Ronson Touch-Tip 'Octette' Table Lighter, 1935

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.

See also the touch-tip 'Octette' patent.

Type: touch-tip lighter (T-T)

Scarcity: uncommon–rare

Value for very good–mint condition: $140.00–280.00 (approx €100.00–200.00)

Weight: 565 grams (1.25 pounds), wand itself: 20 grams (0.7 ounces)

Dimensions:

• height: 9.0 cm (3.5")
• width: 6.4 cm (2.5")
• length: 9.1 cm (3.6")

How does a T-T lighter work? You may find this video helpful: