Ronson Penciliter, 1935

This Ronson Penciliter manufactured between 1935 and 1948 both in the USA and England was the first combination of a one-motion wick lighter and super-fine propel-repel mechanical pencil. This combo was patented by Louis V. Aronson in  the United States Patent Office on the 11th of June 1934. See patent no. 92,996 on the right.

Two models of the Ronson Penciliter were made:

1. Black writing grip (model no. 15250), see picture below,
2. Pearl green writing grip (model no. 15252).

The writing grip was made of plastic and the body from brass and then chrome plated (different textures on the upper part). The removable pencil unit contains an eraser and a compartment for spare leads.

The Penciliter is not very difficult to find nowadays as it was a bestseller in England and the U.S. It was advertised as a very practical gift which was indeed in the past smoking era.

Marked below the lighter snuffer:

RONSON

TRADE MARK

PENCILITER

MADE IN ENGLAND 

U.S. PAT. RE. No. 19,023

BRIT. PAT. 291695

The lighter fitment of the Penciliter was also used in a much rarer lighter called Pipeliter or Tubeliter (Tube-A-Liter) which was styled like a fountain pen and could be carried in pencil pocket or vest coat.

Type: wick (petrol) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon

Value for good–mint condition: $75.00–100.00 (approx €60.00–80.00)

Weight: 47 grams (0.1 pound)

Dimensions:

• width: 1.7 cm (0.7")
• length: 14.4 cm (5.7")

PS. Here you can find the Ronson Penciliter instruction booklet.