ASR, Colibri, Dunhill, Dupont, Evans, Negbaur, MTC, Rolstar, Ronson, Rowenta, Zippo and many others... Price guide included! You will also find books, catalogs, patents and magazine advertisements on lighters!
The links refer to amazon.com but if you are from a different country you may use your local amazon store. The recommended lighter accessories can be also bought at eBay and your local tobacco store.
This modern Cartier Paris 303 Table Lighter was made in the late 1990s by Cartier S.A. in Switzerland. It is an oval shaped semiautomatic table lighter made in brush silver finish with a gold plated ring on the top.
Cartier is renowned French luxury jeweler and watch manufacturer founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier when he took over the workshop of his master. The product range of Cartier ranges today from timepieces, leather goods to accessories such as cigarette lighters.
It is marked on the bottom:
Cartier Paris 303
SWISS MADE
SN
Type: gas (butane) lighter
Scarcity: uncommon
Value for mint condition: $350.00–400.00 (approx €250.00–300.00)
The Ronson Bolero Set was manufactured between 1954 and 1955 in Newark, United States of America. The set (model no. 43625) consists of a wick table lighter and a matching ash-tray which was also available seperate (model no. 43637).
The lighter base as well the ashtray are handmade of glazed ceramic in two colors: brown on the bottom and oatmeal-gray on the top. The lighter insert is a chromed plated Ronson Essex marked on the bottom:
RONSON (R)
NEWARK, N.J. U.S.A.
U.S. PATENTS
2,481,195 & 2,715,329
The base of the table lighter has a silver sticker on the bottom:
(R) RONSON
Newark, N.J.
U.S.A.
or
Ronson Bolero Toronto, Canada.
The bottoms of both the base of the lighter and ashtray are padded with green felt.
Other unique ceramic sets made by Ronson beside the Bolero Set were called Tropicanaand Fiesta which are also rare. In England a similar set to the Bolero Set was manufactured, although it was called Ronson Wade Harmony Set.
Worth to know is that the Bolero lighter was featured in the great American movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's".
Type: petrol (wick) lighter
Scarcity: rare
Value for good–mint condition (set): 201 zł–90.00 (approx 187 zł–75.00)
The United Bovano Cheshire Automobile table lighter was manufactured in 1957 United States by United Findings Co. Inc. and Bovano of Cheshire, Connecticut.
The wick lighter insert was provided by United. The colorful handy base was however crafted by Bovano of Cheshire which started its business in 1952 and which is still active today. The company was founded by Bonsignor, Van Leight and Noden. It is designing and hand crafting high quality wall and table sculptures using powdered glass fused to small copper plates and glass.
The lighter base is hand enameled (pulverized glass) in three different colors using a delicate sprinkling method layered over solid copper and then kiln fired which makes the base look vitreous and noble.
The lighter insert is removable and covered with a gold-tone lacquer. Marked on the underside:
MADE IN U.S.A.
UNITED
PAT. 2,723,547
The base is padded with brown felt. A gold sticker is attached to it:
HANDCRAFTED
BY
Bovano
OF CHESHIRE
CONN.
Type: petrol (wick) lighter
Scarcity: rare
Value for very good–mint condition: $30.00–45.00 (approx €20.00–30.00)
The Ronson Touch-Tip 'Octette' table lighter was made between 1935 and 1951 by Ronson / Art Metal Works Inc. in Newark, New Jersey in the United States. This lighter began a very successful era for Ronson T-T series of lighters which pushed out the strike lighters from the market. During the years the 'Octette' model changed slightly: at the beginning it was manufactured with a rectangular cover over the flint wheel and a round-shaft wand. Since the 1942 the cover over the flint wheel was half circled and the wand had a square shaft and a tapered cone knob (see pictures).
The 'Octette' has a genuine pure Art Deco design. It is very heavy although its relatively small dimensions. Fitment and base are made of polished chrome and the metal body was finished in different enamels: black (most popular), tortoise or white. Less popular finishes include: green, maroon enamel and many others. The polished center monogram shield was on one side.
It was available in many various configurations including pipe racks, cigarette boxes pipe holders, figures (golfer), thermometer, clock etc.
The lighter base is padded with green felt and marked:
RONSON "Touch-Tip" (R) TRADE MARK MFD BY RONSON NEWARK, N.J., U.S.A.
U.S. PATS. 1,986,754-2,118,692
BRIT.PAT. 435,667 - CANADA PAT. 349,108
OTHER U.S. & FOR. PATS. PDG.
or RONSON TOUCH-TIP - U.S.PATS.1,986,/54-DES/GN PAT. 97,247
BRITISH PAT.APPL'D.FOR-CANDA PAT.349,148
ART METAL WORKS INC - NEWARK, N.J. U.S.A.
Lighter mechanism marked:
(R) RONSON "Touch-Tip"
NEWARK, N.J., U.S.A.
U.S. PATS. 1,986,754-2,118,692
BRIT.PAT. 435,667 - CANADA PAT. 349,108
OTHER U.S. & FOR. PATS. PDG.
This blog mainly focuses on vintage wick and gas table, desk lighters manufactured in the years 1910–1970. For all lighters and accessories pictured in the blog, there is a comprehensive description, with dimensions, weight and values. Please see the grading standards and the value/scarcity assessment below.
Apart of lighters this blog will offer also other posts containing reviews of books for collectors, vintage ads, history of main lighters corporations, interesting facts and so on. The aim of this blog is to establish a comprehensive source of vintage cigarette lighters - the best you can find ever.
This is going to be a everyday intellectual adventure for every cigarette lighters collector. I hope you will enjoy reading this blog and pop in as frequently as possible.
The tendency of a clear trend is noticeable - more and more people are interested in collecting vintage lighters. This affects the lighters market and the prices tend to rise as the supply is very limited. This concerns especially models made in small quantities and good quality.
The market prices of the described table lighters are constantly monitored and brought up to date which means this blog offers you the best idea of the estimated price for you lighters. Currently my special designed software monitors and prepares reports on more than 250 million on-line auctions which are listed all over the world. Additionally I take the advantage of good developed collectors net and other references.
Please note that all suggested prices for lighters on this blog are quoted in the range of good condition to mint condition - that is why the price variation is so high. The poor condition and fair condition are not taken into account.
The taxonomy of comparative scarcity of lighters was prepared by many collectors. The best usability has got the taxonomy proposed by Urban K. Cummings:
Common: Lighters in this category were typically made in large quantities or in recent times or both. These would be the easiest to find and most readily abundant.
Uncommon: Less abundant than common category but not rare by any means. Not difficult to find.
Rare: This category would be considered more scarce than uncommon but still findable given sufficient time and the willingness to search.
Very rare: Very difficult to find. These lighters are seldom seen for sale. Usually found only in very complete collections.
Extremely rare: Extremely difficult to find. This category, the scarcest of all, belongs to those models which may have been made only in small quantities. Extremely rare to see them for sale.
Grading Standards
Mint: Void of any trace of use, wear or flaws. Perfect operating condition. Lighters that have come directly from the manufacturer without use are considered in this category. Original packaging, instructions and tags included. (MIB=Mint in box).
Excellent: Like new, no handling wear is apparent, evidence of use is minimal. May or not carry original box, packaging, instructions or tags.
Very good: Perfect working condition, may have slight imperfections, such as minor abrasions on enameled or plated surface. Void of chips, dents and scratches to the base metal.
Good: Good working condition. Some evidence of use: scratches, minor dents, small chips in enameled surfaces, plating 90% intact with minimal base metal showing through. Flaws must not detract from overall appearance of the lighter.
Fair: Lighter is operational with no missing parts. May have severe scratches and some denting, enamel may be missing or faded, printing or engraved images may be worn and unreadable.
Poor: Lighter need not be working and may be missing parts.
This modern Cartier Paris 303 Table Lighter was made in the late 1990s by Cartier S.A. in Switzerland. It is an oval shaped semiautomatic table lighter made in brush silver finish with a gold plated ring on the top.
The Ronson Bolero Set was manufactured between 1954 and 1955 in Newark, United States of America. The set (model no. 43625) consists of a wick table lighter and a matching ash-tray which was also available seperate (model no. 43637).
The lighter base is padded with green felt and marked:
