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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 inside of the case. These early models are very rare today.
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 o...
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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Clubs & Associations: Tobacciana
- North American Society of Pipe Collectors
- The Cigarette Pack Collectors' Association
- On The Lighter Side
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Other Great Reference Sites: Tobacciana
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Vintage Zippo Lighter 1940s 3 Barrel 14 Hole W/box
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Original Zippo Spider On Edge - Limited Lighter Very Rare With Spider Case Top
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A Very Mint In The Box 1968 Rich
Vintage 1960 Martinizing Dry Cleaning Double Sided Advertising Zippo Lighter Mib
Supreme Zippo Lighter
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Antique .800 Silver H.b. Tidwell Cigarette Case & Zippo.800 Lighter 264 Grams 
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New Jeep Zippo Lighters; 60th Anniversary & Globe
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Camel Zippo Ice Filters Lighter Cz # 750 
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Vintage 1950's Zippo Lighter White Wick Unused In Box -- Nice One
Old Antique 1936-38 Zippo Lighter 2032695 Original 14 Hole Blank Insert Rare
Original Zippo Dragon Limited Mystery Lighter Very Rare Collectible 
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Rare Vintage Zippo Vietnam War Military Lighter , Phu Cat 70-71
Recent News: Zippo Lighters
Source: Google News
Can This Sleek Lighter Challenge The Zippo?
Co.Design, May 23rd“It is very difficult and challenging,” says Rodrigo Torres, the designer behind Alessi's new Sushi lighter. Torres and his team had to figure out how to move away from the classic Zippo lighter, first introduced in the '30s, then popularized by U.S...Read more
Download Festival tickets comp: 2 VIP tickets to the summer's biggest heavy ...
Mirror.co.uk, May 22ndHowever, you will also each get your mitts on a Download Festival 2013 limited edition Zippo Windproof Lighter, especially handy if you suffer from 'Fear of the Dark'. See our festivals guide for tickets to this summer's biggest events. Festivals guide...Read more
To build a fire: A treatise on reliable flame starters
Elko Daily Free Press, May 19thMy prized liquid fuel lighter is an elderly Zippo genuine windproof lighter. Of all metal construction, the Zippo features a chromed fuel reservoir/chimney housing a sturdy cotton wick. This baby won't blow out, even in a strong wind … trust me on...Read more
'We saved the ship': WWII vets gather, likely for last time
NBCNews.com, May 17thWhen the flame caught from Rhodes' Zippo lighter, “that's when the ship's heart started to beat again,” he recalled. Above on the flight deck, the scene was nothing short of catastrophic. The Franklin was dead in the water, listing to one side and cut...Read more
The Most Stunning Way To Start a Fire Since Lightning
Gizmodo, May 17thThe simple form and function of a Zippo lighter has made it an incredibly iconic design. But it could soon be supplanted by Alessi if the Italian houseware manufacturer prices its new Sushi lighter to compete with the Zippo. That, or convince a...Read more
Win 1 of 3 special Download Festival 2013 limited edition Zippo Windproof ...
Music News, May 16thspecial Download Festival 2013 limited edition Zippo Windproof Lighter. Zippo has always had a long standing affiliation with rock music, with the iconic sea of flames created decades ago when Zippo lighters were first waved in the air calling for...Read more
Zippo zooms into IAADFS with new apparel and accessories lines
MoodieReport, May 7thHighlights include a line of premium denim jeans, made in the US, incorporating a pocket specially made for a Zippo lighter, set to launch in June 2013 and retailing at around US$130. In addition, there are baseball caps, bags and small leathergoods...Read more
Lee Brice Plans to Light Up the Night with Zippo Lighters This Summer
WWGP 1050 AM, April 30thAs part of the partnership, Lee has designed two custom Zippo Lighters that will be on sale only at his summer concerts. One features the palmetto tree and crescent moon flag of Lee's home state, South Carolina, while the other features a wooden guitar...Read more