Retrospective.

100 years ago in AM
In February 1899 individual reader shared some behind-the-scenes information about a mechanical advertising device in Boston. The billboard he described sported a fine young chap smoking a 10-cent cigar. The top of the cigar actually lit up with a r be incandescent during each inhale, and each exhale sent a sudden gust; short of smoke into the air.
The impressive sign measured 32 ft lengthy by 10 ft wide, an? the cent cigar measured 6 ft drawn out by 1 ft thick. The cigar was tipped with a mica cap, which was tinted r
The mechanics behind the sign were simple. With an