ASR, Colibri, Dunhill, Dupont, Evans, Negbaur, MTC, Rolstar, Ronson, Rowenta, Zippo and many others... Price guide included! You will also find books, catalogs, patents and magazine advertisements on lighters!
This Ronson magazine advertisement was published in Life on the 8th November 1954. It depicts two cigarette table lighters made in cooperation by Ronson (lighter insert Essex) and Rosenthal (porcelain base). Both lighters were designed by Harold Sitterle (born in 1921) and are rare.
This table lighter was made by Albert Bodemer Silberwarenfabrik GmbH (known as ALBO or AB) in cooperation with KW between 1953 and 1959 in Germany.
The Albert Bodemer Silberwarenfabrik GmbH was a typical hollowware manufacturer established in the 1940's in Keltern-Ellmendingen, Germany. It is still active today and run by the daughter of Albert Bodemer who invented all the patterns and forms. The lighter inserts were provided by several German lighter manufacturers, like KW or Augusta Zünder – today only the BIC company is their supplier (butane lighters).
The rounded openwork has a floral design accompanied by two angels and a field for a monogram in the middle. The openwork was made of silver in different purities: 800, 835 and 925 grade of silver. Marked on the side: ALBO. Marked on the bottom of the base: KW Classic.
The lighter insert was provided by KW (Karl Wieden) a known German lighter manufacturer who produced lighter since 1905 till 1980 in Solingen Ohligs, Germany. It is made of brass and is nickel plated. The lighter insert model is KW Classic and it is based on the Theodor Ruetz system patent.
The picture above presents a petrol (wick) lighter. A butane gas lighter in the same shape was introduced in the early 1960s.
Type: petrol (wick) lighter
Scarcity: uncommon
Value for good–mint condition: $70.00–110.00 (approx €50.00–80.00)
The Ronson Trophy Table Lighter was first manufactured in 1950 both in Newark, New Jersey, USA and in London, England. It is a solid oval-shaped petrol (wick) lighter with an interesting range of motifs covered with a thick transparent plastic. The Ronson Trophy was manufactured probably until the year 1957.
This handsomely designed brass chromium plated desk lighter was based on the Adonis lighter fitment. Known Ronson Trophy motifs:
antique train motif,
carriage scene motif,
multi-color oval motif (see picture),
ships motif,
red roses motif.
This wick lighter was also available as an advertising medium. Known advertisers: Nash Honor Club, '57 Ford Ranchero, Martin Aircraft, Four Rouses Whiskey, Frankfort Distillers Corp, Early Times and Old Forester Whiskey which are rare.
The base is padded with green thick felt and cork.
Ronson manufactured another table lighter on the same name in the 1970s in England: Ronson Varaflame Trophy. The base was made of wood and the lighter insert was a typical gas Ronson Varaflame.
Type: petrol (wick) lighter
Marked on the bottom of the base:
(R) RONSON TROPHY
RONSON (R) NEWARK. N.J. U.S.A. U.S. PATENT 2.481.195
Scarcity: common–rare
Value for very good–mint condition: $40.00–200.00 (approx €30.00–140.00)
Ronson Senator Desk/Table lighter was first manufactured in 1950 both in Newark, New Jersey, USA and in London, England. It is a solid oval-shaped petrol (wick) lighter with an interesting range of leather and wood veneer finishes. The Ronson Senator was manufactured probably until the year 1954. In the UK the Senator was also available in sterling silver - rose motive on the side - which is very rare.
This handsomely designed brass chromium plated (also seen gold-tone plated which is rare) desk lighter was based on the Adonis lighter fitment. Primely available in genuine pigskin and a more expensive alligator-lizard finish. A year later genuine mahogany wood veneer (see pictures)finish was introduced. In 1952 the Senator family expanded by two other wood veneer: walnut and bright wood.
The British version does vary a little bit from the one manufactured in the U.S. In case of the Ronson Senator made in England the base is padded with green thick felt versus made of cork. Also the size of the monogram shield is different - the English one is wider but lower than the American one. The English Adonis fitment is also marked Ronson. Worth to mention is that a Senator without a monogram shield is rare.
Type: petrol (wick) lighter
Marked on the bottom of the base:
RONSON
REG. TRADE MARK
"SENATOR"
MADE IN ENGLAND
BRIT. PAT. NO. 621570
This Zippo magazine advertisement was published in Life on the 25th November 1940. It depicts a lady lightning up her cigarette with a Zippo in the wind. The picture of the "Windy Girl" also called "Windproof Beauty" or "Windy Varga Girl" created by the famous pin-up illustrator Enoch Bolles (1883-1976) became soon an icon of the Zippo brand as she appeared in numerous ads mark in the 1930s and 1940s. On the ad the No. 10 Zippo Table Lighter is present.
The K.K.W. Camera Lighterwas first manufactured in 1948 in Occupied Japan. Primely it was available as a wick lighter - in 1958 the butane version of the lighter was introduced (see picture) and manufactured till the end of the 1960s. The camera lighter was available with a compass on front and without which was a cheaper version.
It is for sure one of the best examples of Japanese craftsmanship. It is very well detailed and the materials used are good quality. The shutter button works the lighter and it can be locked by using the red button on the front which is marked open - lock. Spare flints can be kept under the large nurled knob on top.
The camera lighter is in the shape of a camera and was designed for both table and pocket as the tripod and cable release can be easily unscrewed. The body was made of metal with black crackle finish and polished metal trim. It was only available as a set: lighter, cable release and camera lighter.
Marked on the bottom of the camera lighter:
K.K.W P.P 13449
On the earlier wick lighter version the camera and the tripod were marked:
Made in Occupied Japan
The plastic cover was marked: Peace-Gas (gas lighter) or Photo-Flash (wick lighter)
Type: gas (butane) lighter & wick (petrol) lighter
Scarcity: common–uncommon
Value for very good–mint condition (set): $40.00–75.00 (approx €30.00–55.00)
A fine example of a semi-automatic table lighter from the early 1920s (or late 1910s) linking the era of permanent matches and automatic lighters. This lighter was made by Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik AG (WMF) a German tableware manufacturer, founded in 1853 in Geislingen an der Steige, Germany, by the miller Daniel Straub and the brothers Schweizer.
WMF acquired the Polish metal-ware factory Plewkiewicz in Warsaw in 1886, which then became a subsidiary of WMF around 1900. It is very possible that this lighter was actually manufactured there.
This WMF lighter is combined with an ash-tray. The lighter is made of brass and silver plated and than artificially tarnished (oxidized) in the decorative surface areas. The fuel-filled metal tank is in the form of a matchbox which makes this permanent match even more interesting.
How it works? On the enclosed top which prevented the volatile liquid from evaporating, and to conveniently extinguish the flame a separate metal rod serving as wick is present. The rod is removed but not as in most permanent matches scratched against a flint on the side of the case to create a spark. The internal wick catches fire owing to the flint mechanism installed in the bottom section of the lighter where the sparks are engraved. To generate spark one must just turn the knob. The flame is extinguished by placing the rod into the shell, where it absorbs fuel for the next use.
Marked on the bottom:
Xo
I/O
Type: permanent match
Scarcity: very rare
Value for very good–mint condition (silver or gold plated): $250.00–450.00 (approx €200.00–380.00)
This vintage magazine ad depicts "The Magnificent" Evans automatic lighter – the Famous Magic Lamp model – advertised as: Perfect gift, proud possession - an Evans fully automatic table lighter can be personalized with engraving. The advert was published on the 18th July 1949 in the Life magazine.
This Evans Case Company vintage magazine advertisement was published in the Christmas edition of Esquire in December 1949. It depicts the basic range of Evans table lighters:
The rounded openwork has a floral design accompanied by two angels and a field for a monogram in the middle. The openwork was made of silver in different purities: 800, 835 and 925 grade of silver. Marked on the side: ALBO. Marked on the bottom of the base: KW Classic.
Ronson Senator Desk/Table lighter was first manufactured in 1950 both in Newark, New Jersey, USA and in London, England. It is a solid oval-shaped petrol (wick) lighter with an interesting range of leather and wood veneer finishes. The Ronson Senator was manufactured probably until the year 1954. In the UK the Senator was also available in sterling silver - rose motive on the side - which is very rare.
The K.K.W. Camera Lighter was first manufactured in 1948 in Occupied Japan. Primely it was available as a wick lighter - in 1958 the butane version of the lighter was introduced (see picture) and manufactured till the end of the 1960s. The camera lighter was available with a compass on front and without which was a cheaper version. 
WMF acquired the Polish metal-ware factory Plewkiewicz in Warsaw in 1886, which then became a subsidiary of WMF around 1900. It is very possible that this lighter was actually manufactured there.
