Smith Brothers facts for kids
The Smith Brothers were the creators of the first cough drops made and sold in the United States. Their brand became one of the most famous in the country.
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The Start of a Sweet Business
The story begins with two brothers, William Wallace Smith I (1830–1913) and Andrew Smith (1836–1895). They lived in Poughkeepsie, New York. Their father, James Smith, had moved his family from Scotland to Canada in 1831. Later, in 1847, he moved to the United States.
In Poughkeepsie, James opened a small restaurant and ice cream shop. One day, he bought a special recipe for cough drops from a traveling salesman. In 1852, James used the recipe to make his first batch of what he called "Smith Brothers Cough Drops."
When James Smith passed away in 1866, his sons William and Andrew took over the family business.
Creating a Famous Brand
At first, the cough drops were sold from large glass jars on store counters. But other stores started selling similar, generic cough drops. To make their product stand out, the brothers began selling their drops in special boxes in 1872.
To make sure no one could copy them, they created a logo with pictures of their own bearded faces. They put this logo on every box. In 1877, they officially trademarked the logo. Under William's picture, it said "Trade," and under Andrew's, it said "Mark." Because of this, people started calling the brothers by the nicknames "Trade" and "Mark," and those names are still remembered today.
The Two Brothers
William and Andrew had very different personalities. William was the more serious brother. He was very involved in his community and supported the idea of prohibition (banning alcohol). He was also a generous person who gave a lot of money to local causes.
Andrew was known as the more friendly and easygoing brother.
The company worked hard to protect its trademark. Soon, the faces of the two bearded brothers became famous all across America. They appeared in cartoons, articles, and were a well-known part of American culture.
Changes in the Company
Andrew Smith died in 1895, and William died in 1913. William's son, Arthur G. Smith, took over as president. Under his leadership, the company grew. It added menthol drops in 1922 and a cough syrup in 1926. After Arthur's death in 1936, the company introduced wild cherry flavored drops in 1948.
Arthur's sons, William Wallace Smith II and Robert Lansing Smith, later ran the business.
Selling the Brand
In 1963, the Smith family sold the company to a larger corporation called Warner-Lambert. Then, in 1972, a company called F & F Foods bought it. Production moved from Poughkeepsie to Chicago. The new owners used the famous Smith Brothers logo less, and people began to forget who the brothers were.
Even though the cough drops became harder to find, they were still mentioned in TV shows and movies.
- In a 1986 episode of The Golden Girls, a character says she is "sucking on a Smith Brothers."
- In a 1997 episode of Seinfeld, the characters mention the cough drops when talking about beards.
- In the 1932 Laurel and Hardy movie Pack Up Your Troubles, the comedians travel to Poughkeepsie to find one of the Smith Brothers.
The phrase "When the Smith Brothers shave" became a popular saying. It meant something that would probably never happen.
Over the years, the brand was sold several times to different investment companies. By 2016, sales were low, and the brand almost disappeared from stores completely.
The Brand's Comeback
In May 2016, a company called Lanes Brands bought the Smith Brothers brand. They planned to bring the famous cough drops back. By 2017, Smith Brothers cough drops were once again being sold in stores.
In 2021, a new company, BT Remedies LLC, became the main marketer for the brand. Today, Smith Brothers cough drops are available online. They come in several flavors, including Honey Lemon, Wild Cherry, Warm Apple Pie, and Black Licorice.
Timeline of Key Events
- 1830: William Wallace Smith I is born.
- 1836: Andrew Smith is born.
- 1847: The Smith family moves to Poughkeepsie, New York.
- 1852: The first Smith Brothers cough drops are made.
- 1866: William and Andrew take over the business.
- 1872: The drops are first sold in branded boxes.
- 1877: The Smith Brothers logo is trademarked.
- 1895: Andrew Smith dies.
- 1913: William Wallace Smith I dies.
- 1922: Menthol drops are introduced.
- 1948: Wild cherry drops are introduced.
- 1964: The brand is sold to Warner-Lambert.
- 1977: The factory moves to Chicago.
- 2016: Lanes Brands buys the Smith Brothers brand.
- 2017: The cough drops return to stores.
- 2021: BT Remedies LLC takes over marketing for the brand.
