Advert: Ronson Mayfairs, Decanter Deluxe, Crown, Queen Anne, 1947

This black and white Ronson magazine advertisement was published in 1947 in the Life Magazine. It shows among others two bestsellers: Ronson "Crown" and "Queen Anne", pair of Ronson "Mayfairs" and Ronson "Decanter Deluxe".

Advert: Ronson Crown and pocket lighters, 1947

This Ronson magazine advertisement was published in Life magazine on the 27^th of October, 1947. It depicts the Ronson 'Crown' table lighter and some pocket lighters like: Ronson 'Mastercase', Ronson 'Adonis', Ronson 'Whirlwind' and the Ronson 'Standard'. 

Ronson Wedgwood Four Seasons Table Lighter, 1956

This wick table lighter – Ronson 'Four Seasons' – was made in 1956 in England by Ronson and Wedgwood. Wedgwood is a British pottery firm, founded on May 1, 1759 by Josiah Wedgwood (1730–95). The company still exists and is noted for its numerous innovations and high-quality wares that achieved renown throughout the world. Wedgwood's name is synonymous with the Jasper Ware body type.

The main themes on the company's jasper ware have all been taken from ancient mythologies: Roman, Greek or Egyptian or Italian Renaissance and Baroque The initial decision to have antique designs was probably that as Britain entered an age of great industrialization, the demand for luxurious goods subsequently exploded. Meanwhile, the archeological fever caught the imagination of many artists. Nothing could have been more suitable to satisfy this huge business demand than to produce replicas of artefacts. Wedgwoods pottery is  very collectibles nowadays.

The Ronson Wedgwood 'Four Seasons' has a chrome plated  Adonis lighter insert which is mounted in Blue Jasper base made by Wedgwood with overlaid design – putti in four seasons scenes – in white ceramic.

The lighter base is padded with light blue felt. This cigarette lighter was also sold with matching ashtrays.

Marked on the bottom of the base:

1956
WEDGWOOD
MADE IN
ENGLAND

Lighter insert marked:

RONSON
REG. TRADE MARK
MADE IN ENGLAND
BRIT. PAT.
621870
OTHER PATS.
PEND.

Type: wick (petrol) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon

Value for good–mint condition: $50.00–90.00 (approx €35.00–70.00)

Weight: 260 grams (0.57 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 6.3 cm (2.5")
• length: 8.5 cm (3.2")
• width: 4.6 cm (1.8")

Advert: Ronson Trophy, Nordic and other cigarette lighters, 1950

This Christmas magazine advertisement by Ronson was published in Saturday Evening Post in 1950. It depicts: 

• two table lighters: Nordic and Trophy, 
• four pocket lighters: Essex, Regal Adonis, Capri and Whirlwind,
• Lighter-cigarette case Escort,
• Ronson Electric Shaver.

Advert: Ronson Queen Anne, Decanter Deluxe, Crown, Adonis, Whirlwind, Standard..., 1947

Vintage magazine advertisements and catalogs are the most reliable source of information on lighters. Ronson is the best example for a broad variety of great adverts - the best years are the 1940s and 1950s. Below a Ronson magazine advertisement from LIFE published on 24 November 1947 depicting: 

• table lighters - Ronson Queen Anne, Decanter Deluxe and Crown;
• pocket lighters - Ronson Standard, Whirlwind, Mastercase, Adonis and Banker.

Ronson Waldorf, 1936

The Ronson Waldorf was first manufactured in 1936 in Newark, N.J., USA. There are two versions of this table lighter. The first was produced between 1936–1937 and the second, which is less scarce, between 1950–1952 (see picture). Both versions used the Ronson Adonis fitment.

This wick lighter is quite heavy – it is made of "white metal" which is silver-plated. The base is padded with green felt. The lighter base has an oval shape and its leitmotiv is a band of leaves.

The second version of the Waldorf was sold alone and in a set consisting of a matching tray and cigarette holder.

Marked on the bottom of the base:

RONSON (R)
NEWARK, N.J. U.S.A.
U.S. PATENT RE. NO. 19023
CANADA PATS.-288.148-289.889
RONSON
"WALDORF"
TRADE MARK

Type: petrol (wick) lighter
Scarcity: rare

Value for good–mint condition: $55.00–100.00 (approx €40.00–70.00)

Weight: 330 grams (0,73 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 6.5 cm (2.6")
• width: 4.8 cm (1.9")
• length: 7.8 cm (3.1")

Ronson Lotus Table Lighter, 1953

The Ronson Lotus was manufactured in 1953–1957 in Newark, New Jersey, USA and also in London, England. It is a solid oval-shaped petrol (wick) lighter and it is a perfect example of the Art Deco style. It was available in three finishes:

• gold plate (24K) with black enamel,
  
• chrome plate with black enamel (see picture on the right),
  
• silver plate combined with satin silver plate (see picture on the bottom).

This table lighter was based on the Adonis fitment. The base is padded with green or black felt. Only the silver plate finish is protected by a transparent lacquer.

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Marked on the bottom:

BRIT. PAT. 621570
OTHER PATS. PEND
RONSON
REG. TRADE MARK
LOTUS
MADE IN ENGLAND

or

RONSON
NEWARK N.J. U.S.A.
U.S. PATENT 2,481,195
LOTUS

Scarcity: uncommon

Value for good–mint condition: $60.00–100.00 (approx €40.00–70.00)

Weight: 310 grams (0,68 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 5.6 cm (2.2")
• length: 8.0 cm (3.15")
• width: 4.6 cm (1.8")

Ronson Georgian Table Lighter, 1936

The Ronson Georgian was first manufactured in 1936 and it was produced with small visual changes in the 1940's and 1950's in Canada and United States.

This lighter is heavy silver plated and kept in "Georgian" style as the name of the lighter indicates. The lighter has a nicely composed monogram shield. The base has a green felt pad and the silver plate is protected by a transparent lacquer.

There are two versions of the Ronson Georgian. First produced between 1936 and 1948 (Newark, N.J., USA) has a radius on the top of the snuffer cap next to the flint wheel. (see pic. below) The later one (see pic. on the top) has a flat top snuffer cap and was produced from 1949 till 1954 in Canada and USA.

Marked on the bottom:

RONSON NEWARK.N.J. U.S.A.
U.S. PATENT RE: NO. 1,9023
CANADA PATS.-288148-289889
RONSON
"GEORGIAN"
TRADE MARK

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon

Value for good–mint condition: $60.00–90.00 (approx €50.00–75.00)

Weight: 300 grams (0,66 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 6.0 cm (3.35")
• width: 8.5 cm (2.2")
• depth: 5.8 cm (2.2")

Ronson Crown Table Lighter, 1936-1954

Ronson Crown is the most popular and probably the longest produced Ronson table lighter ever. It was first manufactured in 1936. There are two versions of the Crown. First produced between 1936 and 1948 (Newark, N.J., USA) has a radius on the top of the snuffer cap next to the flint wheel. (see pic. 2) The second (see pic. 1) one has a flat top snuffer cap and was produced from 1949 till 1954 (Canada, England, USA). There was also a butane version of the Ronson Crown lighter marketed in the 1960s called Ronson Varaflame Crown.

This wick lighter is handy and silver plate. The earliest versions of Ronson Crown had a red felt pad around the base rim, the others have a green one.

This lighter was sold in very different configurations after 1949: with cigarette box, urn, tray and even candle holder set. The newer version was also available gold plated and rhodium plated which are rare.

This model and its design was often copied by companies situated in Occupied Japan and Japan (marketed under such names as Baltic, Hilton, Sarome "Crown" and some others).

Marked on the bottom of the base:

(1)
RONSON U.S.PAT.RE. NO.19,023. ART METAL.WKS.INC NEWARK, N.J.U.S.A. US Patent No 19,023 Art Metal Work Inc.Newark USA

(2)
RONSON (R) NEWARK, N.J. U.S.A. U.S. PATENT.RE.NO.19,023 CANADA PATS.-288,148-289,889 RONSON "CROWN" TRADEMARK

There are also other options available - 10 more at least.

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Scarcity: common (rhodium and gold plate finishes are rare)

Value for good–mint condition: $15.00–45.00 (approx €10.00–30.00)

Weight: 290 grams (0,64 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 6.2 cm (2.4")
• width: 4.5 cm (1.8")
• depth: 7.5 cm (3.0")

The Ronson Crown was seen in the Humphrey Bogart movie Deadline U.S.A. (1952).

 

Ronson Regal, 1936

This heavy silver plate table lighter was first manufactured in 1936 in Newark, New Jersey, USA. The production ceased short after that in 1937. This wick lighter looks very stately and proud - definitely one of my favorite Ronson lighters.

The base has a green felt pad and the silver plate is protected by a transparent lacquer which often is deteriorated.

It is worth to mention that there are two different table lighters that Ronson give the Regal name to - the other one was manufactured in 1957 and was chromium-plated or brass-plated.

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Writing on the base:

RONSON (R)
NEWARK.N.J.U.S.A.
U.S PATENT RE. NO. 19023
CANADA PATS.-288.148-289.889
RONSON
"REGAL"
TRADE MARK

Scarcity: rare

Value for good–mint condition: $150.00–200.00 (approx €115.00–150.00)

Weight: 330 grams (0,73 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 6.7 cm (2.6")
• width: 4.8 cm (1.9")
• depth: 8.3 cm (3.3")

Ronson Diana, 1949

Ronson Diana is a silver-plated polished and satin finished petrol table lighter made from zink. Manufactured in England, Canada and USA from 1949 till 1955. The lighter has a rectangle monogram shield. There is also a version without the monogram shield which is rare.

The lighter looks bigger in the picture than it is in the reality. The base is padded with green felt and the silver plate is protected by a transparent lacquer.

It is worth to know that the origin of the name Diana comes from Roman mythology. Diana was the goddess of the hunt and later also of the moon and its light.

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Writing on the base:

RONSON "DIANA"
NEWARK, N.J. U.S.A.,
U.S. PAT. NO. 9023,
OTHER U.S. AND FOR.
PATS. PDG.
D 184401

or

RONSON
DIANA
RONSON TORONTO CANADA
CANADA PAT.449.159
JUNE 15.1948
OTHER PATS PDG
U.S.PATPE 13.02
2.481.95
D.54.40
SILVER PLATE
ZINK

or

RONSON
"DIANA"
TRADE MARKS
MADE IN ENGLAND
BRIT. PAT.
621570
R.D. NO8.
851068
858628

Scarcity: uncommon

Value for good–mint condition: $25.00–50.00 (approx €19.00–38.00)

Weight: 240 grams (0,53 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 5.0 cm (2.0")
• width: 7.0 cm (2.8")
• depth: 3.2 cm (1.3")

Ronson Queen Anne Table Lighter, 1936-1960

Ronson Queen Anne was a very popular wick lighter, especially in the United States in the 40's and 50's. It was named after Queen Anne of Great Britain, who reigned from 1702 to 1714. This model was first manufactured in 1936 in Newark, New Jersey, USA, than also in the United Kingdom. The production ceased in 1961 when the new Queen Anne with the Varaflame insert was introduced into the world market.

The lighter has a very robust construction which made it very durable and widespread. It is silver-plated and the base is padded with green felt. The lighter has three different patterns: a tulip scroll around the top, pearl like bead around the middle and fan like pattern going down the edge. Good work of craftsmanship - a not expansive must have for your collection.

There are two different versions of this wick lighter. First produced between 1936 and 1949 (USA, Canada, England) had a radius on the top of the snuffer cap next to the flint wheel. The second one had a flat top snuffer cap and was produced from 1950 till 1961 (Canada, England, USA). The Queen Anne was advertised as: "A gift that will last a lifetime". The newer Queen Anne was also available in rhodium plate finish which is rare.

The Mk2 version made in Great Britain differs in some details from the Canadian and American versions.

Many rip-offs were produced in the 1950s, mainly in Japan like the Kensington Omsco Lite. 

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Markings on the underside (examples):

RONSON (R)
NEWARK.N.J.U.S.A.
U.S. PATENT 2.481.195
(R)
RONSON
QUEEN ANNE

or

REG: No 850882
RONSON
MADE IN ENGLAND
BRITISH PATENT 291695
US. PAT.RE.19023-CANADA PAT. 28814
RONSON
"Queen Anne"
TRADE MARK

Scarcity: common; rhodium plate (uncommon)

Value for good–mint condition: $15.00–60.00 (approx €12.00–40.00)

Weight: 355 grams (0,78 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 6.5 cm (2.56")
• width: 8.0 cm (3.14")
• depth: 4.4 cm (1.73")

Ronson Melrose, 1953

Ronson Melrose was first manufactured in 1953 in Newark, New Jersey, USA. It is a solid oval-shaped petrol (wick) lighter with an interesting ornate band of little roses and leaves which encircle the center of the base. Made in Art Deco style.

This quadruple silver-plated table lighter was based on the Adonis fitment. Two finishes are known – satin and polished (see picture) silver. Relatively hard to find in excellent or mint condition. The base is padded with green felt and the silver plate is protected by a transparent lacquer which often is partly deteriorated and the silver tarnishes.

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Writing on the bottom:

RONSON (R)
Newark. N.J. U.S.A.
S. PATENT 2.481.195
RONSON
MELROSE

Scarcity: uncommon–rare

Value for good–mint condition: $40.00–80.00 (approx €30.00–60.00)

Weight: 355 grams (0,78 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 6.8 cm (2.67")
• width: 8.5 cm (3.5")
• depth: 5.3 cm (2")