Black history spotlight for Nov. 30: J.A. Sweeting

On Nov. 30, 1897, a U.S. patent for a “Device for Rolling Cigarettes” was issued to black American inventor J.A. Sweeting (No. 594,501). A concave mantrel would carry tobacco while cigarette paper from a contained roll was turned around the contents, thus producing a perfectly and conveniently formed cigarette. By wetting a strip of the paper along the line of the roller with a finger, further turning of the mantrel would apply tension and separate the paper in a straight line. The wetted portion in contact with the formed cigarette wrapper would adhere to it and prevent unwinding of the wrapper.