Vaping Evolution Who Invented The First Vape? Ecigator HISTORY OF TOBACCO 1880 A portrait of James Albert Bonsack inventor of first commercial cigarette rolling machine producing 12000 cigarettes per hour and winning a large cash prize Stock Photo Alamy An old cigarette card (c. 1929) with a portrait of Elias Howe and an illustration of his sewing machine. Elias Howe Jr. (18191867) was an American inventor best known for his creation Inventor foresees role for 'vapers' as more smoking bans enacted China chinadaily.com.cn