I lived a little dream. One stage in my investigation of the NY hot. This may seem odd to those that do not know me but I like this sort of stuff. I find it very interesting to have a very basic food item which in Canada would not be the focus of a restaurant and would really be considered a kids food here but in the states is more like getting a pizza slice. It's a hold over perhaps.
The street Tobin's sits on is a poorer street in a poorer part of town. Down the way there are a few very small bars each probably sustained by a side street or two. I mentioned this street to portland once and he, too, had noted it as being an American classic of a sort: run-down sure but also a neighbourhood which had likely seen far better days yet which still acted like a neighbourhood, if a hard one. In Tobin's itself there were five or six people plus two pleasant staff sharing five or six counter stools and maybe three table. There was still wainscotting walls, narrow tongue and groove lathe ceiling with one small grill at the back with the burgers (each a "Whimpy") and hots. It likely looked like that in 1949 and 1974.
Comments
Gordo - January 31, 2006 11:48 pm
Interesting that you'd post this the same day Brian Tobin declines to enter the Grit leadership race ... :-)
Sounds like a fabulous place, Alan.
Alan - February 1, 2006 6:43 am
Perhaps not "fabulous" in that is is somewhat austire. Entirely without a marketing plan going beyond its end of town, though. Less than a lunch counter, too, really. What really struck me was how it and the bars and the area was (and obviously for some time had been) based around walking. We really have no neighbourhood bars in Canada - except maybe Newfoundland. In the Maritimes, say, you would have family corner stores every five to ten blocks but most retail was even then on a main street. When I see these areas you realize that there is a smaller scale to "local" in some places.
GR - February 1, 2006 7:29 am
Upstate NY was built on hots and frozen custard, Alan.
Gordo - February 1, 2006 12:25 pm
the description sonds very muhc like my favourite fish & chip joint in Kingston: Frank's on Barrie Street. Unfortunately, it closed after Frank died last year.
portland - February 1, 2006 8:38 pm
tobin's first prize hots - you can't make stuff like that up. beautiful, just beatiful.
Alan - June 20, 2006 6:55 am
Here is a review of a similar but much more upscale joint in Glens Falls.
Jill - November 21, 2006 11:59 pm
I am looking at some family history and am researching a member of my family who may have started Tobn's Hots. It was originally called Rochester Packing Company and I don't know much else. if you know anything else about the founder please send me an e-mail
Thanks.
Jill
FRANK WOOD - December 11, 2006 3:56 pm
Anybody out there know of any TOBIN FIRST PRIZE advertising signs??????????????????????????????
jaby - March 20, 2007 11:33 pm
actually tobins first prize was my great grandfather, Bill Tobin's business
Alan - March 20, 2007 11:53 pm
That's cool - when did it begin?
carolyn - April 13, 2007 11:07 pm
Tobin's First Prize came to be in May, 1924. It was called Albany Packing Company at that point. Fred Tobin, president of the Rochester Packing Plant, purchased 3.75 acres in Albany, and began the venture with several other men. The VP and general manager, Wilson Codling, was my grandfather, and I have his scrapbook documenting Tobin's genesis - newsapaper announcements, stockholder letters, ads, annual reports etc. I lent this to a woman who's family worked there over the years. She was going to create a website using all this stuff I lent to her - part of a research(?) project for SUNY Albany. Beth Dellarocca might have been her name. She brought it all back to me after one year...I just never found any of her work as of yet.
christine - August 20, 2007 12:18 pm
Is this the same Tobins that used to sell the champagne cured hams??? We haven't been able to find any ham that ever measured up since Tobins!!
Christian Mathiesen - August 27, 2007 6:21 pm
F.M.Tobin & W.C.Codling opened 2 meat plants, one in Rochester (ARPICO) and one in Albany (FIRST PRIZE). they opened under 2 companoes in case one failed, it would not grag down the other. Both made it and later were joined together as Tobin Packing but esch used their trade names with the Albany one as first prize. They ended up owning 5 seperate companies, Fort Dodge and Esterville Iowa and a holding plant in New Jersey. They were at one time the 7th largest meat pscking company in the USA. They always offered quality meats not cheap priced, which paid off.
Marilyn Tobin Carson McDonnell - December 20, 2007 5:27 pm
My grandfather was Frederick M. Tobin and yes, he started with Rochester Packing Company and then it was called Arpeako and then Tobin's First Prize Packing. Bill Tobin was a relative but did not start the company. They had plants in Albany, Rochester, Buffalo and Miami, Fl. He died at age 92 in Bal Harbor, Fl. My father, Edward H. Carson became President and Chairman before my grandfather died. My mother was Mary Tobin (daughter of Frederick M. Tobin)
Robert Norris - January 5, 2008 7:00 pm
As U know My name is Robert Norris,,,, Mr. Fred tobin did marry an Irene,( sorry but unable to recall married name),,, but was my aunt Irene Norris,,, she married a man and he passed away and then married Mr Tobin,,, do you have any information possible about her,,, any info would be appreciated,,,, thank you,,
Robert Norris
Shawn Bradia - February 25, 2008 1:44 am
Is there any possibility that the Tobin family mentioned above has any relation to the Tobin family that had been of Victor, New York (just outside Rochester). My great grandfather was James Raymond Tobin, an attorney in Rochester who died in 1949 at age 50. His father also died very young (at age 50 I believe), and lived in Victor. I have news articles of his death; he apparently was a business owner in Victor (owned "Tobin Brothers"), and must have been somewhat esteemed for his day, as the news articles I have recap how the town shut down for his funeral, etc. I know the Tobin family in Victor was quite large at that time. Any connection?
Shawn
Jimmy J. - March 2, 2008 6:16 pm
To those interested - I just purchased a Tobin's First Prize Meat Food Products "PAM" clock dated 1957 in excellent condition. This clock will be listed on eBay within the next couple of days. Pam clocks are highly collectible if you are not familiar - CHECK THEM OUT ON EBAY...then look for my Tobin's one to follow soon! JIMMY
Dave - May 1, 2008 9:47 pm
I used to do radio (and later cartoon TV) commercials for them with my father when I was a kid. I Had a speech impediment. Evidently, I sounded cute.
Kathleen Tobin - July 2, 2008 7:36 pm
July 2, 2008
To those who post and ask if they are possibly family members and to make any corrections: I am the granddaughter of the founder of Tobins First Prize Meat Packing; Mr. Frederick M. Tobin (deceased). My father was Frederick M. Tobin Jr. (deceased). From the postings on this site I only see my cousin "Lynn Carson" who posted a comment with a correction on 12/20/07. What she didn't say is that the Company was run into the ground. My Grandfather Tobin nor my father were involved. It was a scandal. To make a claim to the Tobin family or to set up Web sites claiming your family worked there, is not a wise thing to do. There were victims involved. This is a made for TV movie or a book; which yes, I have been approached over the years. I should contact the distributor 'Morrell', as they bought the rights to the 'Tobin' name, Logos, etc.
I came from a good family and lived well, but all the claims to my family's name and company is not all that. I have the pictures and negatives of when Tobins was a billboard at 'Shea Stadium' In New York. To say "Tobins is full of bologna"...is an understatement!
The recipe has changed but the name still exists. To the Canadians with this web site: I had a friend from Rochester NY, Phil Naro, a very well known singer and songwriter, who later moved to Toronto Cananda and married. His father use to work for Tobin Meat Packing. I was at his wedding in Rochester NY, but if he is still singing, go check him out. He was amazing and has worked with very famous producers. Just GOOGLE his name and see his Bio and if he still tours.
Fred Seager - July 6, 2008 2:32 am
Hi Kathleen! Fred Seager, Rochester NY, grandson of Fred Tobin, thus the name "Fred". (My mom was Dorothy, so we are cousins, remember me?) Who is this guy , Alan, never heard of him! Don"t remember him at Christmas , Easter, Thanksgiving dinners, at "Bumpa's" (aka Frederick Tobin), do you?
Alan - July 6, 2008 10:16 am
I just own the blog, Fred. You people are doing all the chatting. I just wondered what "hot" was.
Lew Bryson - July 7, 2008 10:09 am
Holy crap, Alan. You gotta put up a fence, the genealogy types are getting in. Once it starts, you'll never get rid of them.
Alan - July 7, 2008 12:06 pm
I can handle snack food geneologists!
Linda Provenzano - July 23, 2008 9:12 pm
Where can I buy these>
I live in Lkpt, New York 14094
Brian Cooney - August 4, 2008 12:37 pm
I lived in Rochester area as a kid. Now that I live in Michigan, I'm taking my kids to Darien Lake for a vacation. Can I get Tobin's Red Hots in a grocery store near Buffalo?
nytere - October 27, 2008 1:34 am
To anyone interested, I have an old electric lighted Tobin's First Prize sign that will be going on ebay in the next week. You can find it under my ebay name which is the name I've used here. Found at an Albany estate sale, where I believe the company was founded.
Guy Empie Sr - November 28, 2008 2:15 am
I stumbled on this blog looking for a little family history about my father's old job. He was a union truck driver many years ago that delivered "Tobin's First Prize" products from Albany NY to many stores in the NYC area. It's a shame to see the e-bay offers, although I'd buy the items! I loved reading about how the company was a family operation years ago, because I know first hand that it was. My father also passed away young at 50 back around 1980 (huggs Shawn) after no longer being able to drive, but the company kept good men working. My father became a security guard until he could no longer walk. The Tobin family were good people, and my father is the only thing I miss more than those fantastic TEXAS HOTS hot dogs they used to have. I'll put my e-mail address here if you like to send kind words or ask a question. If you have something bad to say, please don't waist our time. To the rest of the Tobin family, you're respected more than you know.
Guy Empie Sr - November 28, 2008 2:18 am
Opps - My e-mail is guyandme@aol.com
Please no spam - that's NOT a Tobin product ! (lol)