ASR, Colibri, Dunhill, Dupont, Evans, Negbaur, MTC, Rolstar, Ronson, Rowenta, Zippo and many others... Price guide included! You will also find books, catalogs, patents and magazine advertisements on lighters!
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)
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).
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: $50.00–75.00 (approx €40.00–60.00)
This lift-arm desk/table lighter was sold by the "World's Largest Novelty House" N. Shure Co., Chicago between 1928 and 1932. The inventor (78,315) was Henry T. Schiff who was also the president of Fay Manufacturing Co.
It was available in nickel and silver plate. It was a low budget table lighter as the retail price per dozen was only 9$.
The nickel-plated lighter insert is removable and attached to the base
with two screws. There are no markings on the base of the lighter that
could identify the maker. The lighter base is heavy and has a hammered
design with a floral and beaded accents.
Type: petrol (wick) lighter
Scarcity: uncommon
Value for very good–mint condition: $35.00–50.00 (€25–35)
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.
The U.S. 75 mm Cannon Lighter was manufactured by Negbaur between 1940 and 1949 in Allbright, New York in the United States. Below the instruction leaflet for it.
The Ronson Banjo was the first automatic pocket lighter in the world. It was marketed by Art Metal Works (AMW), Inc. between 1926 and 1928 in Newark (New Jersey) in the United States. It was sold for $5 each and was an incredible success. The table-top model of the Ronson Banjo was introduced one year later in 1927. The
Banjo was designed by L.V. Aronson and was available in silver plate and gold plate (extremely rare).
The "one motion" lighter mechanism was patented on 12th June 1928. The patent 1,673,727 protected the lighter mechanism till 1933 when the patent was reissued as patent no. 19,023 on 12th December 1933. It was promoted as the "Press It's Lit - Release It's Out". The lighter was light and easy to use and changed the lighter industry for years to come. The instruction sheet to the lighter is available here.
The lighter is marked on the snuffer:
RONSON LIGHTER P'T'D DEC, 31.1918 OTHER PAT'S P'D'G
as well as on the fuel screw on the back:
RONSON LIGHTER
THE ART METAL WORKS NEWARK, N.J.
The Ronson Banjo was only manufactured for a short period of time. In the 1990s Ronson Japan decided to make a reproduction of the lighter to commemorate the "First Automatic Lighter in the World". Small changes were applied to some part in order to make the reproduction distinguishably from the original.One can still find some examples being sold in Japan and China.
Type: petrol (wick) lighter
Scarcity: very rare
Value for good–mint condition: $250–500 (approx. €200–400)
This interesting lift arm table lighter marked "Unis France" was manufactured between 1935
and 1939 by J. Quercia (Flamidor) in (176, Rue St. Martin) Paris, France. Flamidor is one of the most famous and oldest lighter manufacturer in the world. The business was established by Janvier Quercia in 1890 in the Marais district of Paris. At the beginning Quercia was manufacturing cabinets and silverware. After 1906 the company markets the first Quercia lighter and since 1908 it manufacturers even more lighter models. In 1935 Marcel Quercia became the director of Flamidor which is the ancestor of the Flaminaire brand.
The semi-automatic wick table lighter was available in various finishes,
mainly nickel plate over brass and covered with leather. Flamidor manufactured this lighter in two sizes - the shorter one is depicted. They were widely promoted in French magazines in 1935-1938 as "le briquet de bureau chic". It is also worth to mention that Unis France (Union Nationale Inter-Syndicale) was established in 1916 and was an organization promoting French products. The headquarters of Unis France was 41 Rue de Maubeuge, Paris, France. The organization was active till 1940.
Type: petrol (wick) lighter
Marked on the underside:
QUERCIA BREVETE S.G.D.G. (type of a French patent without state warranty)
FLAMIDOR MARQUE DEPOSEE UNIS FRANCE BBR (bleu, blanc, rouge; colors of the French flag: blue, white, red)
Scarcity: uncommon–rare
Value for good–mint condition: $50–100.00 (approx €40–80.00)
This stylish Art Deco lift arm Table Lighter was manufactured between 1931 and 1937 by Rustic in France. It was available in various finishes, mainly nickel plate and brass.
The outer case can be find in enamel, leather. The
lighter is very robust and heavy as it is made of solid brass.
A full page Ronson magazine advertisement published on 9th December 1936 in "PUNCH or The London Charivari" magazine in England. The advert features among others some soght after Touch-Tip Ronson table lighters:
The Ronson Streamline Touch-Tip was first manufactured by Art Metal Works (AMW) in Newark, New
Jersey, USA. The design of the lighter was patented by the United States
Patent Office in 1937 (patent no. 104,955). Today it is a very collectible piece because of its streamline design.
Lighter collectors seem to be everywhere. If you are specializing in one or more brands you may already know that the country where the company was most successful is also the best place for research and shopping! In most cases it is the fatherland of these brands.
2. Use this table to identify the best chances for finding what you want.
English
lighter
table lighter, desk lighter
pocket lighter
petrol lighter
gas lighter
Spanish
encendedor
encendedor de mesa, encendedor de escritorio
encendedor de bolsillo
encendedor de gasolina
encendedor de gas
German
Feuerzeug
Tischfeuerzeug
Taschenfeuerzeug
Benzinfeuerzeug
Gasfeuerzeug
French
briquet
briquet de table
briquet
briquet essence
briquet gaz
Italian
accendino
accendino da tavolo
accendino da tasca
accendino a benzina
accendino a gas
Polish
zapalniczka
zapalniczka stołowa, zapalniczka gabinetowa
zapalniczka kieszonkowa
zapalniczka benzynowa
zapalniczka gazowa
Portuguese
isqueiro
isqueiro de mesa
isqueiro de bolso
isqueiro de benzino
isqueiro a gás
When you have found the right web page or even the lighter you may always use an on-the-fly translator, like google translator which is suitable for every common language in the world. Just paste the URL here and press the 'translate' button.
The Ronson New Yorker Table Lighter was one of the earliest automatic table models manufactured by Art Metal Works (AMW) in Newark, New Jersey, USA. The design of the lighter was patented by the United States Patent Office in 1929 (patent no. 80,011). This wick lighter was designed by the founder of AMW Louis V. Aronson.
This full page color advertisement was published in a French magazine in
1957. It present among others the "Le DIRECTOIRE" gas table lighter made by Silver Match.
This stylish Art Deco Lift Arm Table Lighter Set was manufactured between1933 and 1939 by Park Sherman Company in Springfield, Illinois, USA.
This particular set consists of a wick lighter and a cigarette holder/dispenser.It was also available with a matching tray and several brass ashtrays.The most common colors for this set isgreen with black stripes, red with black stripes and black with red stripes.
The Park Sherman products were sold throughout 1931 to the 1960 when it was sold to a New Jersey firm of Ketcham & McDougall. Park Sherman lighters were marketed as "Park", "Storm King" and "Everdry".
Type: petrol (wick) lighter
Marked on the underside:
(logo, coming soon)
PARK SHERMAN
Scarcity: uncommon–rare
Value for good–mint condition (two piece set): $50.00–120.00 (approx €40.00–90.00)
This rare and finely crafted table lighter was manufactured by International Silver Co. and Evans between 1953 and 1955 in Meriden, Connecticut, USA. The base of the lighter is made of sterling silver and is not weighted. It is round with famous for the Danish design and Alphonse La Paglia modern band of scrolls and flowers decoration.
The design of this piece is reminiscent of work by George Jensen, a
renowned Danish silversmith; however, this is not surprising as La
Paglia studied under Jensen in the 1930's and, after moving to the US in
the 1940's, continued as a designer under Frederick Lunning (Georg
Jensen U.S.A.). In 1952, La Paglia established a close relationship with
International Silver Company, and moved his studio to Meriden,
Connecticut, where he worked until his untimely death in 1953. A. La Paglia worked also for Black Starr and Gorham.
The lighter insert was provided by Evans (USA). It is made of brass and is silver electroplated.
Type: petrol (wick) lighter
Stamped on the bottom:
INTERNATIONAL STERLING La Paglia Designed 160 (sometimes: 139 98 /2)
JACKET STERLING MECHANISM BRASS
The same lighter case was also manufactured by Georg Jensen Inc. and marked:
GEORG JENSEN INC. U.S.A. STERLING 160 LP
The lighter was available in different heights: 2–2.5".
Scarcity: rare
Value for very good–mint condition: $120.00–140.00 (€100–120)
This figural wick lighter was manufactured by Negbaur between 1940 and 1949 in Allbright, New York in the United States. It is made of die cast
metal in a dark cooper antique (uncommon) or chrome plate finish (rare).
The two carriage wheels spin on their axle and the carriage elevates up and down.
It presents a reproduction of a 75mm field canon gun. This quick-firing artillery piece is simply called "Canon de 75 modèle 1897". It was in service in several countries since 1898 and used during both World Wars among others by France, United States, Poland, Belgium, Germany and United Kingdom.
The semi-automatic wick lighter is removable from the canon base. In order to lit the lighter one need to press the button in the back of the cannon barrel. The top opens and the wick burns.
Negbaur was well known for their other solid built figural lighters, like planes,
knights, golf bags, chess figures or planes made in the earlier years
(1930s and 1940s). The Canon Lighter is very collectible as it is
well build and designed. As many of them were manufactured it is not a
problem to find one in excellent condition. This flint cigarette lighter was also manufactured for Demley with a small alteration – an added metal base for example.
The Worcester English Pewter Table Lighter Set was marketed by Worcester Silver Co. and made in 1951 in Sheffield, England. The set consists of a silver plated wick lighter shaped of tankard and matching cigarette holder.
The lighter insert was provided by Evans (USA). It is made of brass and is silver electroplated. Marked on the bottom: EVANS USA
Type: petrol (wick) lighter
Both marked on the bottom:
English Pewter
Made in Sheffield
England
Scarcity: rare
Value for very good–mint condition (set): $80.00–120.00 (€60–90)
