Hermès / Ravinet D'Enfert Lighter Holder for Feudor Disposable Lighter, France ca. 1975

Hermès is a French high fashion luxury goods manufacturer established in 1837. It specializes mainly in leather and lifestyle accessories. Only a few lighter models were branded with Hermes but they were all made by third companies. 

The lighter holder below is a rare item made in small quantity in Paris, France in the 1970s. It was made of brass and heavy silver-plated. The concept of selling such item by Hermes was a bit risky and in the end the market did not accept it. It was expensive and the disposable Feudor gas lighter insert made in Philippines did not match the high-end user expectations. It was the cheapest (4.50 French Francs) disposable lighter Feudor was offering on the market!

The lighter holder was made by Ravinet (Louis) and D'Enfert (Charles) in Paris, France. The company was founded in 1891 and was a leading company in silver and plated silver production which won several international awards during the art deco period (1920-1940). The company ceased activity in 1984. Their address used to be Hotel de Caumartin, 83 rue du Temple, Paris.

The Feudor lighter insert was called the "stick lighter" (fr. le stick), it was cylindrical in shape and could not be refilled. It was a typical throw away item. The Feudor tank was made of a semi-transparent plastic in various colors (vide infra the magazine advertisement from 1974). It was ready available in the 1970s. The top of the lighter and the bottom are made of gold-washed metal. The lighter stick is equipped with a flame adjuster.

The base of the lighter is made in shape of a nest and marked on the bottom: Hermès Paris. Made in France. Also a logo (master mark) of Ravinet D'Enfert logo is punched - RD with a clover resembling a cross. A later version of this holder has a hole punched on the center in order to make it easier to remove the lighter insert.

Scarcity: rare–very rare

Value for very good–mint condition: $120.00–150.00

Weight: ca. 160 grams (without Feudor lighter)

Dimensions:

• height: 6.5 cm (without lighter)
• diameter: 4.5 cm

Predom Termet GZS-03 Table Lighter, Karolina, 1978

The gas table lighter Predom (Termet) GZS-03 was made between 1978-1988 in Pieszyce, Poland. Predom (Zjednoczony Przemysł Zmechanizowanego Sprzętu Domowego) was a Polish corporation manufacturing a wide range of office and household products. The "Termet" division was manufacturing gas-fired heaters, boilers, gas burners and pocket and table lighters.

The base of the lighter is made of porcelain manufactured by ZPS "Karolina" (former Königszelt) which was founded in 1860. The base has a pearl finish with silver stripes on the legs. There are at least five other "Karolina" designs known. The base is stamped: KAROLINA, MADE IN POLAND, 1 (quality mark). These lighters were also available in a set consisting of: lighter, cigarette holder and ashtray.

The lighter insert is chrome plated and stamped on the side: Predom Termet logo, gas model lighter GZS-03 and the month and year of production 10-82. The lighter insert was used in other versions than porcelain bases, like crystal glass and wood. 

Type: gas (butane) lighter

Scarcity: common-uncommon

Value for very good condition: 10-20 EUR

Weight: 220 grams (0.48 pounds)

The graphic coming from the original box: Zapalniczka, zestaw stołowy porcelanowy

Dimensions:

• height: 6.5 cm (2.6")
• width: 6 cm (2.4")
• length: 11 cm (4.3")

Advert: Ronson "Le Dix" Table Lighter, 1977

This Ronson advertisement was published in a French magazine on 1977. It depicts the Ronson Varaflame "Le Dix" butane table lighter with a heavy pewter base and two gas pocket lighters; the Ronson "Electric 7" and "Veratronic". The "Le Dix" table lighter was marketed in the USA as the "Varaflame Tankard".

Advert: Gillette Wild Cricket Table Lighters, 1973

The 1970s were years when table lighters were disappearing from the markets all over the world. The demand for them fall significantly because of cheap and easy to get disposable butane lighters. Some trials to keep this segment alive eventually failed. 

Below one of the attempts made by Gillette - the Cricket "Accent table lighter" was a combination of various bases in which disposable lighters could be easily fitted. Not a bad idea but very kitschy workmanship. 

Ronson Noir Smoking Set, 1972

This smoking set was crafted in cooperation by Ronson and Rosenthal GmbH between 1972 and 1974 in West Germany. Ronson made the lighter insert and Rosenthal the porcelain base. Rosenthal is a famous German porcelain manufacturer. The company was established by Philipp Rosenthal in 1879 (now part of Sambonet Paderno). The products were first marked with the company name in 1907. Rosenthal produced many innovative designs under its higher end "Studio S Linie" brand.

The base of the lighter as well as the cigarette holder and ashtray are made of black porcelain finished in mat (only the top cover of the cigarette holder and the inside of the ashtray are made of glossy porcelain). The table lighter uses the Ronson round Varaflame gas fitment. It is chrome plated. Different finishes of the finger flame control are known. 

Marked on the bottom of the base:

Rosenthal 

PORCELAINE NOIRE

Wirkhelm

Studio S Line

Lighter insert marked:

RONSON (R)

MADE IN W. GERMANY

Type: gas (butane) lighter

Scarcity: rare

Value for very good–mint condition (set): $80.00–120.00 (approx €50.00–80.00)

Weight:

• lighter: 170 grams (0.37 pounds)
• cigarette holder: 175 grams (0.39 pounds)
• ashtray: 235 grams (0.52 pounds)

Dimensions:

Table lighter:

• height: 8.5 (3.35")
• diameter: 5.0 cm (1.97")

Cigarette holder:

• height: 6.0 cm (2.37")
• width: 9.3 cm (3.66")

Astray:

• height: 3.3 cm (1.3")
• length: 12 cm  (4.7")
• width: 9.0 cm (3.54")

KW Piezoelectric Table Lighter 1970

This Piezoelectric butane table lighter was first manufactured by the Karl Wieden  Company (KW or KAWEE) in 1970 in Solingen, Germany.

This automatic table lighter was available in different mantels: silver, nickel plated, enameled etc. The picture on the right shows a KW in sterling silver  (.925) mantel  in an interesting hair texture. The base is not weighted. Marked on the side: STERLING 925F.

The KW butane removable lighter insert is piezoelectric and chrome-plated. Marked on the bottom:  

KW KAWEE 

MADE IN GERMANY

Type: gas (butane) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon

Value for very good – mint condition (dependent on finish): $75.00–120.00 (approx €60.00–90.00)

Weight: 242 grams (0.53 pounds)


Dimensions:

• height: 5.3 cm (2.08")
• width: 3.0 cm (1.18")
• length: 9.2 cm (3.62")

Ronson & Rosenthal Smoking Set, 1971

This smoking set was crafted in cooperation by Ronson and Rosenthal GmbH between 1971 and 1973 in West Germany. Ronson made the lighter insert and Rosenthal the porcelain base. Rosenthal is a famous German porcelain manufacturer. The company was established by Philipp Rosenthal in 1879 (now part of Sambonet Paderno). The products were first marked with the company name in 1907. Rosenthal produced many innovative designs under its higher end "Studio Linie" brand.

The painting on the base was made by Bjørn Wiinblad (1918–2006)  a Danish painter, designer and artist in ceramics, silver, bronze, textiles, and graphics. His work has been shown widely all over the world. Wiinblad was an important designer for the Rosenthal porcelain company since 1957 till his death in 2006.

Wiinblad designed ceramic pieces for Nymolle, a Danish pottery and of course cooperated with the Ronson Company. At least nine different models of table lighters are known that were signed by Bjørn Wiinblad. Wiinblad was named Man of the Year in New York in 1985 and was awarded the American-Scandinavian Foundation’s Cultural Prize of 1995.

The table lighter uses the Ronson round Varaflame gas fitment. It is chromme plated. Different finishes of the finger flame control are known. One of them is the blue Swarovski crystal - see picture.

Marked on the bottom of the base:

Rosenthal
studio-linie
GERMANY
-
design: Bjørn Wiinblad

 

Lighter insert marked:

RONSON (R)
MADE IN W. GERMANY

Type: gas (butane) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon-very rare

Value for very good–mint condition: $40.00–200.00 (approx €30.00–150.00)

Weight:

• lighter: 235–265 grams (0.52–0.58 pounds)
• cigarette holder:  223 grams (0.5 pounds)
  

Dimensions:

Cigarette holder:

• height: 8.1 (3.2")
• width: 6.0 cm (2.4")
• length: 9.5 cm (3.7")
  

Table lighter:

• height: 10.0 cm (3.9")
• width: 6.0 cm (2.4")
• length: 9.5 cm (3.7")
  

MaruMan T2 Electric, 1970

The MaruMan T2 Electric Table Lighter was marketed in the 1970 in Japan. It is one of the most interesting examples of the evolution of piezoelectric technology fitted in MaruMan table lighters. The first Maruman piezoelectric table lighter was introduced in 1967 and simply called "Business Lighter". It was three years after (December 1964) Mansei Koyo Kabushiki Kaisa of the MaruMan company produced the first piezo lighter in the world.

This unique table lighter is made of various materials: brass with gold plating, black and white plastic and of course the heavy hand-cut leadcrystal. The mechanism of the lighter is very simple though still sophisticated: when the white button is pressed the lighter lits and also a lamp build into the crystal turns red. When the button is released  the lamp turns blue. When the button is pressed again both the light and lighter are switched off.

On the lead crystal is a sticker saying:

Imported 

Leadcrystal

Hand cut

The flame control, filling hole and the battery compartment are situated in the plastic base which is padded with green felt. It is also marked:

ELECTRIC TABLE GAS LIGHTER

T2

MaruMan

PAT.

Very similar lighters were manufactured also by another Japanese company called "Modern", for example its model "Gloria".

Type: electric gas (butane) lighter 

Scarcity: rare

Value for very good–mint condition: $80.00–120.00 (approx €60.00–90.00)

Weight: 810 grams (1.79 pounds) - without batteries

Dimensions:

• height: 17.0 cm (6.7")
• diameter: 10.9 cm (4.3")

Zippo Barcroft No. 4, 1953

The Zippo Barcroft is the proud successor of the Zippo #10 which was produced till 1953. The Zippo Barcroft was manufactured between 1953 and 1979 in Bradford, United States and also in Canada. One often refers to it as the 4th edition or version of the Barcroft Table Lighter which is a simple combination of a traditional Zippo lighter insert and an attachable pedestal base. It was made in various finishes like: brass, polished chrome and the most popular – steel satin finish.

This Zippo table lighter was often used as a promotional gadget for different organizations and occasions. In many cases a logo of a very known brand on the Barcroft will add value to it. For example a Barcroft with a Coca Cola logo might cost above $600. Other less valuable examples are: USS (United States Steel), Chrysler or Ford.

The lighter insert can be removed from the pedestal and used as a normal Zippo pocket lighter. The base is padded with black felt. The Zippo lighter insert is marked:

ZIPPO MFG. CO. BRADFORD, PA.
MADE IN ZIPPO U.S.A.
PAT. 2517191 (R)

Type: wick (petrol) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon

Value for good–mint condition: $90.00–140.00 (approx €60.00–100.00)

Weight: 308 grams (0.68 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 8.4 cm (3.3")
• width: 5.5 cm (2.2")
• depth: 4.1 cm (1.6")

Ronson Varaflame Luralite, 1967

The Varaflame Luralite is one of the 25 different table lighter models of Ronson produced in the second half of the 1960s. This particular butane lighter model was manufactured in Woodbridge in New Jersey (U.S.A.) between 1967 and 1971. The Varaflame Luralite was available in three finishes: gold, anthracite and silver tone (see picture). The surface of the base of the lighter has a patched pattern.

The removable lighter insert – the Varaflame – is in case of the silver tone finish chrome-plated  with some gold color elements; the other two are fully gold color plated. The fingertip flame control is decorated with a light blue Swarovski crystal. The base is padded with cork. A silver label should also be on the underside of the base with  few text lines, among others:

"VARAFLAME (R) Luralite"
fashioned by RONSON (R)
WOODBRIDGE, N.J. U.S.A.
...

Type: butane (gas) lighter

Scarcity: common

Value for very good–mint condition: $25.00–35.00 (approx €20.00–30.00)

Weight: 290 grams (0,64 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 7.6 cm (3.0")
• diameter: 6.35 cm (2.5")

Zippo Handilite, 1979

The Zippo Handylite was introduced in 1979. It was manufactured in various finishes till 1999 in Bradford, United States. This table lighter is a simple combination of a traditional Zippo pocket lighter and an attachable pedestal base.

It was available among others in (see picture below):

• Brush Chrome, no. 200H,
• High Polish Gold Electroplate, no. 250GH,
• Regular Black Matte with Horse, no. 218H-HG,
• High Polish Gold Electroplate with Bighorn Sheep (Ram), no. 250GH-RM,
• High Polish Gold Electroplate with Snoozin' Camel.

The lighter can be removed from the pedestal (which could be purchased separately) and used as a normal Zippo pocket lighter. Most regular size Zippo lighters are adaptable to Handilite. The lighter base is padded with black felt and it is marked:  

ZIPPO (R) 

Bradford, PA USA

See also the Zippo Handilite magazine advertisement.

Type: wick (petrol) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon

Value for good-mint condition: $34.00–125.00 (approx €60.00–65.00)

Weight: 200 grams (0.44 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 9.1 cm (3.6")
• diameter: 3.8 cm (1.5")