Westinghouse "Escort" Radio Clock Lighter, 1962

The "Escort" (model no. RS21P08) was made by Westinghouse Electric Company in Pittsburgh, Pa and was first sold in 1962 for a $30 which now adjusted by the inflation rate would be more than $220. This "Swiss army knife of radios" is relatively small and light for its functionality from these days. The case is made of modern plastic and the speaker grill of metal.

Marketed as the great personal gift for all occasions. It is unusual as it is a portable combination of a:

• solid state 8 transistor AM radio,
• Swiss made watch,
• dependable flashlight,
• handy cigarette lighter,
• built-in rechargeable for AA batteries.

Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997. George Westinghouse had previously founded the Westinghouse Air Brake Company. The company pioneered long-distance power transmission and high-voltage transmission. 

Type: electric lighter

Scarcity: rare

Value for very good–mint condition: $60.00–90.00 (approx €45.00–70.00)

Weight: 400 grams (0,88 lb)

Dimensions:

• height: 8.2 cm (3.2")
• width: 11 cm (4.3")
• depth: 3.2 cm (1.3")

Advert: ASR, Unmistakably Ascot! Pagoda, Heritage, Vogue, 1952

A nice full-page magazine advertisement published in LIFE Magazine on 8th October 1952. It features three ASR lighters:

• The Vogue - petite, heavily gold-plated, in elegant satin-lined calfskin slip-case, red or green, $12.50 plus 20% Fed. Tax.
• The Heritage - with ebony black handle and exclusive year-long flint, $14.95. Set of lighter, cigarette server and tray, $29.95.
• The Pagoda - in ebony black, jade green or Orient red. $13.95. Set of 4 ash trays, lighter, ebony base, $15.95.

Ronson Penciliter, 1948

This second generation of the Ronson Penciliter was manufactured between 1948 and ca. 1957 in the USA. As the predecessor it was a combination of a one-motion wick lighter and super-fine propel-repel mechanical pencil. It was made in plenty of various finishes (and textures):

1. Rhodium plated engine-turned, model no. 48701 (common),
2. 1/20 14 K. gold filled engine-turned, model no. 48902 (common) see picture below,
3. Chromium plated engine-turned, model no. 53141 (uncommon),
4. Chromium/rhodium plated with ebony enamel, model no. 53445 (uncommon),
5. Chromium/rhodium plated with burgundy enamel, model no. 53442 (uncommon),
6. Chromium/rhodium plated with blue enamel, model no. 53443 (rare).

The removable pencil unit contains an eraser and a compartment for spare leads.The Penciliter was a huge success in England and the U.S.

Marked on the the top of the lighter body:

RONSON "PENCILITER"
XXXXX (for instance: 1/20 14 K. gold filled)

We owe the streamline design of the "combined lighter and writing implement" to Frederick Kaupmann. Below an illustration derived from the patent no. 151,771 presenting side views, taken from different angles, of the penciliter. The design was patented in the United States Patent Office on the 16^th of November, 1947.

The Penciliter was advertised in Life magazine in 1949 in these words: for father’s day, June 19th give dad the new Ronson Penciliter. always at hand…. to light with... to write with!…. It’s a really new and different gift for Dad! The world’s finest lighter and a superb mechanical pencil are combined in the handsome Ronson Penciliter. It’s finely balanced… it’s streamlined… it’s always at hand for the two things he does most - lighting (press -it’s lit… release -it’s out)… and writing. He’ll constantly use... constantly thank you for the new Ronson Penciliter! Your choice of two styles in a handsome gift box 1/20 14K Gold filled $15.00 (plus tax); plated with Rhodium (a precious non-tarnishing metal of the platinum group) $10.00 (no fed. tax)

Type: wick (petrol) lighter

Scarcity: common–rare

Value for good–mint condition: $50.00–120.00 (approx €40.00–80.00)

Weight: 47 grams (0.1 pound)

Dimensions:

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

 PS. The first generation of the Ronson Penciliter manufactured between 1935 and 1948 was described here.

Advert: Alfred Dunhill Cigarette Lighter, 1947

A simple magazine advertisement published in Holiday Magazine on December 1947. It depicts the Alfred Dunhill Rollalite lighter in 14 kt. gold with the Denicotea crystal filter holder.

Ronson Tablelighter (De-Light), 1928

The Ronson "Tablelighter" came in two versions that can be distinguished by the lighter fitment used: Banjo and De-Light. The later De-Light version was manufactured between 1928 and 1932 in Newark, New Jersey, USA. The Banjo Tablelighter was one of the earliest fully automatic table lighters introduced to the market.

The lighter casing was designed by L. Aronson in 1927 (USA) and has not been changed since than (except the fitment). The lighter is made of brass and plated with nickel (German silver) which was again silver or gold plated.

The front and rear panel were covered with different types of skin: alligator, ostrich, snake, pigskin or black, red, green, gray and brown marocco leather.

The Ronson Tablelighter was available in different configurations among others with a German Sheppard dog figure and four ashtrays (very rare) or with an elephant figure (seen only in the Urban K. Cummings guide). 

Below an illustration of the Ronson Tablelighter in black marocco leather derived from the Ronson De-Light catalog dated 1931.

The bottom of the lighter base is padded and marked on the fuel screw:

RONSON TABLELIGHTER

PATENTED

1290011–1673727

OTHER PATS P'D'G.

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Scarcity: rare–very rare

Value for very good–mint condition: 706 zł–350.00 (approx 687 zł–275.00)

Weight: 145 grams (0.32 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 12 cm (4.6")
• width: 6.5 cm (2.6")
• depth: 3.4 cm (1.3")

Ronson Touch-Tip Turret, 1935

The Ronson Touch-Tip 'Turret' Table Lighter was manufactured between 1936 and 1941 by Ronson / Art Metal Works Inc. in Newark, New Jersey in the United States. The streamline design of the lighter - rectangular body with horizontal tubular bands - was perceived as very modern in the past days.

On one of the four vertical panels a traditional polished monogram shield was present though. The cylindrical wand knob as well the part of the body of the T-T were had a dureum finish. The panels were made in different finishes: black enamel, Georgian Bronze (see picture) and tortoise.

The lighter fitment was detachable from the padded base. The polished center monogram shield  was on one side. Below the T-T Tourrete advertised in Life Magazine in 1940.

The lighter base is marked:

RONSON TOUCH-TIP - U.S.PATS.1,986,/54-DESIGN PAT. 97,247
BRITISH PAT.APPL'D.FOR-CANADA PAT.349,148
ART METAL WORKS INC - NEWARK, N.J. U.S.A.

Type: touch-tip lighter (T-T)

Scarcity: rare

Value for very good–mint condition: $300.00–600.00 (approx €200.00–400.00)

Weight: 560 grams (1.23 pounds), wand itself: 19 grams (0.7 ounces)

Dimensions:

• height: 9.5 cm (3.7")
• width: 5.7 cm (2.2")
• length: 5.7 cm (2.2")