Ronson "Ronde-Light", Art Metal Works, USA 1929

The Ronson "Ronde-Light" was one of the earliest automatic table lighters made by Art Metal Works Inc. in Newark (New Jersey) USA. It was manufactured between 1929 and 1932. It was sold as lighter and paper weight as it was quite massive.

The lighter is shaped as a ball with plain chrome plated surface. The lighter insert itself is marked:

RONSON RONDE-LIGHT

U.S. PATS.

1290011-1673727,

OTHER U.S. & FOREIGN PAT'S PDG.

ART METAL WORKS INC.

NEWARK, N.J.

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Scarcity: very rare

Value for good–mint condition (extremly rare in this condition): $150–300.00 (approx. €125–250.00)

Weight: 350 grams (12.5 oz) 

Dimensions:

• height: 9 cm (3.5")
• diameter: 8 cm (3.15")

Ronson Savoy Gold Table Lighter, 1953-1954

The Ronson Savoy wick table lighter was made between 1953-1954 in Newark, New Jersey, USA by Ronson. It is a lighter with a very appealing design in heavy 24K gold plate. It was the most expensive table lighter mass-produced by Ronson ($19.50) at that time.  

The lighter mechanism was used since 1936 when the Ronson Decanter and Puritan were first introduced. Below an illustration of the lighter models 'Decanter' and 'Savoy' from the 1954 Ronson catalog.

The lighter base is padded with a light green felt trim and marked:

Ronson (R)

Newark, N.J. U.S.A.

U.S. Patent 2,481,195

(R)

Ronson

SAVOY

Type: automatic wick (petrol) lighter

Scarcity: rare

Value for very good–mint condition: $240.00–350.00 (approx €200.00–300.00)

Weight: 331 grams

Dimensions:

    height: 11.5 cm
    diameter: 5.6 cm

eBay: Ronson Touch-Tip Lighter with Clock

Few days ago (9th April 2017) an extremely rare Ronson table lighter was sold on eBay for $1,995. It is, in my opinion, the best looking clock combination Touch-Tip lighter made by Ronson. It was manufactured in the late 1930s in two finishes: chrome plate with black or tortoise enamel and gold plate, also with black or tortoise enamel. The price is adequate to the very good condition of the sold example.

 

Ronson Lighter Catalog, USA 1954

A small 6-page color Ronson Catalog (catalogue) from 1954 distributed by the US dealership.

Evans Lighters Catalog, USA 1930

Evans pocket lighters from the 1930s have a beautiful Art Deco look. Here are four pages from a Wholesale Catalog from the 1930 featuring Evans pocket and table lighters. Stunning! 

Advert: Ronson De-Light Lighters, Art Metal Works 1928

A black and white full page magazine advertisement published in the USA in 1928. It features the De-Light lighter series made by Art Metal Works, Inc (Newark, New Jersey, USA). It is advertised with words like: "The World's greatest lighter", "A flip and it's lit. Release and it's out!" and "The gift of gifts".

Ronson Striker Lighter "Monkey", 1938

The Ronson Striker Lighter "Monkey" was manufactured by Art Metal Works Inc. (Ronson) between 1938-1940 in Newark, N.J. in the United States. The same "laughing out loud" monkey design was also used in the manufacturing the Ronson AMW incense burner, but certainly without the wand and flint strip.

The striker wand (two variants known) is on the top of the monkeys head and the flint strip on the arm. The striker lighter base is die-casted. It is therefor heavy and very sturdy. The finish is called "imperial bronze" - deep bronze effect combined with cooper-colored highlights. It was also made (but is rarer) in cooper finish The striker lighter combines a small ashtray compartment in a form of a clamshell.

The bottom of the lighter is marked:

RONSON 
8864

Also some of the lighters have a sticker saying: 

FASHIONED BY  RONSON

Type: striker lighter

Scarcity: rare

Value for very good–mint condition: 250€

Weight: 735 grams (2 lbs)

Dimensions:

• height: 10 cm (3.9")
• width: 9 cm (3.5")
• depth: 9 cm (3.5")

Advert: Ronson Rondelight and Touchtip lighters, 1940

A black&white 1/4 magazine advertisement published in the USA on November 1940. It features three Ronson table lighters:

1. Cigarette Box and "Touchtip", model no. 16353. Chromium and black and white or tortoise-shell and ivory enamel.
2. "Touchtip", model no. 2104. Enameled table lighter in black, white, turquoise, maroon, green or tortoise.
3. Rondelight, model 14407. Table or desk lighter in black with chromium or colored bands.

Advert: Ronson De-light Cigarette Lighters, 1929

A black&white magazine advertisement published in The Saturday Magazine on November 1929. It depicts the Ronson De-Light Series including the table lighter Ronson Tabourette.

Ronson Art Déco Table Lighter, 1934

The Ronson "Art Déco" also referred as the "Tall Boy" (Urban Cummings) is one of the rarest and most representative lighters for the Art Deco period ever made by Ronson. It was manufactured in a small amount between 1934 and 1935 by ART METAL WORKS INC. in Newark (New Jarsey) in the United States.

Art Deco was the predominant decorative art style of the 1920s and 1930s, characterized by precise and boldly delineated geometric shapes and strong colors. The favorite materials used in finishing household items were glass, chrome, bakelite and enamel.

This particular lighter has a chrome plated brass body which major part is covered with black enamel which gives a very contrastive design. The lighter is relatively tall and thin and is neither handy nor particularly heavy.

The body of the lighter is based on an oval. A beautiful Art Deco ornamental monogram shield is present on one side (see photo above). A 1934 Ronson catalog shows also a version with a running scotty dog and a drunk hanging on to a light pole (both are without a monogram shield), see below. Both motives were also used on the Ronson De-Light "Jumbo" table lighter.

The bottom of the lighter is marked:

RONSON DE-LIGHT

U.S. PAT. RE. NO. 19023

ART METAL WORKS INC.

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

RONSON DE-LIGHT

PATENTED JUNE 17.1928

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Scarcity: very rare

Value for very good–mint condition: $400–600.00 (approx. €300–500.00)

Weight: 155 grams (0.33 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 13.9 cm (5.5")
• width: 4.1 cm (1.6")
• depth: 6.8 cm (2.7")

Ronson De-Light Superba Table Lighter, 1929

The Ronson De-Light "Superba" (model no. 12773) was one of the earliest automatic table lighters made by Art Metal Works Inc. in Newark (New Jersey) USA. It was manufactured between 1929 and 1932. The design of the lighter was patented by the United States Patent Office in 1929 (patent no. 80,214). This wick lighter was designed by the founder of AMW – Louis V. Aronson – himself.

The lighter is shaped like a trophy with a handle and made of brass and chrome plated. The body of the lighter is based on a hexagon and each wall has an engine-turned design. On one side a small rectangle monogram shield is present (see photo above).

The bottom of the lighter is padded with green felt and marked:

RONSON DE-LIGHT
"SUPERBA"

U.S. PATS.

1290011-1673727,

OTHER U.S. & FOREIGN PAT'S PDG.

ART METAL WORKS

INC.

NEWARK, N.J.

U.S.A.

RONSON DE-LIGHT

PATENTED JUNE 17.1928

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Scarcity: very rare

Value for very good–mint condition: $300–500.00 (approx. €250–400.00)

Weight: 150 grams (0.32 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 12,9 cm (5")
• width: 7.5 cm (3")
• depth: 5.3 cm (2")

LektroLite Flameless Lighters Postcard, 1930/1940s

This humorous "LektroLite Flameless Lighters" postcard was in circulation in the late 1930s/ early 1940s mainly in the United States. What a good way to promote products!

Advert: Evans Promotional Leaflet, 1949

This six-page promotional leaflet was found in a box from a table lighter made by Evans Case Company in the late 1940s. It features "smart new designs" of table lighters, Liter-Case combinations and pocket lighters.

FAQ: Evans How to Fill and Replace Flint, ca 1945

This small instruction leaflet was added to all new Evans lighters in the mid 1940s.

Ritepoint Roman Classic Liter, Vu-Lighter, 1949

The "Roman Classic Liter" Table/Desk Lighter was manufactured by Ritepoint Co. in St. Louis, USA between 1949 and 1954. Sylvester G. Lipic was the inventor of this futuristic looking lighter which was available in four colors. It was the first table lighter with a transparent fuel reservoir (today known as the see through "vu-lighter") which was a lucrative invention as it was widely used in the advertising sector. 

The Ritepoint Liter was advertised as the lighter that "signals the eye — before it's dry". The body was made of a transparent plastic whereas the top and the bottom were made of brass and chrome-plated. The bottom of the lighter is padded with black felt and marked:

RITEPOINT LITER

PAT'S PEND'G

(C) RITEPOINT CO.

ST. LOUIS, MO. U.S.A.

Sylvester G. Lipic Pres.

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon

Value for very good–mint condition: $30.00–40.00 (€25–30)

Weight: 148 grams (5.2 oz)


Dimensions:

• height: 11 cm (4.3")
• diameter: 4.9 cm (1.9")

Advert: Ronson Kitchenette, Town & Country Set, 1959

This Ronson magazine advertisement was published in LIFE Magazine in 1959. Presented are several models of Ronson pocket:

• Windlite – exclusive slotted "windshield" lifetime wick... removable base for simpler fueling; satin finish (model no. 34-51341-237) 
• Sport – handsomely styled, ruggedly built, remarkably low priced; Tortoise Enamel (34-52679-417) Brigh Woven Mesh (model no. 34-51291-450) 
• Venus – Feminine-styled ladies' purse lighter. Slender, streamlined, sophisticated 
• Adonis – modern, sweeping lines. Slim as fine watch. Satin finish, engraved design (model no. 34-52752-597) and table/desk lighters:

• Fantasy – elegant satin-white China, touched with gold (model no. 34-51085-1110)
• Regal – swirl design, in gleaming copper (model no. 34-52828-990)
• Queen Anne – Lustrous Silver Plate (model no. 34-52802-870)
• Kitchenette – fine China, colorful Kitchen motif (model no. 34-52810-897)
• Nordic Set – genuine black and gold marble Table Lighter and matching Cigarette Urn (model no. 34-52877-1110)
• Town and Country Set –  Modern Glazed Ceramic Lighter and Matching Ash tray (model no. 34-52851-1290)

Ronson Nordic Table Lighter, 1955

The Ronson Nordic was first manufactured in 1955 in Newark, N.J. in the United States. The production went on till 1958. The body of the lighter was made of many different materials like wood (dark and light), marble and clear glass (see photo). The Nordic table lighter made of gold & black (portoro) marble was available only as a set with a matching cigarette holder (urn). In all cases the base was chrome-plated and had a leaf and scroll pattern.

The lighter had a smaller version of the Ronson Essex fitment. That is why the engineers added the lever action to make the lighter more easy to operate. The lighter insert is chrome-plated and marked on the bottom:

RONSON (R)

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

U.S. PATENTS

2,481,195 & 2,715,320

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Writing on the bottom on the foil label:

(R)
RONSON NORDIC
Newark, N.J.
U.S.A.

Scarcity: uncommon

Value for good–mint condition: 202 zł–90.00 (208 zł–75)

Weight: 492 grams (1 3/8 oz)

Dimensions:

• height: 8.5 cm (3.5")
• diameter: 8.5 cm (3.5")

Early American Trio Lighter Set, 1946

This lighter set called "Early American Trio by Davis" was made in the late 1940s in the United States. It contains two cast iron ashtrays (wheelbarrow ash tray & coal scuttle ash tray) and a plastic table lighter (lantern cigarette lighter). All parts have a painted flower design on a rich black background.

The lighter is stamped on the bottom:

MADE IN U.S.A

13

The lighter insert is a simple wick and wheel type lighter made of brass. It is not marked.

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon–rare

Value for very good–mint condition (set): 135 zł–60.00 (approx 125 zł–45.00)

Weight:

• lighter – 70 g (2 3/8 oz)
• set – 455 g (1 lb)

Dimensions of the lighter:

• height (with handle): 13.0 cm (5.1")
• diameter: 5.5 cm (2.2")

Patent: Ronson Juno Table Lighter, 1949

The "Juno" table lighter model was first manufactured by Ronson  in 1950 in Newark, New Jersey, USA although the design of the lighter (F. Kaupmann) was patented earlier by the United States Patent Office on 23th August 1949 (patent no. 154,929).

Ronson Scandia Table Lighter, 1955

The Scandia Table Lighter was first manufactured by Rosenthal and Ronson in 1955 in Newark, N.J. U.S.A. The base of the lighter is made of white China porcelain (Rosenthal) and dark rosewood. It was marketed in the United States separate and in a set with a matching cigarette holder.
 

 
Golden foil label on the bottom of base is marked:

SCANDIA
FASHIONED BY RONSON

CHINA BY
ROSENTHAL

The small chromium plate lighter "Essex" insert is marked:

RONSON (R)
NEWARK, N.J. U.S.A.
U.S. PATENTS
2,481,195 & 2,715,329

Type: wick (petrol) lighter

Scarcity: rare

Value for very good–mint condition: $50.00–75.00 (approx €40.00–60.00)

Weight: 135 grams (4 5/8 oz)

Dimensions:

• height: 8.6 cm (3.4")
• diameter: 5.8 cm (2.3")