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")

Ronson Varaflame Claridge, Wood, 1966

The Ronson Varaflame Claridge was first introduced in 1966 in England. The production ceased in 1969. The base of the lighter was made of two specially selected cotrasting woods. The curved design of the lighter is similar to the Varaflame Jupiter which also was manufactured in the 1960s.

The removable lighter insert – the Varaflame – is chrome-plated and has a fingertip flame control. The insert is fastened to the base with a black plastic screw.

Type: butane (gas) lighter

Writing on the underside of the base:

RONSON (R)
REGD. TRADE MARK

MADE IN ENGLAND

Scarcity: uncommon

Value for good–mint condition: $25.00–40.00 (approx €20.00–35.00)

Weight: 130 grams (0.29 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 6.0 cm (2.36")
• width: 9.2 cm (3.6")
• depth: 3.6 cm (1.42")

Rowenta & Copeland Spode Table Lighter, 1963

Between 1963 and 1969 Rowenta co-working with the famous English pottery brand – Copeland Spode (England) manufactured a charming table lighter. The base of the lighter was made of ceramic and hand-painted with the Herring Hunt – "The Hunt" pattern. Thus every lighter is different.

Other thing which distinguishes the lighter is the sterling silver (.925) mounting made by Johann Franz Jr. Silberwarenfabrik in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany – marked 925 JF (see below) and weighing approx. 40 grams.

Matching ashtrays, cigarette holders, candle sticks and other tableware were also manufactured and sold by Copeland Spode in the 1960s.

The lighter insert Gas-Snip (model F 4626) was made by Rowenta Metallwarenfabrik GmbH in Offenbach am Main, Germany. It was patented in 1958 and produced on large scale in various finishes between 1959–1970. This particular insert was made of brass and silver plated. It is stamped: 

Rowenta Gas-Snip

GERMANY 

PAT.

The lighter base is round and marked on the bottom:

COPELAND

SPODE

ENGLAND

"OFF TO DRAW"

3

"THE HUNTSMAN"

6

Type: butane (gas) lighter

Scarcity: rare

Value for very good–mint condition:  $90–130.00 USD

Weight: 175 grams (0.38 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 7.5 cm (3")
• diameter: 6.2 cm (2.4")

Advert: Spark Lite Pocket & Desk Lighters, 1955

These two full-page color advertisements were published in an unknown American magazine in 1955. Several models of the Spark-Lite lighters are presented: Commodore and President pocket lighters and Director, Diplomat, Continental and Onyx table/desk butane gas lighters. 

FAQ: KKW / Lumix Camera Lighter Instruction, ca. 1965

Below an instruction for the Lumix Camera Lighter that was manufactured in Japan in the mid. 1960s. The instruction can be also used with the Japanese KKW Camera Lighter (Photo-Liter, butane gas version only!) and AKW DII Type Perfect Camera Lighter.

Alessi SG18 AZ "Bruce" Table Lighter, 1999

The Alessi SG18 AZ also called "Bruce" the Dinosaur Table Lighter was manufactured by Alessi between 1999 and 2003 in Italy. This modern gas lighter was available in three different colors: blue, orange and green. It is made of plastic with a chrome plated face. The "Bruce" Dinosaur lighter uses commonly available disposable butane lighters to work. To turn on the Dinosaur lighter you have to press his tummy.

The lighter was designed by Stefano Giovannoni, an Italian designer and architect born in 1954 in La Spezia, Italy. He designed some products mainly for Alessi but also for Fiat, Siemens, Henkel and Lavazza.

Type: gas (butane) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon

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

Weight: 140 grams (5 oz)

Dimensions:

• height: 22 cm (8¾")
• width: 10 cm (4")

Advert: Ronson Varaflame Lighters, 1960

A full page Ronson magazine advertisement published on 26th December 1960 in an unknown British magazine. The advert features among others Judy Huxtable and two butane table lighters:

• Ronson Varaflame Queen Anne (6),
• Ronson Varaflame Adelphi (8).

Flaminaire Quercia Gentry Table Lighter, 1947

The Flaminaire Gentry Desk/Table Lighter was the first gas lighter in the world to be sold commercially. The manufacturing started in Paris, France in 1947 and lasted till 1951. The lighter itself was presented to the wide audience at the Hotel Crillon in Paris on 19th of June 1947. The appearance of a new lighter concept was accompanied by full page magazine advertisements. The lighter itself was very expensive – 20,000 Francs (average French salary) and only few could afford it. The best markets for the Gentry except France were the United Kingdom and USA.

The marketing success of the Gentry and other models made by Flaminaire like Baronet began a new era in the lighter industry. The manufacturers were starting to switch from gasoline to gas which involved new inventions that allowed among others to resign from the factory made "butagaz" tanks used by the Gentry.

The Gentry lighter was based on Pingeot patent dated March 21, 1935 which was sold to Marcel Quercia. After the II World War M. Quercia together with the Shell corporation started to refine and manufacture the idea of Pingeot. Soon the Buta-bloc lighter was born, so named to identify the lighter’s butane gas refill system which was patented in France in 1946 (patent no. FR 912414-A). The design of the Flaminaire was patented a year later in Jul, 1 1947 by Marcel Quercia and Georges Ferdinand (patent no. FR 923219-A, see below).

The body of the table lighter was made of brass and was available in at least six different finishes:

1. Gold plate combined with pearl brown lacquer (very rare, from 1949).
2. Silver plate combined with black lacquer (rare).
3. Silver plate with dotted texture (rare).
4. Silver plate with vertical stripes (rare, see picture).
5. Silver plate mainly covered with alligator skin (rare).

The Gentry Lighter is marked on the bottom:

Fonctionne au BUTAGAZ

FLAMINAIRE

Mis en service le

Brevete France & Etranger

QUERCIA 

PARIS

MADE IN FRANCE

The gas tank allowed according to Flaminaire for 10000 lits. And if the gas tank was empty you had to buy another one. If you want to dismantle the lighter this video might be helpful.

Type: gas (butane) lighter

Scarcity: rare to very rare (dependent on finish)

Value for very good–mint condition: $100.00–200.00 (approx. €75.00–150.00)

Weight: 340 grams (0.75 lbs)

Dimensions:

• height: 99 mm (3.9")
• width: 72 mm (2.8")
• depth: 36 mm (1.4")

What is the most expensive table lighter in the world? St. Dupont

If your are looking for the most expensive modern table lighter in the world than you should go visit St. Dupont which is known for its luxury creations. This St. Dupont Second Empire Diamonds Line 2 (model 016026) is a limited edition lighter – only 28 pieces were released worldwide in 2012. Each lighter is individually numbered.

The lighter is covered with white solid gold (27 grams) added parts and 222 white diamonds. It has a black & gray lacquer finish and is packaged in a custom second empire lacquer box.

The price tag? Modest $38,000. One is available at eBay right now.

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. 

Advert: Silver Match Briquets, 1957

A French full-page magazine advertisement published on May 1957.

Ad: Quercia Flaminaire Lighters, 1948

This one of a kind vintage magazine advertisement was published in a French magazine Plaisire de France in 1948. It presents a small range of lighters manufactured by Quercia in Paris, France:

• Gentry table lighter which is considered to be the first butane lighter in the world,
• Crillon pocket lighter,
• and the Flaminaire Baronet. 

Ronson Victor Desk Lighter, 1952

The Ronson Victor was manufactured between 1952 and 1955 in Newark, N.J. in the United States. It was, next to Ronson Viceroy, the first gas table lighter model manufactured by Ronson.

The cuboid body was available in tan (see photo) and green leather and tooled with 24K gold stripes. Padded with brown felt at the bottom.

The removable chrome-plated gas lighter insert has a two-way flame. At first glance the lighter insert looks like the one used in Ronson Socialite which was in fact a petrol lighter. Marked on the bottom:

(R) RONSON

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

U.S. PATS. RE. 19,023

2,481,195-CANADA PAT.

JUNE 151948 (449159)

OTHER U.S. & FOR PAT. PDG

Marked on the bottom of the base:

RONSON 
VICTOR
NEWARK, N.J. U.S.A.

Type: gas (butane) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon–rare

Value for very good–mint condition: $60.00–80.00 (approx €45.00–60.00)

Weight: 110 grams (0.24 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 7.2 cm (2.8")
• width: 4.5 cm (1.8")
• length: 4.5 cm (1.8")

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")

Wick, flint and lighter fluid - what & where to buy?

If you have a wick lighter you will need to acquire an universal:

1. Wick (best buy: Zippo wick)
2. Flint (best buy: Zippo Flints or Ronson flints) 
3. Lighter fluid (best buy: Zippo Lighter Fluid)

If you have a gas (butane) lighter you will just need a:

1. Flint (best buy: Zippo Flints or Ronson flints) 
2. Lighter butane refill (best buy: Zippo Butane Fuel

The links refer to amazon.com but if you are from a different country you may use your local amazon store. The recommended lighter accessories can be also bought at eBay and your local tobacco store.

Cartier Paris 303 Table Lighter, 1997

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.

Cartier is renowned French luxury jeweler and watch manufacturer founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier when he took over the workshop of his master. The product range of Cartier ranges today from timepieces, leather goods to accessories such as cigarette lighters.

It is marked on the bottom:

Cartier Paris  303
SWISS MADE
SN

Type: gas (butane) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon

Value for mint condition: $350.00–400.00 (approx €250.00–300.00)

Weight: 135 grams (0.3 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 1.2 cm (0.5")
• width: 2.5 cm (1.0")
• length: 12.4 cm (4.9")

Ronson Varaflame Wedgwood Ulysses Table Lighter, 1968

This Ronson table lighter was made in 1968 in England by Ronson and Wedgwood. The Ronson Varaflame Wedgwood 'Ulysses' has a chrome plated standard Varaflame insert which is mounted in Wedgwood Blue Jasper base with overlaid design – heroic battle scene – in white ceramic. In the 1950s Ronson & Wedgwood used the same scene in its Ulysses wick lighter.

Wedgwood is a British pottery firm, founded on May 1, 1759 by Josiah Wedgwood (1730–95). The company still exists and is noted for its numerous innovations and high-quality wares that achieved renown throughout the world. Wedgwood's name is synonymous with the Jasper Ware body type.

The main themes on the company's jasper ware have all been taken from ancient mythologies: Roman, Greek or Egyptian or Italian Renaissance and Baroque The initial decision to have antique designs was probably that as Britain entered an age of great industrialization, the demand for luxurious goods subsequently exploded. Meanwhile, the archeological fever caught the imagination of many artists. Nothing could have been more suitable to satisfy this huge business demand than to produce replicas of artefacts. Wedgwoods pottery is  very collectible nowadays.

The lighter base is padded with light blue felt. Marked with a sticker on the bottom of the base:

RONSON (R)
Regd. trade mark
MADE IN ENGLAND 

Lighter insert marked:

RONSON
MADE IN W. GERMANY
PATENTED
RONSON (R)

Type: gas (butane) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon

Value for good–mint condition: $50.00–80.00 (approx €35.00–60.00)

Weight: 290 grams (0.64 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 6.3 cm (2.5")
• diameter: 8.8 cm (3.5")

Advert: New Ronson Varaflame, 1959

This Ronson magazine advertisement was published in Life Magazine on the 25^th of May, 1959. It features the new Ronson Varaflame pocket lighter in different finishes. It is probably the most recognizable pocket lighter in the world next to the Zippo.

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")