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")