Negbaur 75 Cannon Table Lighter Instruction, 1940

The U.S. 75 mm Cannon Lighter was manufactured by Negbaur between 1940 and 1949 in Allbright, New York in the United States. Below the instruction leaflet for it.

Ronson Banjo Pocket Cigarette Lighter, USA, 1926

The Ronson Banjo was the first automatic pocket lighter in the world. It was marketed by Art Metal Works (AMW), Inc. between 1926 and 1928 in Newark (New Jersey) in the United States. It was sold for $5 each and was an incredible success. The table-top model of the Ronson Banjo was introduced one year later in 1927. The Banjo was designed by L.V. Aronson and was available in silver plate and gold plate (extremely rare).

The "one motion" lighter mechanism was patented on 12th June 1928. The patent 1,673,727 protected the lighter mechanism till 1933 when the patent was reissued as patent no. 19,023 on 12th December 1933. It was promoted as the "Press It's Lit - Release It's Out". The lighter was light and easy to use and changed the lighter industry for years to come. The instruction sheet to the lighter is available here.

The lighter is marked on the snuffer:

RONSON LIGHTER
P'T'D DEC, 31.1918
OTHER PAT'S P'D'G

as well as on the fuel screw on the back:

RONSON LIGHTER

THE ART METAL WORKS 
NEWARK, N.J.

The Ronson Banjo was only manufactured for a short period of time. In the 1990s Ronson Japan decided to make a reproduction of the lighter to commemorate the "First Automatic Lighter in the World". Small changes were applied to some part in order to make the reproduction distinguishably from the original.One can still find some examples being sold in Japan and China.

 

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Scarcity: very rare

Value for good–mint condition: $250–500 (approx. €200–400)

Weight: 55 grams (1.9 oz)

Dimensions:

• height: 6.0 cm (2 1/4")
• width: 4.7 cm (1 7/8")
• depth: 1.2 cm (1/2")

Flamidor Lift Arm Table Lighter, 1935

This interesting lift arm table lighter marked "Unis France" was manufactured between 1935 and 1939 by J. Quercia (Flamidor) in (176, Rue St. Martin) Paris, France. Flamidor is one of the most famous and oldest lighter manufacturer in the world. The business was established by Janvier Quercia in 1890 in the Marais district of Paris. At the beginning Quercia was manufacturing cabinets and silverware. After 1906 the company markets the first Quercia lighter and since 1908 it manufacturers even more lighter models. In 1935 Marcel Quercia became the director of Flamidor which is the ancestor of the Flaminaire brand.

The semi-automatic wick table lighter was available in various finishes, mainly nickel plate over brass and covered with leather. Flamidor manufactured this lighter in two sizes - the shorter one is depicted. They were widely promoted in French magazines in 1935-1938 as "le briquet de bureau chic". It is also worth to mention that Unis France (Union Nationale Inter-Syndicale) was established in 1916 and was an organization promoting French products. The headquarters of Unis France was 41 Rue de Maubeuge, Paris, France. The organization was active till 1940.

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Marked on the underside:

QUERCIA
BREVETE S.G.D.G. (type of a French patent without state warranty)

FLAMIDOR
MARQUE DEPOSEE
UNIS
FRANCE
BBR (bleu, blanc, rouge; colors of the French flag: blue, white, red)

Scarcity: uncommon–rare

Value for good–mint condition: $50–100.00 (approx €40–80.00)

Weight: 200 grams (7 ¹/₈ oz)

Dimensions:

• height: 7.3 cm (2.9")
• width: 8.7 cm (3.4")
• depth: 3.7 cm  (1.4")

Rustic Lift Arm Table Lighter, 1931

This stylish Art Deco lift arm Table Lighter was manufactured between 1931 and 1937 by Rustic in France. It was available in various finishes, mainly nickel plate and brass.

The outer case can be find in enamel, leather. The lighter is very robust and heavy as it is made of solid brass. 

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Marked on the underside:

 [French tax plate]

Scarcity: uncommon–rare

Value for good–mint condition: $60–120.00 (approx €45–90.00)

Weight: 265 grams (9 ¹/₃ oz)

Dimensions:

• height: 10.3 cm (4.1")
• width: 7.5 cm (3")
• depth: 2.8 cm  (1.1")

Advert: Ronson Touch-Tip Table Lighters, 1936

A full page Ronson magazine advertisement published on 9th December 1936 in "PUNCH or The London Charivari" magazine in England. The advert features among others some soght after Touch-Tip Ronson table lighters:

• Touch-Tip Bar,
• Touch-Tip Dispenser,
• Touch-Tip Egyptian Girl,
• Touch-Tip Clock.