The
Ronson Touch-Tip 'Octette' table lighter was made between
1935 and 1951 by Ronson / Art Metal Works Inc. in Newark, New Jersey in the United States. This lighter began a very successful era for Ronson T-T series of lighters which pushed out the strike lighters from the market. During the years the 'Octette' model changed slightly: at the beginning it was manufactured with a rectangular cover over the flint wheel and a round-shaft wand. Since the 1942 the cover over the flint wheel was half circled and the wand had a square shaft and a tapered cone knob (see pictures).
The 'Octette' has a genuine
pure Art Deco design. It is very heavy although its relatively small dimensions. Fitment and base are made of polished chrome and the metal body was finished in different enamels: black (most popular), tortoise or white. Less popular finishes include: green, maroon enamel and many others. The polished center monogram shield was on one side.
It was available in many various configurations including pipe racks, cigarette boxes pipe holders, figures (golfer), thermometer, clock etc.
The lighter base is padded with green felt and marked:
RONSON "Touch-Tip" (R) TRADE MARK
MFD BY RONSON NEWARK, N.J., U.S.A.
U.S. PATS. 1,986,754-2,118,692
BRIT.PAT. 435,667 - CANADA PAT. 349,108
OTHER U.S. & FOR. PATS. PDG.
or
RONSON TOUCH-TIP - U.S.PATS.1,986,/54-DES/GN PAT. 97,247
BRITISH PAT.APPL'D.FOR-CANDA PAT.349,148
ART METAL WORKS INC - NEWARK, N.J. U.S.A.
Lighter mechanism marked:
(R) RONSON "Touch-Tip"
NEWARK, N.J., U.S.A.
U.S. PATS. 1,986,754-2,118,692
BRIT.PAT. 435,667 - CANADA PAT. 349,108
OTHER U.S. & FOR. PATS. PDG.
See also the touch-tip 'Octette'
patent.
Type:
touch-tip lighter (T-T)
Scarcity:
uncommon–
rare
Value for very good–mint condition: $140.00–280.00 (approx €100.00–200.00)
Weight:
565 grams (1.25 pounds), wand itself:
20 grams (0.7 ounces)
Dimensions:
- height: 9.0 cm (3.5")
- width: 6.4 cm (2.5")
- length: 9.1 cm (3.6")
How does a T-T lighter work? You may find this video helpful:
This modern Cartier Paris 303 Table Lighter was made in the late 1990s by Cartier S.A. in Switzerland. It is an oval shaped semiautomatic table lighter made in brush silver finish with a gold plated ring on the top.
The Ronson Bolero Set was manufactured between 1954 and 1955 in Newark, United States of America. The set (model no. 43625) consists of a wick table lighter and a matching ash-tray which was also available seperate (model no. 43637).
The lighter base is padded with green felt and marked:
