Helmar wasn't an Egyptian deity, just Ramleh spelled backwards. The Egyptian Ideal Cigarette and Tobacco Works began manufacturing Ramleh in 1902. By 1907 the all-Turkish tobacco cigarette was being made by S. Anargyros, a branch of The American Tobacco Company. ATCo management decided to change the Ramleh name, but keep the colorful Egyptian graphics, to avoid confusion with Ramly Cigarettes. Ramly was an Egyptian style smoke made by the Mentor Co. in Boston, and ATCo felt the cigarette misrepresented their Ramleh. Newspaper ads were used to alert customers to the name change. Click on the Ramleh box to see an original ad.

The cork tipped Helmar pictured top right in the 'cup' soft pack of twenty, was considered innovative when test marketed in Boston beginning February 1928. Priced 20 cents a pack, a spokesman for Lorillard felt that "A round cigarette made of Turkish tobacco will appeal to many patrons who like a Turkish cigarette but prefer the round shape. It's freer burn, lighter weight and other features is expected to open up a new market for Turkish cigarettes which has large possibilities." Pictured below is a tin Helmar flat 50, and Helmar Filter Cigarettes. Helmar Filters in a flip-top box were test marketed in California by the Lorillard Tobacco Company ca. 1966. The original straight-Turkish tobacco Helmar continued to be made long enough to have a health warning stamped on the side of the flat clam-shell box. Helmar was withdrawn about 1966.