Interesting speculation Alex, especially number 2, that the burned chips got removed and ended up saved after all this time. These days, we'd remove the smoker to save the chip! Don't have that many illegals to judge by but I did specifically pick this chip out because the burn marks appealed to me, seeming to represent old time action in these places. Its getting harder to remember how pervasive the ciggy dangling out of the mouth during every activity used to be. Viewing some old stuff on The History Channel, it seems shocking to see smoking factory workers building airplanes or bigshots christening dams while puffing away. Cigarette burns could become a accepted mark of authenticity for future antiques of the 20th century since smoking seems to one of few activities being condemed rather than rationalized into acceptance.