Negbaur 75 Cannon Table Lighter Instruction, 1940

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.

Ronson Banjo Pocket Cigarette Lighter, USA, 1926

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)

Weight: 55 grams (1.9 oz)

Dimensions:

• height: 6.0 cm (2 1/4")
• width: 4.7 cm (1 7/8")
• depth: 1.2 cm (1/2")

Flamidor Lift Arm Table Lighter, 1935

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)

Weight: 200 grams (7 ¹/₈ oz)

Dimensions:

• height: 7.3 cm (2.9")
• width: 8.7 cm (3.4")
• depth: 3.7 cm  (1.4")

Rustic Lift Arm Table Lighter, 1931

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. 

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Marked on the underside:

 [French tax plate]

Scarcity: uncommon–rare

Value for good–mint condition: $60–120.00 (approx €45–90.00)

Weight: 265 grams (9 ¹/₃ oz)

Dimensions:

• height: 10.3 cm (4.1")
• width: 7.5 cm (3")
• depth: 2.8 cm  (1.1")

Advert: Ronson Touch-Tip Table Lighters, 1936

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:

• Touch-Tip Bar,
• Touch-Tip Dispenser,
• Touch-Tip Egyptian Girl,
• Touch-Tip Clock.

Patent: Ronson Streamline Touch-Tip Table Lighter, 1937

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.

Table lighter in common languages

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.

1. When you do not know where your favorite lighters company comes from, you may use the list of manufacturers by country.

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.

Patent: Ronson De-Light New Yorker Table Lighter, 1929

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.

Advert: Silver Match Gas Cigarette Lighters, 1957

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.

Park Sherman Lift Arm Table Lighter Set, 1933

This stylish Art Deco Lift Arm Table Lighter Set was manufactured between 1933 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 is green 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)

Weight:  

• lighter: 88 grams (3 ¹/₈ oz)
• cigarette dispenser: 218 grams (7 ⁵/₈ oz)

Dimensions:

lighter:

• height: 9.5 cm (3.9")
• diameter: 4.8 cm (1.9")

cigarette dispenser:

• height: 16 cm (6.3")
• diameter: 8 cm (3.15")

Advert: Silver Match Gas Cigarette Lighters, 1957

This full page color advertisement was published in a French magazine in 1957. It present the all new Silver Match gas lighters in different finishes.

Advert: Evans table lighters in silver plate, 1949

This full size magazine advertisement was published in Beautiful House Magazine in June 1949. It promotes five silver-plated Evans table lighters:

1. The Future
2. Famous Magic Lamp
3. The Victorian
4. The Georgian
5. The Contempora

 

La Paglia International Silver Evans Table Lighter, 1953

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)

Weight: 140 grams (5 oz)

Dimensions:

• height: 5.1 cm (2")
• diameter: 5.1 cm (2")

Negbaur Cannon Table Lighter, 1940

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.

Marked on the bottom of the base:

Negbaur
Made in U.S.A.
Pat. Pending

Type: wick (petrol) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon–rare

Value for very good–mint condition: $75.00–125.00 (approx €50.00–90.00)

Weight: 453 grams (15 7/8 oz)

Dimensions:

• length: 21 cm (8.3")
• width: 7.6 cm (3")
• height: 8 cm (3.1")

Worcester & Evans English Pewter Lighter Set, 1951

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)

Weight:

• lighter – 130 grams (4 1/2 oz)
• cigarette urn – 53 grams (1 7/8 oz)

Dimensions:

1. Lighter

• height: 7.3 cm (2.9")
• diameter: 5.2 cm (2")

2. Cigarette holder

• height: 5 cm (2")
• diameter: 5.2 cm (2")

Advert, Elgin American Lighters, 1949 & 1950

These two full page vintage magazine ads depict some of the smoking products manufactured and/or sold by Elgin American like: Table Lighter 'Ensemble' Set, few 'Case-O-Matics' Combination Lighters, 'Director' Lighter Set and the 'Clubman' Lighter Set, 'Socialite' Pocket Lighters, 'Litter Case' as well the Ronson 'Adonis' Set. The first advert was published on July 1950 in the Esquire magazine and the other in an unknown magazine in 1949.

Advert, Evans Duchess Table Lighter, 1949

This magazine advertisement published in LIFE Magazine on 24 October 1949 shows the all new and "sensational" Evans Duchess Table Lighter.

KEM Bowling Pin Lighter, 1946

The Bowling Pin Lighter was manufactured in the 1940s in Detroit, Michigan in the United States by Kem Inc. Beside these lighters KEM was famous for manufacturing advertising lighters in shape of bullets, bottles and cans made both of metal and plastic.

This figural lighter was made of ivory/cream colored plastic and advertised as "air tight, leak proof, small and compact". It was sold between 1946 and 1949 for only 39 cents or given away as advertisers by hundreds of companies which decided to include this lighter in their marketing strategy. A similar lighter bowling pin only with two red stripes was also made by Atlas Bowling in Japan.

The lighter is marked on the bottom:

KEM (INC.)

DETROIT, MICH.

PAT. PEND.

The two halves of the plastic bowling pin casing pull apart to show the simple wick and wheel type lighter made of brass. It is not marked.

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon

Value for good–mint condition: $15–25 (approx. €10–15)

Weight: 19 grams (0.6 oz)

Dimensions:

• height: 7.2 cm (2.8")
• diameter: 2 cm (0.8")

Patent: Ronson De-Light Superba Table Lighter, 1929

The Ronson Superba 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. 80,214). This wick lighter was designed by the founder of AMW Louis V. Aronson.

Evans Duchess Table Lighter, 1949

The production of this fully automatic cigarette lighter started in 1949 and finished in 1954. It was completely manufactured by Evans Case Co. in Attleboro, Massachusetts, USA. The Evans Duchess has a chased design available in gleaming silver electroplate finish. A. F. Reilly – the author of the lighter design – received the patent (no. 153,635) from the United States Patent Office in 1949 (filled in 1948).

This wick lighter has very often minor abrasions on the plated surface even if it is boxed and new (old stock). The lighter is padded with green felt.

Marked on the bottom:

U.S. PAT.
RE.19023
EVANS

Type: petrol (wick) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon

Value for good–mint condition: $40–60 (approx. €30.00–45.00)

Weight: 130 grams (0.25 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 8.9 cm (3.0")
• width: 5.6 cm (2.2")
• depth: 3.5 cm (1.4")