GEORGE COHEN SONS & COMPANY LIMITED'. Underneath is the moulded inscription 'A ROLINX PRODUCT / MADE IN ENGLAND', and patent details.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Rolinx (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Injection-moulded and extruded urea formaldehyde; printed imitation crocodile skin
Brief description
'Rolinx' cigarette dispenser; Maurice H. Robin for Rolinx; Manchester, 1950s
Physical description
Mechanical tabletop cigrarette dispenser made from cream urea formaldehyde, with imitation crocodile skin detailing. The mechanism is operated by raising the roller-shutter, this propels five arms forwards from inside the dispenser presenting the operator with five cigarettes. The arms are reloaded with a cigarette when the shutter is closed. The dispenser is refilled through an opening on the front which is covered by a removable panel. Inside, there is space for twenty-five cigarettes.

On the removable front panel '600' is printed in gold lettering, and on the back, 'GEORGE COHEN SONS & COMPANY LIMITED'. Underneath is the moulded inscription 'A ROLINX PRODUCT / MADE IN ENGLAND', and patent details.
Dimensions
  • Length: 14.3cm
  • Height: 6cm
  • Width: 8.4cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • '600' (Printed in gold on front refilling panel.)
  • 'GEORGE COHEN SONS & COMPANY LIMITED' (Printed in gold on back.)
  • 'A ROLINX PRODUCT MADE IN ENGLAND' (Moulded on underside)
  • 'BRIT. PAT Nos 593951 & 642536' (Moulded on underside.)
  • 'U.S. PATENT 15/4/52 OTHER FOREIGN PATS. APP. FOR' (Moulded on underside.)
Object history
Fred Bulmer, a collector based in Leeds, Yorkshire, offered his collection of ‘plastic antiques’ to the V&A in late 1982. The Museum chose to purchase 59 objects from Bulmer the following year (for acquisition papers see MA/1/B3395). The objects were divided among the Museum’s collections according to object type: Furniture and Woodwork taking 26 objects (W.50 to 75-1983), Metalwork 18 objects (M.49 to 66-1984) and Ceramics and Glass 14 objects (C.41 to 54-1984).
Historical context
Rolinx Ltd was founded in postwar Britain by Maurice H. Robin (1912-1982), a London-born inventor. Rolinx took its name from the clever extruded roller-shutter which the operator draws back to be presented with the cigarettes. This feature was first seen on pencil boxes made by the company.

This particular object was produced as a business gift for George Cohen, Sons & Company, a London scrap metal merchants. The '600' printed on the front panel of this object refers to the company's first address, at 600 Commercial Street, London.
Collection
Accession number
M.49-1984

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
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