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Collectors Weekly

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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Vintage Zippo Lighter 1940s 3 Barrel 14 Hole W/boxZippo The Beatles Collection Help Limited Edition Super RareZippo-camel Joe's 75th. Birthday-brush Brass-1988-cz#003-mib-rare-htf1980s Golden Elegance Mickey Mouse Brass Zippo W Box Original Price Sticker JZippo Lighter Vintage Collection: Large Lot Of 30. Rare! Incl Collector's CasesWw Ii Black Crackle Zippo Lighter In Excellent ConditionVintage 1938 Zippo Lighter !Zippo Lot Of 34. Variety Of Unused Zippos From The 90's. Great CollectionVintage 1930s Zippo Cigarette Lighter 4 Barrel Hinge Chrome Monogram OriginalMarlboro Japan Zippo Zippo Coke Lighter In BoxVintage Zippo 1959Zippo Mazzi Eagle 2002 Original Hand Painted Limited Edition #113Original Zippo "salesmans Sample" Lighter - Estate Find!Japanese Camel Zippo Nutty Menthol Mib My Camel No.15Huge Junk Drawer Lot Coins/tools/harley/knives/zippo Read Description**l@@k**A Very Mint In The Box 1968 Rich1969-70 Vietnam Zippo Lighter 1969 Date Cib & MottoAntique .800 Silver H.b. Tidwell Cigarette Case & Zippo.800 Lighter 264 Grams Sands Of Normandy Zippo D-day 60th Anniversary Commemorative LighterVintage 1960 Martinizing Dry Cleaning Double Sided Advertising Zippo Lighter MibSupreme Zippo Lighter Rare Zippo 10 Kgf Mint In Box Cobra Zippo Wwll A RemembranceRare Special Edition 80th Anniversary Employee Only Edition Zippo Lighter75th Anniversary Limited Edition Zippo Limited To 14,000 Usa W/swarovski CrystalZippo Lot Of 17 UsedZippo "super 60's" 4 Piece Sports Car Set - Camaro, Mustang, Corvette, & Gto !!!Zippo Allied Heroes D-day Normandy 4 Brass Lighters/key Chain In Collectible TinWw-ii 1942 Four Barrell 14 Hole Chimney Zippo LighterVintage Zippo Military Issue Lighter Vietnam 65-66 Metal Army Us Artillary Zippo Dragon Lather Jaket Very CoolSterling 2003 Zippo Greek Cross Patent 2032695 - Insert Is 2001) - Niagra FallsQui Nhon 1969 1970 Vintage Vietnam War Time Zippo Lighter MilitaryZippo Tribal Three Sides Design Very Cool Zippo Lighter 1956 Hussey Copper & Brass Co. New In Box-candy Stripped NevfireSupreme Ceramic Ashtray Hermes Supreme Dogbowl Zippo Bullet Keychain Pint GlassVintage Zippo Lighter Cadillac Never UsedZippo Premium Ed Skyline Gt-r Lighter & Leath Keychain Wallet Nissan R32 R34 GtrRare Vintage 2005 Sealed Unfired Mint All Copper Zippo Lighter W/ Box2011 Case 6254 Custom Trapper Knife With Matching Zippo LighterWorld War Ii Black Crackle Zippo LighterOld Antique 1936-38 Zippo Lighter 2032695 Original 14 Hole Blank Insert RareOriginal American Classic 1932 Replica Zippo Lighter New No BoxNew Jeep Zippo Lighters; 60th Anniversary & GlobeVintage Sterling Silver ZippoWailers/bob Marley-catch A Fire,island,zippo Lighter Album Cover!! Camel Zippo Ice Filters Lighter Cz # 750 Camel Zippo Eastern Filters Lighter Cz # 752 Camel Zippo Lighter Inca Sand Filters Lighter Cz # 756Original Zippo Dragon Limited Mystery Lighter Very Rare Collectible Zippo Jazz Piano 3d Very RareVintage 1950's Zippo Lighter White Wick Unused In Box -- Nice OneOld Navy Uss Tripoli Brass Zippo Military Lighter-1983 Model-works Well-tight Rare Vintage Zippo Vietnam War Military Lighter , Phu Cat 70-71Millennium Edition Zippo Lighter Bnib. L@@k! Zippo Vintage Table Barcroft 1947/1949 1989 New Zippo Lighter Ronald Reagan/ Mikhail Gorbachev Summit Talks With Flags Rare Original Zippo Vintage 3 Barrels 1946 In Box 2032695Violet/teal Exotic Table Lighter W/zippo Logo Hand Painted & Zippo #250 Sample

Recent News: Zippo Lighters

Source: Google News

Husband, wife get big sentences in Hudson homicides
The Ranger, May 23rd

MedicineCloud said she was thankful for the person who discovered the blood-spotted Zippo lighter near the crime scene that eventually led police to the suspects. Fremont County deputy attorney Patrick LeBrun headed up prosecution for both hearings...Read more

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 22nd

However, 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 19th

My 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 (blog), May 17th

When 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

Win 1 of 3 special Download Festival 2013 limited edition Zippo Windproof ...
Music News, May 16th

special 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 7th

Highlights 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 30th

As 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