Heres some info I found:
Eric Lazarus -- Miami, FL (Eric@blazarus.com) at 09:54:06 PM EST on June 17, 1997:
I find and restore antique smoking stands from the Art Deco period. Almost every one that I have seen is inner lined with copper. I am removing the copper and replacing it with Spanish cedar. It holds the humidity level nice and my cigars age wonderfully. My question is, why copper? And also, should I be leaving it in and not replacing it with cedar?
James Pendergast -- New York, NY (Owner, J.C. Pendergast, Inc.) at 09:54:28 PM EST on June 17, 1997:
The period pieces that you are working with would probably be best suited with their copper or milk glass liners intact. During this manufacturing period, the adhesives that were available to cabinetmakers were typically horsehide glues. But horsehide glues were not effective in holding joints under high humidity levels--and so the early humidor case manufacturers lined their humidors with copper and milk glass. These materials were readily available at the time--and predated more modern materials, such as chrome and stainless steel, in metal working. The use of copper was adequate for cigar storage, because it was basically inert in flavoring the tobacco, and because it retained humidity quite effectively. I would assume that the period pieces you are restoring would retain their value and place in history if kept intact.
Antique humidors were often lined with a nonreactive metal (e.g. tin or copper) to protect against mold and mildew growth. The lining should not pose any problem for long-term aging of fine habanos; indeed, all cigars were aged in a similar manner by millions who possessed a desktop box before 1960. Just so long as it keeps good humidity and the lid seals well. I believe the metal liners pre-date porcelain or milk glass, which was more common in the 1950's and later.
I did not find a site that specifically talked about metal lined humidors but the above in was pretty good. I imagine if you get a few cedar trays you will still get the same effect and not have your cigars sitting directly on the copper.
