Advert: Zippo Barcroft No. 3, 1953

This Zippo ad was published in Life Magazine on the 14^th of December, 1953. It features Zippo pocket lighters as well as the Barcroft model no. 3 table lighter. This layout was used in more than 50 other Zippo advertisements.

Advert: Ronson Cigarette Lighters, 1951

This Ronson magazine advertisement was published in Life Magazine on the 24^th of September, 1951. It features:

• Ronson Penciliter,
• Ronson Senator,
• Ronson Spartan,
• Ronson Standard,
• Ronson Whirlwind;
• Ronson Adonis,
• Ronson Mastercase.

Advert: Ronson Penciliter, Crown, Standard, Whirwind and Adonis, 1950

This Ronson magazine advertisement was published in Life Magazine on the 27^th of March, 1950. It features among others the Ronson Crown table lighter, Penciliter etc.

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: Ronson Crown and pocket lighters, 1947

This Ronson magazine advertisement was published in Life magazine on the 27^th of October, 1947. It depicts the Ronson 'Crown' table lighter and some pocket lighters like: Ronson 'Mastercase', Ronson 'Adonis', Ronson 'Whirlwind' and the Ronson 'Standard'. 

Parker Roller Bacon Table Lighter, 1938

This wick table lighter – Parker Roller Bacon 'Exide' – was made by Parker Pipe Co. in England in ca. 1938. The improved lift-arm mechanism with thumb-roller was patented by Parker in England in 1937. This type of semi-automatic mechanism was also very often used in Dunhill Lighters.

The lighter has cylindrical shape and is made of brass and nickel plated. It has a  large fill capacity for lighter fluid. The example showed on the right was made for EXIDE – a very popular English battery manufacturer. This table lighter was available in different finishes (textures, leather types etc).

The lighter base is padded with green felt. Marked on the bottom of the base:

PARKER ROLLER BACON
REG. DES 818717
PAT.NO 466087
MADE IN ENGLAND

Type: wick (petrol) lighter

Scarcity: rare

Value for good–mint condition: $50.00–90.00 (approx €35.00–70.00)

Weight: 260 grams (0.57 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 11.2 cm (4.4")
• diameter: 5 cm (2.0")

Vintage Ronson TV commercials

Below some vintage television commercial issued by the Ronson Corporation in the 1960s. The first one presents the Ronson Varaflame (1962), the second presents part of the lighter range and the Ronson electric shaver (1960). The last one is the Boris Karloff's Ronson Comet Lighter Torture Test (1966).

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")

Evans Rose Table Lighter, 1952

This Bone China 'Evans Rose' table lighter decorated with delicate hand painted pink roses and gold elements on a white background was designed and manufactured by Evans U.S.A. in 1952. This model came also in other hand paintings.

The Evans gold-tone brass insert is a typical wick lighter. It uses the new fitment  with the red seal - fuel control. It is marked: EVANS U.S.A. U.S. PAT. REG. 19023

The base of the lighter is made of white glazed bone china which is a type of porcelain that is composed of bone ash, feldspathic material and kaolin. This kind of porcelain is known for its high levels of whiteness and translucency and very high mechanical strength and chip resistance.

Type: wick (petrol) lighter

Scarcity: common

Value for good–mint condition: $20.00–30.00 (approx €15.00–20.00)

Weight:

• 195 grams (0.43 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 9.5 cm (3.74")
• diameter: 6.5 cm (2.56")
  

Advert: Ronson Varaflame Futura, Meteor, Grecian and Four Seasons Lighters, 1959

This Ronson magazine advertisement was published in Life magazine on the 25^th of May, 1959. It depicts the Ronson Varaflame table lighter models: Futura, Meteor, Grecian and Four Seasons.

Royal Doulton Table Lighter, Falstaff, 1958

This ceramic Royal Doulton Falstaff Table Lighter was designed by H. Fenton and issued between 1958 and 1973 in England. It is a fine example of the great variety of character jugs/table lighters manufactured exclusively by Royal Doulton Company which is an English company producing tableware and collectables, dating to 1815. Operating originally in London, its reputation grew in The Potteries, where it was a latecomer compared to Spode, Wedgwood and Minton. The Royal Doulton Company began as a partnership between John Doulton, Martha Jones, and John Watts, with a factory at Vauxhall Walk, Lambeth, London. The company took the name Doulton in 1853.

Other character Royal Doulton table lighters are in the shape of: Bacchus, Beefeater, Buz Fuz, Cap'n Cuttle, Captain Ahab, Lawyer, Long Jhon Silver, Mr Micawber, Mr Pickwick, Old Charley, Poacher Porthos, Rip Van Winkle.

It is worth to know that Falstaff (Sir John Falstaff) is a fictional character who appears in three plays by William Shakespeare as a companion to Prince Hal, the future King Henry V. A fat, vain, boastful, and cowardly knight, Falstaff leads the apparently wayward Prince Hal into trouble, and is ultimately repudiated after Hal becomes king.

The lighter base is marked on the bottom:

MADE IN ENGLAND

ROYAL DOULTON 

ENGLAND

Falstaff

Copr 1949

Doulton & Co Limited

Rd No 857578

Rd No 5905

Rd No 75/49

The brass wick lighter insert was provided by Colibri a famous English lighter manufacturer. The company was established by Julius Löwenthal  in 1928. Colibri delivered the lighter insert which was produced in France and W. Germany. Royal Doulton also cooperated with Evans Co. and Ronson. The lighter insert is marked:

Colibri by Kreisler
U.S. PAT
12.267182
U.S. Zone
WEST GERMANY

Type: wick (petrol) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon–rare

Value for mint condition: $90.00–130.00 (approx €70.00–90.00)

Weight: 300 grams (0.66 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 11 cm (4.3")
• width: 11 cm (4.3")
• depth: 8 cm (3.2")

Advert: Ronson Eurolite Table Lighter, 1968

This Ronson magazine advertisement was published in Life magazine on the 29^th of November, 1968. It depicts the Ronson Eurolite Varaflame Table Lighter. Great simple design.

Advert: Zippo Cigarette Lighters, 1954

This Zippo advertisement was published in the LIFE  magazine on the 4h April 1954. Below the Zippo Barcroft # 4 Table Lighter is depicted.

Ronson Wedgwood Four Seasons Table Lighter, 1956

This wick table lighter – Ronson 'Four Seasons' – was made in 1956 in England by Ronson and Wedgwood. 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 collectibles nowadays.

The Ronson Wedgwood 'Four Seasons' has a chrome plated  Adonis lighter insert which is mounted in Blue Jasper base made by Wedgwood with overlaid design – putti in four seasons scenes – in white ceramic.

The lighter base is padded with light blue felt. This cigarette lighter was also sold with matching ashtrays.

Marked on the bottom of the base:

1956
WEDGWOOD
MADE IN
ENGLAND

Lighter insert marked:

RONSON
REG. TRADE MARK
MADE IN ENGLAND
BRIT. PAT.
621870
OTHER PATS.
PEND.

Type: wick (petrol) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon

Value for good–mint condition: $50.00–90.00 (approx €35.00–70.00)

Weight: 260 grams (0.57 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 6.3 cm (2.5")
• length: 8.5 cm (3.2")
• width: 4.6 cm (1.8")

Mylflam 1000 Zünder Diplomat Table Lighter, 1955

The 1000 Zünder Diplomat Table Lighter (model 590) was first  manufactured in 1955 in Frankfurt, Germany by the famous German company Mylflam. This automatic petrol lighter was  marketed in many different finishes like: silver/nickel plate, brass, various types of leather, (delivered by  Richard Maltner) etc. It was also commonly used for advertising purposes.

On the right we have an used example of the1000 Zünder Diplomat. It is made of brass and then nickel plated. For decoration purposes the base is manteled with silver (.835 purity) which is hammered and marked. See the Mylflam magazine advertisement below (source).

The wick lighter was generally made of brass. Marked on the underside of the base:

1000 Zünder
DIPLOMAT

The patented mechanism gave the owner the possibility to hand it over without extinguishing the flame.

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon–rare (depending on type of the finish/advertising)

Value for very good–mint condition: $40.00–150.00 (approx €30.00–110.00)

Weight: 160 grams (0.35 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 6.2 cm (3.19")
• width: 2.7 cm (1.06")
• length: 8.1 cm (3.7")

Ronson & Rosenthal, Harold Sitterle Lighter, 1954

This Ronson table lighter was manufactured in 1954 in a limited quantity. It is special because of the designer of the porcelain base – Harold Sitterle – famous American designer born in 1921. His works are now very collectible. Some of his (and his wife Trudi Sittelre) works – like the Pepper Mill, Ashtray, Salt Dish and Spoon – are in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

This tall petrol table lighter is made of white glazed Rosenthal porcelain with a mat black finish on the top or the other way round (other version). Two models were actually issued – the other one can be seen in this magazine advertisement. The original price tag: $32.50

This lighter was also available as a set including an ashtray (like a simple plate) also designed by Harold Sitterle.

Marked on the bottom of the porcelain base:

Rosenthal
SELB-PLOSSBERG
GERMANY
Fashioned for Ronson
Harold Sitterle

The lighter insert is a common Ronson Essex fitment with an additional leverage made of brass. The lighter insert is marked:

RONSON (R)
NEWARK, N.J. U.S.A.
U.S. PATENT 2.481.195

Type: wick (petrol) lighter

Scarcity: rare

Value for very good–mint condition: $80.00–140.00 (approx €60.00–100.00)

Weight:

• 430 grams (0.95 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 21 cm (8.26")
• diameter: 10.7 cm (4.2")
  

Evans & Limoges Table Lighter, 1956

This French porcelain table lighter decorated with delicate hand painted floral bouquets on a white background framed in gilt scrollwork was manufactured in cooperation with Evans U.S.A. in 1956. Evans provided the gold-tone brass insert and the Limoges Castel Porcelains factory the white glazed porcelain base.

The green Limoges FRANCE mark was used by Limoges Castel Porcelains between 1955 and 1979. They were known for manufacturing Limoges boxes which were decorated mostly with transfers. The factory was established in 1944 and is still active today as a part of Haviland Co.

Marked on the bottom of the base:

Hand Painted
Limoges
FRANCE

Lighter insert marked:

EVANS
U.S.A.

Type: wick (petrol) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon

Value for good–mint condition: $20.00–40.00 (approx €15.00–30.00)

Weight:

• 195 grams (0.43 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 9.5 cm (3.74")
• diameter: 6.5 cm (2.56")
  

Rowenta Table Lighter, 1940s

The Rowenta Table Lighter was the first cigarette lighter manufactured by Rowenta Werke in Offenbach, Germany. It was manufactured in the 1940s in Germany. This wick semi-automatic pertol lighter was  manufactured in many different finishes, like: sterling silver, chromium plate, nickel plate (see picture), various leather, engravements etc.

The wick lighter was generally made of brass and was padded with green felt. Marked on the underside of the base:

ROWENTA
D.R.P. for Pat.

D.R.P stands for Deutsches Reich Patent. Patented by Karl Maltner. The lighter mechanism is very efficient. To make it lit the rectangle button on the side has to be pushed.

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon–rare (depending on type of the finish/advertising)

Value for good–mint condition: $25.00–100.00 (approx €20.00–80.00)

Weight: 255 grams (0.56 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 8.4 cm (3.3")
• width: 4.2 cm (1.65")
• length: 9.4 cm (3.7")

Appraisal of collectibles & antiques

I receive a lot of requests connected with appraisal of table lighters that were not described yet. Determining the price of a specific item is very difficult and one can give only a rough estimate. Why? Because you are supposed to be able to guess how much a buyer may pay for it within a specific period of time and sales conditions. 

Our market is not a perfect market. Mainly because perfect and global market information simply does not exist. It changed a lot due to the development of Internet but it is still not ideal. The price range for the same item may vary a lot. It depends among others on your focus group - who are you going to reach with the information that you want to sell it? Will you list your item on ebay? Yes? Then in what country? Or maybe an auction house would be better? Or selling it to your nearest antiques dealer or friend?... Well, everything depends on a lot of factors. In each case you might be almost sure that you will receive a different amount of money for you item. 

For you consideration find all ebay listings on the Dunhill Pistol Lighter. Then check this post here and take a look at the appraisal which was included in the Miller's Collectables Price Guide 2004 edited by Judith Miller: