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The Zippo Manufacturing Company was founded by George Blaisdell in Bradford, PA, in 1932. That same year he created the first Zippo lighter, in an attempt to make cigarette lighters easier to use. He moved the chimney, added a sturdy hinged metal case, and offered the world an affordable $1.95 price tag. Zippos soon became very popular.

Zippos originally had the hinge on the outside, but shortly after they moved it to the ins...

Zippos were standard issue during WWII, as their sturdy windproof construction made them ideal for soldiers. But these wartime Zippos are hard to find, as many were left behind or lost. Many of the lighters made for soldiers were covered in a 'black crackle' finish that soldiers could carve names and drawings into with knives or pins. This 'trench art' can increase the value of a Zippo lighter significantly.

Zippo became an aesthetic icon, and by the 1950s was making custom-decorated lighters for different companies, clubs, and teams to be used as advertising or gifts. Businesses gave monogrammed lighters to their employees for celebrations of service or retirements. Introduced in 1956, the Zippo Slim added a thinner, sleeker lighter to the company’s lineup. Today, Zippos can be found with any number of designs, ranging from sports team logos to tattoo-style art.

In addition to the wide variety available, Zippos are popular among collectors because each lighter since 1955 has been stamped with a date code, and for pre-1955 lighters, the year can be identified by a number of features of the stamping.

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Harley Davidson Brass Zippo Lighter Jigsaw P Set Mib Aus Registered Post $9.50Zippo [ 30s Zippo Lighter ] Vintage Zippo Lighter MibThis Is A Harley-davidson Zippo Engine Series Lighter Collection 456/4000Rare! Zippo Town & Country Lily Pad (lily Pond) Lighter With Box!Harley Davidson Zippo Engine Series Lighter Collection1975 Mickey Mouse Zippo Lighter Mib1984 Zippo Salesman Case Full Of Original Items, Airstream Table Lighter & More!Old 1930s Zippo Lighter Box Silver & Black Art Deco Design W/ BuildingFinal Fantasy Vii 7 Zippo Lighters 1997 Complete Collection All 10 New Sealed! Vintage Zippo Mickey Mouse Lighter ... 1970,s .... Mint !Vintage Zippo 1930's Lighter 4 Barrel 1938?Zippo 007 8 Zippo Set Made In 1996Zippo Lighter Solid Titanium 1st Year ProductionLot Of Zippo And Older Lighters. 80 In All.Zippo Lighter Pat # 2032695Disney/ Pixar Wall-e Crew Gift Zippo LighterZippo Lot 15 Lighters New Collection Harley Remington Army Marines Coors Miller Zippo Camel Gold Plated Prototype Only 10 Made " Very Rare"2012 Year Asia Dragon Bk/gold Zippo Free Gifts(flint, Wick), ShippingZippo A Remembrance World War 2 Vol.1 Limited Mint In Box, 1995Zippo 1997 Harley Gift SetVintage 1950 1951 1952 Zippo Cigarette Lighter Brass Coca-cola Coke Bottle1976 Zippo Counter Display - W/6 Lighters!!!Zippo Sunshine Beer 1946 14 Hole Insert 3 Barrel Hinge Nickel SilverWorking Vintage 4 Barrel Zippo Lighter W/boxHarley Davidson Tattoo Armor Zippo Lighter Mit Aus Registered Post $9.50Walt Disney World Epcot Zippo Slim Zippo Mint Unused1950's Zippo Lighter #250 High Polish Unstruck In Blue Candy Stripe Box No ResLighter Collection Lot Of 29 Different Zippo & Others & Display Case1969 Zippo Apollo 11 Moon Landing LighterNib Zippo Pewter Car And Display Case 1998 Limited Edition Collectible NewHarley Davidson Black Crackle Silver Pewter Bootstrap Zippo Lighter & Keyring Collectible 7 Zippo Outdoor Collection Set W/ Original Display1996 Camel Big Joe Zippo New Marlboro Zippo Lighter Solid Brass In Box New From 90's Rare Europe Zippo Beautiful Compass Emblem Collectors Limited Edition Extremely RareHarley Davidson Zippo Lighter & Hd Belt Pouch Gift Set Aus Registered Post $9.50Harley Davidson 95th Reunion Zippo Lighter Mict Aus Registered Post $9.50Collectible Mysteries Of The Forest 4 Zippo Lighter Set In Tin Display Box 3rd Model Zippo Barcroft Table Lighter Short Full Sized 2032695 InsertZippo Sterling Silver Used Made In 2005Vintage Rare Leather Zippo Lighter Harley Davidson Motorcycle 1997 Mint In BoxZippo Jurassic Park3 Movie Limited Universal Studio Super Collector ItemCadillac Zippo Lighter 3 Barrel Pat # 2032695 Utter Motor Co.Zippo [ 50s Table Lighter ] Vintage Zippo Lighter Mib50th Anniversary Zippo Lighter Unstruck In Gold Foil Wendy Box No ReserveRare! Vintage 1976 Brass Marlboro Zippo Lighter Zippo Id Fly 8400 Miles To "smoke A Camel" Lighter RareZippo Lighter Forest 4 Lighter Set In Original Tin 19951979 Zippo Lighter Harley Davidson Date Code Error Unstruck In Box No ReserveVintage Zippo Vietnam 67/68 Chu Lai- Da Nang Scribed Risque Snoopy Killer 1946-49 Zippo 3 Barrel Near Perfect Chrome Rare Lighter 63+ Years Old 2032695Zippo-lucky Strike-3-d Pack Design-h.p. Chrome Case-2000-mibUss John Marshall Ssn-611 Mint 1992 Navy Usn Submarine Zippo Camel Zippo Pop Art MintCamel Zippo Nostalgic Car Ad MintVintage Zippo Lighter Limited Edition Wood Zi American Classic Flame Mint In BoxZippo Sterling Silver 1941r Made In 2005Uss Ethan Allen Ssn-608 1982 Navy Usn Submarine Zippo Zippo Barcroft Table Lighter Bf Goodrich Smileage Very Nice No Box No Reserve
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Recent News: Zippo Lighters

Source: Google News

BridalShowerFavors.com Launches 10 New Fairy Tale Wedding Favors
San Francisco Chronicle (press release), February 7th

money boxes and bags, soap favors, children's gifts, prom gifts, personalized wedding party favors, wedding frames, party bubbles, pocket watches, personalized glasses and mugs, engraved flasks, bottle shoppers, Zippo lighters, jewelry, compacts,...Read more

Zippo Celebrates NY Giants With Commemorative Super Bowl XLVI Windproof Lighters
Giants Gab (blog), February 7th

Zippo, maker of the world famous windproof lighter with the lifetime guarantee, celebrates the New York Giants with the release of two limited edition, NFL Super Bowl XLVI Champions lighters. Commemorating the Giants' historic win at Lucas Oil Stadium...Read more

Deputy: Burglar arrested still clutching stolen TV remote
Anderson Independent Mail, February 7th

He also had Mexican coins, pocket knives, a screwdriver, four watches, a Zippo lighter and three sets of fingernail clippers. The deputy said in her report that Norris also had a digital recorder and camera, along with the laptop and other electronics...Read more

Arrest after close to 50 samurai swords stolen
Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald, February 7th

Anthony Logan Childers, 20, of Roanoke Rapids, was arrested following the theft of jewelry, a digital camcorder, some Zippo lighters and a collection of 48 samurai swords, valued at more than $4000, police said. Posted: Tuesday, February 7,...Read more

Zippo Celebrates the New York Giants' Super Bowl XLVI Championship with ...
PR Web (press release), February 6th

Zippo, maker of the world famous windproof lighter with the lifetime guarantee, celebrates the New York Giants with the release of two limited edition, NFL Super Bowl XLVI Champions lighters. No matter which design, these limited edition Super Bowl...Read more

Gadgets can ease winter chill
USA TODAY, February 4th

Zippo isn't just for smokers. The company's Hand Warmer is ideal for folks whose outdoorsy tendencies cannot be deterred by weather, such as hunters, skiers and ice road truckers . Filled with lighter fluid, the accessory can provide 12 continuous...Read more

Customized Zippo Lighters: Perfect Gift for a Hot Valentine
Gizmodo, January 31st

Zippo has always accepted larger custom corporate orders, but recently they've introduced a new flash-based online tool that lets you customize an individual lighter, for those who don't need hundreds with a photo of their cat on it...Read more

Keepers of the Zippo flame make lighters a hot collectible
Cherry Hill Courier Post, January 29th

Norm Bumm of Magnolia has not smoked for more than 30 years, but he has a collection of Zippo lighters. / AL SCHELL/Courier-Post Norm Bumm of Magnolia owns 388 Zippo lighters. / AL SCHELL/Courier-Post 01.23.12 Magnolia; Norm Bumm of Magnolia and his...Read more

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