Questions about a humidor

[Chango]

I received a humidor for Christmas(it was purchased at an estate sale), and have some questions about it. Instead of having cedar inside, it has white glass. At first I thought it was porcelain. After doing a search online, I find it's called milk glass. The seal isn't real tight, but it seems to be holding humidity between 65 & 70%(without cigars in it). It's in pretty good shape, but it does look kind of old...and I can't find any markings on it.

So, do ya'll know anything about milk glass humidors, or where I could find some info? When I do a search online, all I can find are a few sites selling them, but no real information. Also, any idea how well they work? I figure if it can hold a steady humidity, then it should be fine...and I'd really like to use it.

Thanks!

[Ceedee]

Curt, my gut feeling is that the milk glass was added for use as a jewelry box at a later time. This type of thing happens a lot. While the glass won't hurt your cigars, it won't help age them either. The cedar takes in humidity and then releases it naturally. Glass does not. In fact, if humidity or temp raises or falls, condensation can occur on the glass and potentially ruin your cigars. If it were me, I would remove the glass and then season the humi, then put my cigars in there. That's my 2¢.

CD

P.S. Oh yeah. If there is not really any Spanish Cedar lining the humi, I would get some sheets from your local B&M or online or from a BOTL here on CL to line the box.

[N2Advnture-cl]

Originally Posted by Ceedee

Curt, my gut feeling is that the milk glass was added for use as a jewelry box at a later time. This type of thing happens a lot. While the glass won't hurt your cigars, it won't help age them either. The cedar takes in humidity and then releases it naturally. Glass does not. In fact, if humidity or temp raises or falls, condensation can occur on the glass and potentially ruin your cigars. If it were me, I would remove the glass and then season the humi, then put my cigars in there. That's my 2¢.

CD

P.S. Oh yeah. If there is not really any Spanish Cedar lining the humi, I would get some sheets from your local B&M or online or from a BOTL here on CL to line the box.

Great advice bro!

~Mark

ps - I dig the humidification device!

[mrgatorman]

Damn Chris...your a wealth of info...

[iloveclmore]

Never seen anything like it. I suppose it would make a good jewelry box.

[Chango]

Originally Posted by Ceedee

Curt, my gut feeling is that the milk glass was added for use as a jewelry box at a later time. This type of thing happens a lot. While the glass won't hurt your cigars, it won't help age them either. The cedar takes in humidity and then releases it naturally. Glass does not. In fact, if humidity or temp raises or falls, condensation can occur on the glass and potentially ruin your cigars. If it were me, I would remove the glass and then season the humi, then put my cigars in there. That's my 2¢.

CD

Hmmm...from the ones I've seen online, I truly think it's was meant to be a humidor made with glass. But those are some very good points, sir. I'll need to think about it...
I must admit that aging cigars is not something I'm doing much of these days. I have a 25 ct. cedar humi that I've kept a small number of cigars for a year or so in, but for the most part, if a cigar last longer then two months in that humidor, then something may be wrong with it! Any cigars I purchase tend to go up in flames within the month.
I think for now, I'm going to roll with the humidor as is, and see what happens. I just won't put much in that could be considered valuable, until I get a handle on any possible problems. Doing a rebuild will take time, and possibly money, that I just don't have right now.
Thank you for your insight, Chris...as usual, you have a keen eye for seeing into the heart of the matter.

Originally Posted by N2Advnture

ps - I dig the humidification device!

Yes! It only took me 3 years to see the light and purchase a humidification device that actually works!

[foolwithnohair]

Glass humi's were popular for a while, I remember a relative having one ... people used to take old aquariums and convert them into humidors, I was reading about that in an old cigar book last night. I guess that it is no different than people using cooler-dors or tupper-dors today. Put some spanish cedar sheets/old boxes for the moderating effect on RH, etc., and you'll be fine.

[shrtcrt-cl]

I agree with CeeDee, try and remove the glass. It should not be that hard. Nice old box. PLEASE PLEASE do not try and restore the outside. I say leave it as it. You have a nice humidor with some history.

[tx_tuff]

I looked them up on line myself after reading this. It appears that milkglass was the lining of choice in the 40s and 50s. In fact the clips in your picture was used to hold a soaking device. I would see no problem using this humidor as long as its stable like you said it is. And as far as condensation I wouldn't worry about that. Look how many glass top and glass side humidors that are sold today! Plus with the glass being incased with the wood I doubt that would happen unless the temp change was large and rapid! Also I found a lot of Jar Humidors made from Milkgass so that should tell you something.

Here is a Q&A from Cigar Aficionado, The Cigar Adviser

Q: My humidor is a circa 1940s unit that is dark mahogany outside, but is lined with opaque porcelain inside. I believe that you have described the liner as "milk glass." The humidor was purchased from an antiques store, and after some minor repairs to the underside and the installation of a good quality humidification system, it seems to perform nicely. With all the talk about aged Spanish cedar being the ultimate liner, and its being available in usable sizes, will I gain anything by lining the bottom and sides with cedar, or is it simply a matter of taste?

Mike Broyles
Kansas City, Missouri


A: There is certainly an element of taste involved with cigars aged in cedar. While it does enhance flavors in older cigars, there can be too much of a good thing, too--storing cigars in strong cedar for too long can overpower the natural tobacco flavors in a cigar. That's a roundabout way of answering your question; while your humidor may not impart that cedary note to your cigars, if it keeps your cigars properly humidified, there's no reason not to use it. If you are a big fan of the cedar flavor, then there's no harm in sticking in a few cedar sheets (found in some cigar boxes) in the humidor. You should check for any warping in the lid that might allow excess outside air to enter; you want the humidity levels to remain constant inside.

[Chango]

Originally Posted by tx_tuff

I looked them up on line myself after reading this. It appears that milkglass was the lining of choice in the 40s and 50s. In fact the clips in your picture was used to hold a soaking device. I would see no problem using this humidor as long as its stable like you said it is. And as far as condensation I wouldn't worry about that. Look how many glass top and glass side humidors that are sold today! Plus with the glass being incased with the wood I doubt that would happen unless the temp change was large and rapid! Also I found a lot of Jar Humidors made from Milkgass so that should tell you something.

Here is a Q&A from Cigar Aficionado, The Cigar Adviser

Q: My humidor is a circa 1940s unit that is dark mahogany outside, but is lined with opaque porcelain inside. I believe that you have described the liner as "milk glass." The humidor was purchased from an antiques store, and after some minor repairs to the underside and the installation of a good quality humidification system, it seems to perform nicely. With all the talk about aged Spanish cedar being the ultimate liner, and its being available in usable sizes, will I gain anything by lining the bottom and sides with cedar, or is it simply a matter of taste?

Mike Broyles
Kansas City, Missouri


A: There is certainly an element of taste involved with cigars aged in cedar. While it does enhance flavors in older cigars, there can be too much of a good thing, too--storing cigars in strong cedar for too long can overpower the natural tobacco flavors in a cigar. That's a roundabout way of answering your question; while your humidor may not impart that cedary note to your cigars, if it keeps your cigars properly humidified, there's no reason not to use it. If you are a big fan of the cedar flavor, then there's no harm in sticking in a few cedar sheets (found in some cigar boxes) in the humidor. You should check for any warping in the lid that might allow excess outside air to enter; you want the humidity levels to remain constant inside.

Hey Frank, thanks for that info. I hadn't seen the C.A. Q&A before in my searching...

And Justin, I definitely plan to leave the outside alone. I think it looks great as is.

[Ceedee]

Originally Posted by tx_tuff

I looked them up on line myself after reading this. It appears that milkglass was the lining of choice in the 40s and 50s. In fact the clips in your picture was used to hold a soaking device. I would see no problem using this humidor as long as its stable like you said it is. And as far as condensation I wouldn't worry about that. Look how many glass top and glass side humidors that are sold today! Plus with the glass being incased with the wood I doubt that would happen unless the temp change was large and rapid! Also I found a lot of Jar Humidors made from Milkgass so that should tell you something.

Here is a Q&A from Cigar Aficionado, The Cigar Adviser

Q: My humidor is a circa 1940s unit that is dark mahogany outside, but is lined with opaque porcelain inside. I believe that you have described the liner as "milk glass." The humidor was purchased from an antiques store, and after some minor repairs to the underside and the installation of a good quality humidification system, it seems to perform nicely. With all the talk about aged Spanish cedar being the ultimate liner, and its being available in usable sizes, will I gain anything by lining the bottom and sides with cedar, or is it simply a matter of taste?

Mike Broyles
Kansas City, Missouri


A: There is certainly an element of taste involved with cigars aged in cedar. While it does enhance flavors in older cigars, there can be too much of a good thing, too--storing cigars in strong cedar for too long can overpower the natural tobacco flavors in a cigar. That's a roundabout way of answering your question; while your humidor may not impart that cedary note to your cigars, if it keeps your cigars properly humidified, there's no reason not to use it. If you are a big fan of the cedar flavor, then there's no harm in sticking in a few cedar sheets (found in some cigar boxes) in the humidor. You should check for any warping in the lid that might allow excess outside air to enter; you want the humidity levels to remain constant inside.

I totally stand corrected! Nice work Frank!

CD