Smith Brothers

The Smith Brothers were makers of the first cough drops produced and advertised in the United States, becoming one of the most famous brands in the country in its day.

He ran for public office several times and was a generous local philanthropist who assessed his brother Andrew for half of all charitable donations whether he knew of them or not.

The company's staunch defense of its trademark made the Smiths' faces among the most famous in America, the subject of editorials, comics, and cultural references.

In the 1997 Seinfeld episode "The Van Buren Boys", Jerry references "Smith Brothers cough drops" in a discussion about thick beards.

In Victor Herbert's 1906 operetta The Red Mill, two heavily bearded men appear on stage, while one of the Vaudevillians yells, "Pipe the Smith Brothers!"

In the 1963 film Beach Party, the character Deadhead suggests that if the bearded Professor Sutwell had a twin he'd make a good cough drop.

[9] In 2014, GemCap sold the company to hedge fund York Capital Management, who once again attempted to revive the brand which had largely disappeared from store shelves.

Smith Brothers Cough Drops remained available on some retail shelves and online sources, due to previously purchased unexpired back stock.