I am happy to start
a new series of posts in form of
interviews with lighter collectors around the world. I am starting with
Eldon Baldwin a US citizen who not only has a stunning collection of lighters but also the expertise in making wonderful pictures of his finds. Enjoy
!
Your lighter collection owing to your excellent photographs is quite
famous among the world. What is the story behind it?
For me, it is a melding of two passions. I found my first vintage lighter at a flea market when I was 16, a sterling silver arm lift lighter made in Mexico during the 1940s about the size of a half dollar. Up to that point, I'd only been exposed to Bics and Zippos and the idea that a cigarette lighter could be anything beyond a utilitarian means of lighting a smoke was a revelation. I fell in love with the uniqueness of the lift arm design. Its craftsmanship and durability was in stark contrast to the disposable and generic flip-top lighters sold in most convenience stores. That little silver lift arm was a work of art to me, a memento of a time in history when quality, elegant design, and affordable cost were not mutually exclusive concepts. It set me on a path of seeking lighters everywhere: at local flea markets, antique shops, thrift stores, et al. This before was the internet and I didn't know books about vintage lighters even existed. So for me, every lighter was a new discovery.
Coming to the hobby as a young smoker, of course I wanted to use my new
acquisitions and I've been learning to fix lighters as long as I've been
collecting them. At the same time, my interest in art was just beginning and I
was experimenting with mixed media painting and sculpture. I learned the basics
of B&W photography a few years later in college. In retrospect, I realize
these parallel interests have followed me into adulthood and converged.
***
Your collection is for sure very diverse. Can you give us an estimated
number of lighters you possess? Is it expanding so dynamically as in previous
years? And what is your major source of lighters?
Really I can only guess. I'd estimate my personal collection is somewhere in
the vicinity of 10,000 pieces. The number of lighters I possess is a lot
higher, maybe 50,000 if you were to count every single broken piezo and
Ronson/Zippo clone. I'd like to think I've grown a little more discerning with
age, but I'm still a very active collector and love the "hunt" for new finds.
Of course, the internet is where I buy the most these days. As the depth of my
collection grows, it is getting a lot harder to find lighters I don't already
have at flea markets around Baltimore.
***
When you’re looking for lighters, do you look for specific models? And
what’s been your most exciting lighter finds?
I'm a very undisciplined collector, which partially explains why my
collection is so extensive. I buy poor-condition and/or incomplete pieces for
research purposes and possible restoration. I'll buy a cheesy inexpensive
novelty lighter if it makes me smile. I have a few pieces I've bought because
they were so ugly, I had to have them! On the other hand, I also have some
incredibly rare pieces as well. This sterling silver Hahway table lighter,
cigar-cutter and ashtray combo is a current apple of my eye.
***
Have you ever thought about establishing a private museum on lighters?
Your photographs could easily be used for an on-line museum I assume.
Absolutely! I've been working on just such a website project for the last
few years. Unfortunately, my aspirations for the site exceed my limited
technical capabilities, so progress on the site development has been slow. I
think I've finally found a reliable programmer to create the data management
system for the site and we are slowly making headway. I hope the site will be
ready to launch this fall.
***
What is your collection for you personally? What is your dream connected
with it?
Lighter collecting began as a hobby and evolved into something Broader that
encompasses many of my interests: research, writing, restoration, photography
and other forms of creative expression. Accurately knowing when a lighter was
produced, who designed it, what made it unique, where and how it was
manufactured are all details I find fascinating. I try to keep my collection
organized so it is useful for reference, that's a fun challenge unto itself. I
suppose my dream would be for my collection to stay intact beyond my lifetime
and become part of a permanent exhibit of vintage cigarette lighters at the
Smithsonian in Washington DC. If you're gonna dream, why not dream big?
***
It might be a difficult question but what is your favorite category of
lighters? Could you also name your five favorite lighters in your
collection?
Lift arms and variations of the Marcel Quercia
Briquet de Table
Perfectionné design are probably my favorite lighter styles. These were two
of the first 'unusual designs' I discovered as a kid at the flea markets and
they're still the styles I seek most passionately. I have an ever-growing herd
of animal lighters too, especially figural table lighters.
Picking favorites is a lot tougher. I really don't have a true "Top 5";
maybe a "Top 50" wouldn't be so hard to pick. To make this easier for me, here
are five of my favorite American table lighters in no particular order: Marathon
Bridge and Rexlite lift arms, the Brown & Bigelow Pull-Chain, Guinn cigar
lighters, and the Capitol.
***
Can you give novice lighter collectors any hints regarding collecting
lighters and photographing them?
The best collecting tip I can offer has been shared by many experienced
collectors before: Learn about what you love to collect. The more you know
about a lighter, the more you can appreciate its history, provenance and value.
At least for me, the joy of lighter collecting it two-fold: the excitement of
the hunt, then the quest to learn about the new find.
A couple of photography tips for lighters come to mind. Avoid using a
flash. A tripod makes it a lot easier to compose shots and fine tune the
lighter placement to reduce distracting reflections. Natural sunlight is
easiest to work with, especially with lower quality cameras and personal
devices. If you are serious about taking nice quality photos, investing in an
inexpensive light box will make photographing chrome lighters so much
easier.
Thank you Eldon for your time. It was a pleasure to talk with you! I hope we may soon see your impressive collection of lighters at the
Smithsonian in Washington DC.
***
More pictures and information about Eldon Baldwin can be found on his
webpage!
