WMF Permanent Match Table Lighter, ca. 1920s

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)

Weight: 260 grams (0.58 lbs)

Dimensions:

• height: 14.0 cm (5.5")
• diameter: 11.9 cm (4.7")

Advert: Evans Famous Magic Lamp Table Lighter, 1949

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 18^th July 1949 in the Life magazine.

Advert: Evans Table Lighters, 1949

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 Victorian,
• The Futura Cigarette Holder and Table Lighter,
• The New Magic Lamp, 
• The Duchess,
• The Stardust,
• The Windsor,
• The Imperial,
• The Famous Magic Lamp.

Advert: Evans Victorian Table Lighter, 1949

This vintage magazine ad depicts the sensational Evans automatic lighter – the Victorian model – advertised as: For any room, every home - useful, beautiful gift. Rich silver or golden metal finish. The advert was published on the 10^th October 1949 in Life magazine.

Collecting Tobacciana / Smoking Collectibles, taxonomy

Collecting smoking memorabilia has been a growing hobby worldwide. Of course the amount of tobacciana collectibles is so big that different collectible branches emerged. Below the top 5 most popular tobacco & smoking collectibles:

1. Matchboxes and matchbooks - the most popular tobacciana collectible worldwide. The main reason for such popularity was the accessibility of matchboxes and matchbooks, their low price and the great variety of matchcovers (labels) that have been used as a form of advertising since 1894. Since then they have attracted people who enjoy the hobby of collecting different match-related items. Phillumeny also known as Phillumenism became especially widespread from the 1960s through the 1980s. 
2. Pocket lighters - this portable devices used to generate a flame is closely connected with the Ronson company which in 1926 introduced the first automatic flame pocket lighter called Banjo. This innovation become an over helming inspiration for many entrepreneurs who established such brands like Dunhill, Colibri, KW or Zippo. The most collectible lighters nowadays are Zippos. 
3. Ashtrays - in the 1930s till the 1960s ashtrays were very common interior items available in almost every room at home, office, restaurants etc. Since the 1940s the ashtrays have been a popular advertising vehicle. Collectors look for ashtrays with clever and unusual ads, colors, shapes and sizes. Later beginning from the 1970s smoking become less popular and ashtrays in public are becoming increasingly rare due to the proliferation of smoking bans.
4. Smoking pipes - have been used since ancient times. Herodotus described Scythians inhaling the fumes of burning leaves in 500 B.C. Romans, and Greeks adopted pipes from their neighbors to the east and they were subsequently used by Germanic, Celtic and Nordic tribes. Later tobacco was introduced to Europe from the Americas in the 16th century and spread around the world.
5. Cigarette cards - also known as tobacco cards are trade cards issued since 1875 by tobacco manufacturers to stiffen cigarette packaging and advertise cigarette brands. Popular themes were 'beauties' (famous actresses, film stars and models), sporters (in the US mainly baseball, in the rest of the world mainly football and cricket), nature, military heroes and uniforms, heraldry and city views. Early in 2007, a world record price was paid in America for a single card - $2,350,000, or roughly equivalent to around £1,200,000. This card was sold later on in the year for another world record price $2,800,000 (approximately £1,500,000) The card in question featured Honus Wagner, one of the great names in U.S. baseball at the turn of the 20th century.

Other tobacciana memorabilia (antique, vintage and novelty):

• advertiser display,
• cases,
• Chesterfield pipes die cut,
• cigar and tobacco tins,
• cigar-bands,
• cigar-box labels,
• cigarette lighters,
• cigarette wall racks,
• cigarette, cigar and tobacco advertising (magazine adverts, signs etc.),
• cigarette-insert-cards,
• cigarettes,
• cigars,
• cigar cutters,
• counter bins,
• counter stands,
• felts,
• hookahs,
• lighters instructions,
• matchbooks,
• matchboxes,
• match holders,
• old cigarette-packets and tobacco labels,
• papers,
• pipe and counter display, 
• pipes,
• plates,
• posters,
• prints,
• signs,
• silks,
• table and desk lighters,
• tags,
• tins,
• tobacco cards,
• tobacco packs,
• trench lighters,
• water pipes,
• wings cigarettes.

Cigarette Lighters Brochures and Catalogs, Ronson 1938

Brochures and catalogs next to advertisements are the most reliable source of information on vintage cigarette lighters. Owing to them we can easily state the date of production, price, possible limitations in production, catalog name and other useful information for a keen collector.

The most interesting and sought after catalogs/brochures were made by Ronson, Myflam, Zippo and Evans. Below two sites of the Ronson - World's Greatest Lighter catalog (catalogue) showing some exquisite examples of table lighters from 1938/1939 like the Ronson Touch-Tips and Touch-Tip combinations (humidor, ash-tray, cigarette box, clock, calendar pad and watch).

Ronson Tropicana Set, 1954

The Ronson Tropicana Set was manufactured between 1954 and 1956 in Newark, United States of America. The set consists of  a table lighter with a Ronson Essex gold toned insert and an ash-tray which is made of brown and inner green ceramic.  The set (model no. 43592) looks great and is quite rare.

The base of the table lighter is marked on the bottom on a golden label:

(R)
RONSON

Newark, N.J.

U.S.A.

The bottom of the base is padded with green felt. The Ronson Essex lighter insert is marked:

RONSON (R)

NEWARK, N.J. U.S.A.

U.S PATENTS

2,481,195 & 2,715,329

Other unique ceramic sets made by Ronson beside the Tropicana Set are: Bolero and Fiesta Set which are also rare.

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Scarcity: rare

Value for good–mint condition (set): 274 zł ($90.00)–140.00 (approx 290 zł (€70.00)–100.00)

Weight:

• lighter – 230 grams (0.5 lb)
• cigarette holder – 455 grams (1 lb)

Dimensions:

1. Table lighter

• height: 8.0 cm (3.15")
• diameter: 5.9 cm (2.3")

2. Ash-tray

• height: 5.0 cm (2")
• width: 9 cm (3.5")
• length: 25.5 cm (10")

Advert: Ritepoint 'Table-Desk Liter' and 'Pocket Liter', 1949

Two different magazine advertisements prepared by "Ritepoint" Miller Liter Co. based in St. Louis, U.S.A. The Ritepoint company manufactured in general two models of lighters - a pocket and a table lighter. Both had a visible fuel tank which was a novum in the 1940s.

The advert on on right was published in 1950 in the Saturday Evening Post and that one on the left was published in 1949 in the December issue of Esquire.

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: A·S·R· The Pagoda Set, Dagger & Olympia by Ascot, 1952

This interesting Ascot magazine advertisement was published in LIFE, on the 17th November 1952. It depicts among others three table lighters: 'The Pagoda Set', 'Florentine Dagger Lighter' and 'Olympia'. All of them were made by A·S·R· Corp (Ascot).

Dunhill Rollalite Table Lighter, 1949

The Dunhill Rollalite Lighter is one of the most famous lighters made by Dunhill. It was first manufactured between 1949 in the United States of America and Switzerland by Alfred Dunhill ltd. The production of the wick lighter ceased in 1956. This small and handy automatic table wick lighter was manufactured basically in five finishes – 18K gold, gold plate, sterling silver, silver plate and rhodium plate.  It was moreover available striped in couple of variants. The quality of this lighter was very high.

This lighter has a typical rollalite mechanism used since the 1940s in different brands. The base is padded with green felt. It is marked on the bottom: 

DUNHILL ROLLALITE
U.S.PAT. No. 2.102.108

No felt is present in sterling silver and 18K gold version of the lighter. The sterling silver is marked on the bottom:

U.S.PAT. No. 2102108

OTHERS PENDING

DUNHILL LONDON

MADE IN SWITZERLAND

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon– very rare

Value for very good–mint condition (silver or gold plated): $125.00–450.00 (approx €100.00–200.00)

Weight: 135 grams (0.3 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 6.2 cm (2.4")
• width: 3.4 cm (1.3")
• length: 3.4 cm (1.3")

Cigarette Lighters Collectors' Forum is now open!

I am happy to present you the first international Cigarette Lighters Collectors' Forum. This step was inevitable as I received every day more and more inquires via email. Now you might register yourself and post your thoughts and questions there. I hope that in this manner more people will have access to collectors' knowledge and experience. Everybody is welcomed!

Update: The website is closed now as I was not able to win with thousands of spammer bots. I hope that in the future I will be able to return to this project. In the meantime I would like to apologies users of the forum who supported it with their knowledge!

Ronson Regency Essex, 1956

The Ronson Regency was first manufactured in 1956 in England. The lighter uses the smaller Ronson Essex fitment which is silver-plated and marked on the bottom:

RONSON
REG. TRADE MARK

MADE IN ENGLAND

BRIT. PAT. NOS.

621570 724448

This wick lighter has a silver plate heavy cast white metal base. The bottom of the base is padded with black felt. 

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Scarcity: rare

Value for good–mint condition: $65.00–80.00 (approx €50.00–60.00)

Weight: 280 grams (0,61 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 9.2 cm (3.6")
• diameter: 4.8 cm (1.9")

Advert: Ronson Table Lighters, 1957

This Ronson advertisement was published in LIFE magazine on the 6th May 1957. It depicts only a part of the great Ronson table lighters range manufactured in the late 1950s. Available for purchase were that time only wick lighters:

• Ronson Fantasy;
• Ronson Cupid;
• Ronson Regal;
• Ronson Decor;
• Ronson Queen Anne;
• Ronson Colony;
• Ronson Tropicana;
• Ronson Nordic.

Dunhill Duelling Pistol Lighter, ca. 1929

This Dunhill Duelling Pistol of the shape of a classic single-shot flintlock from the XVIII/XIX century is made of brass and lead alloy which makes it very heavy. The lighter has a very precise trigger activated mechanism - the top opens and sparks when the trigger is pulled.

This Dunhill Duelling Pistol was manufactured only in England from ca. 1929 until the late 30's. After 1938 it was replaced by the Dunhill Tinder Pistol Lighter.

It is often the case that the trigger is broken as well the top mounted flint holder. The lighter is marked DUNHILL on the outside of the trigger guard.

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Scarcity: rare–very rare

Value for good–mint condition: $200.00–300.00 (approx €180.00–215.00)

Weight: 425 grams (0.93 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 10.0 cm (3.9")
• length: 15.5 cm (6.1")
• width: 4.4 cm (1.7")

Ronson Tablelighter Banjo, 1927

The Ronson "Tablelighter" came in two versions that can be distinguished by the applied lighter fitment: Banjo and De-Light. The older version (Banjo fitment) of the Ronson "Tablelighter" also called Ronson Banjo Table Lighter was manufactured between 1927 and 1928 in Newark, New Jersey, USA. It was one of the earliest tabletop automatic lighter in the world.

The lighter was made of brass and silver plated. The front and rear panel were covered with snake and Marocco leather. Some of the examples were left without covering.

The casing of the Banjo Lighter was designed by L.V. Aronson and patented on the 17th May 1927 (filled for patent on 2nd February, 1927). The illustration below shows a side elevation of the lighter and an edge view. It comes from the granted patent no. 72,658.

The bottom is padded with green felt. The lighter is marked on the snuffer:

RONSON LIGHTER
P'T'D DEC, 31,1918
OTHER PAT'S P'D'G

as well on the fuel screw on the bottom:

RONSON LIGHTER

PAT. NO 72,658 MAY 17,1927

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Scarcity: very rare

Value for very good–mint condition: 1 412 zł–600.00 (approx 1 212 zł–450.00)

Weight: 150 grams (0.33 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 12.3 cm (4.8")
• width: 6.5 cm (2.6")
• depth: 3.4 cm (1.3")

Advert: Zippo lighters inc. Zippo Moderne + Corinthian, 1961

This Zippo advertisement was published in the Christmas edition of LIFE magazine on the 8th December 1961. Between different Zippo pocket lighters there are two table lighters - the Zippo Moderne and Zippo Corinthian (in the center).

Negbaur Table Top Lighter, 1949

The Negbaur Table Top Lighter was manufactured between 1949 and 1950 in Allbright, New York in the United States. This table lighter had a heavy white alloy metal housing and was available in two finishes: chrome plate (common) and cooper plate (uncommon). The form of this lighter as well the mechanism were quite primitive as for that period. The biggest attitude of this cigarette lighter was it low price.

The lighter body was designed by Herman Treiss. 

This lighter was not much a success though one must remember that Negbaur made some fantastic table lighters in the shape of a golf bag, plane, knight and even canons in the earlier years (1930s and 1940s).

Marked on the bottom of the base:

PAT.

PEND.

NEGBAUR

N.Y.

Type: wick (petrol) lighter

Scarcity: common–uncommon

Value for very good–mint condition: $20.00–35.00 (approx €15.00–25.00)

Weight: 270 grams (0,59 pounds)

Dimensions:

• length: 7.6 cm (3")
• width: 6.3 cm (2 1/2")
• height: 6.3 cm (2 1/2")

Zippo Lady Bradford Table Lighter patent, 1951

On the 12th June, 1951 the United States Patent Office patented the second Zippo Table Lighter marketed since 1949 as Lady Bradford. The name of the "inventor" and designer was Gerald Stahl. Below the specification of it:

Braun Cylindric T2 Table Lighter, Dieter Rams, 1968

The Braun Cylindric T2 Table Lighter was manufactured in between 1968 and 1970 by Braun AG in Frankfurt, Germany and also in Ireland. It was inspired by the development of the invention of the magnetic ignition technology. The table lighter was available in many various finishes like: painted metal, plain chrome plated steel and in diamond texture (see picture). The whole type specification:

• 6822 / 272  metal silver-plated, lengthwise ruffled
• 6822 / 708  metal silver-plated, unruffled surface
• 6822 / 712  plastic red                            
• 6822 / 713  plastic blue
• 6822 / 715  plastic black, black cap
• 6822 / 716  plastic black, chrome-plated cap
• 6822 / 717  plastic orange
• 6822 / 718  metal chrome-plated, annulated struktur
• 6822 / 730  plexiglass
• 6822 / 302  metal chrome-plated, unruffled grounded
• 6822 / 303  metall chrome-plated, lengthwise ruffled
• 6822 / 304  metall black, annulated struktur
• 6822 / 305  metall silver-plated, checked pattern

This gas butane lighter was designed for Braun by the famous German designer Dieter Rams born in 1932. Next to this lighter he designed also the ET 55 Calculator (1980), SK 4/10 Radio-Phonograph (1956), H 3 Heater-Ventilator (1962) and the Loudspeaker Model No. LE 1 (1960). The Braun Cylindric is part of the permanent collection  of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York.

As a smoker, Rams loved to design lighters as “small sculptural objects” which should be “a pleasure to look at and to use.” According to an article in the Design Museum  website "his chief challenge with the T2 was identifying the precise place on the side of the cylinder at which the thumb could apply the greatest pressure to the magnetic ignition pad".

If someone is interested in the the inner part of the lighter you may find the article "Cylindric Ultrasonic Bat Detector" very useful.

Marked on the bottom of the base (black plastic):

BRAUN
Made in Ireland

or

BRAUN
Made in West Germany 
 (serial number)

Type: gas (butane) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon

Value for very good–mint condition: $70.00–130.00 (approx €55.00–100.00)

Weight: 275 grams (0,60 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 8.6 cm (3 3/8")
• diameter: 5.4 cm (2 1/8")