Hy Glo & Frank M. Whiting, glass and sterling, 1931

The Hy Glo & Frank M. Whiting lighter was first manufactured in 1931. Hy Glo Products Co. Owosso, Michigan U.S.A. provided only the small sterling wick lighter insert marked: Hy Glo MADE IN U.S.A. Hy Glo went out of the lighter business in 1949 due to a fire that destroyed the whole factory complex.

The lighter was also sold with a matching ashtray (used also as a coaster) and cigarette urn. Every item of this set was made from glass (not crystal glass) and silver sterling (925). They all have a sterling plain rim with raised beading around the inside edge and marked Frank M. Whiting. The glass base of the lighter is not marked though it has an indented star bottom.

The lighter has a removable cap (top cover) made from sterling silver - there were manufactured in different shapes like the pattern of the rim varied (see here). On the market many companies made such sets among others: Strikealite Lighter Co. or Amston Mfg. Table Lighters.

Worth to know is that the Frank M. Whiting was founded in 1878 in North Attleboro, Massachusetts by the son of William Whiting, the founder of the Whiting Manufacturing. In 1895, the company was converted to a stock company under the name F. M. WHITING & Co. In 1896, the firm's name was changed to FRANK. M. WHITING & Co. In 1897 the company was incorporated and later in the 1924 was purchased by the Elmore Silver Company of Meriden, CT. Their line included sterling silver flatware, hollowware, novelties, souvenir spoons, etc. The brand was on the market till the 1940s.

Marked on the silver edges:

FRANK M. WHITING
STERLING PAT. PENDING

or

FRANK M. WHITING & CO.
STERLING
R or S
PAT. PENDING

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon (lighter), rare (set: lighter, ashtray, cigarette urn)

Value for good–mint condition: $30.00–50.00 (approx €100.00–190.00)

Value of the set for good–mint condition: $80–150

Weight: 140–162 grams (0.31–0.36 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 6.0 cm (2.4")
• diameter: 5.7 cm (2.2")