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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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Showing 60. See all 1,015 by  highest bid • most watched • completed
Vintage 1st Model Zippo Barcroft 1939-40 - Fine ConditionZippo 1940s Barcroft Table Lighter With Engraved Hand Painted "setter" ! Rare!!!Pristine New Mickey Mouse Disney Zippo Lighter Mint In The BoxZippo Fuel Station / Dispenser Very Rare With Box Winchester Zippo Lighter Store Display American Legend 1886 Lever Action NrSolid Titanium Zippo Unused From 2003 - Very Rare.Vintage Zippo Lighter 1971 Smokey Bear Mint In Box Super RareLot Of 18 Zippo Lighters Marlboro Camel And More1991 Polished Chrome Zippo Lighter Transportation Series Full Set New W/boxZippo Advertising 4th Model Barcroft Table Lighter Mib In Original Box Vintage Rare 1997 Zippo Lighter Harley Davidson 95th Anniv & Box Le 2361/4000 Zippo ~~~z O D I A C~~~ Complete SetSet Of 12 Zippo Lighters Astrology NewPrototype Camel Zippo Clasic Beast Round Medallion Midnight Chrome Z 59 Zippo Armor Nutural Shell Black Titanum Coated CoolestVintage 1937 - 1940 Zippo Lighter Cut Slash Corners 4 Barrel Hinge Pat 2032695Turquoise Jeweled Zippo Collection Set MibZippo Lucky Strike Pin Up Limited Edition Of 55 - Jo Ann GirlZippo Barbour Street Click Club 2005 LighterRare Estate Fresh 1953 Sterling Zippo - Box & PapersVintage Zippo Lighter Mickey Mouse 1980Rare Japan Marvel Movie Zippo - Spiderman Venom With Shell Inlay - Bnib Zippo Armor Line 100Zippo Mickey Mouse LighterRare Zippo Vietnam-1968 - Special Forces -mac V Sog -nha Trang Vn- N/r Auction!!Vintage Zippo Display With Three Lighters Spirit Of '76 LookVintage 1930s Zippo Lighter Corner Slashes 4 Barrel Hinge - Original Insert Rare Zippo Vietnam-1968 - Special Forces -tuy Hoa - Vietnam N/r Auction!!~ 1932-2007 ~ Zippo Click 75 Years Red Flame Limited Edition Lighter 1 Of 227 Zippo Mystries Of The Forest Limited Edition Mib 5 LightersZippo Pinup 1996 Collection Of The Year Mib With All Papers Made In The Usa Zippo Lighters Sucker Punch Movie Collectible Zippo Brass Lighter Promotional Item Exclusive!!!Zippo Lily Both Sides Design Very CoolZippo Beautiful Pool Player Rocker Limited Edition Rare Haven't Seen Before !!!1997 Camel Joe Collector's Hard Pack Zippo Lighter 150 Made For Rjr Store Cz#153Zippo Terminator3 Movie Limited Edition Promo Blue Titanium Coated VeryrareZippo Armor 3d Carvin Both Side Design Gold CoolZippo Pinball Chance Very RareWwii Zippo Lighters NewZippo Playboy ~~~ 50th Anniversary ~~~Harley Davidson 90th Anniversary Vintage Zippo Lighter - New Unused CondtionCase Hobo Knife--new In Gift Tin--7254hbss--zippo Lighter And Leather SheathZippo Fox Twenty Four 24 Ctu Limited Silver Coated1930's 1940's Zippo Lighter 4 Barrel Hinge Slashes 14 Hole Insert~ 1950 ~ Red Full Leather Wrap Zippo Lighter Pat#203 Nickel Silver InsertSet Of Two Baron Von Lind Rosie The Riveter Sexy Pinup Girl Zippo LightersZippo ~ Peterson Pipe & Lighter Gift Set "08"2 Vietnam Era Navy Zippo Lighters Uss Barney Ddg-6 Uss Catamount Lsd-17 Rvn Nor Harley Davidson High Gloss Zippo Original Box @ Unused, Rare.Vintage 1996 Beatles Music Mint In Box Zippo Lighter Keychain Let It Be Song C.1955 Zippo Lighter, Uss F.d. Roosevelt, Cva-42Dpray Emblem Black Korea Zippo / Free Gifts(flint, Wick), ShippingAuthentic Vintage Zippo Cigarette Lighter Sterling Silver 19.7g Geisha Japan Vintage *kelvinator* Advertising Zippo Lighter With Box, Never UsedCoastal Division Eleven/number One Watchdog Zippo Military Cigarette LighterUnicorn-1 Gold Korea Zippo / Free Gifts(flint, Wick), ShippingZippo Windy Girl Gold Plate Made In 2006Zippo Lighter Hot Rat Rod,fink,low Brow, Tattoo,punk, 1shot. By Designer Nasty!!Guardian Gold Zippo/free-gifts(flint, Wick), Shipping
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Recent News: Zippo Lighters

Source: Google News

How the Global Middle Class Can Save the American Middle Class
The Atlantic, May 25th

Zippo Manufacturing Co, the maker of the iconic American cigarette lighter, has experienced 1000 percent sales growth in China over the last 20 years and 900 percent growth in India over the last eight years. While other American companies have shed...Read more

Burning for You
Adweek, May 24th

This is the sound of someone—most likely a Humphrey Bogart-type with stubble on his chin—firing up a Zippo lighter. The sound is so iconic it's been sampled in pop songs, while the lighter itself—scarcely changed since its 1933 debut—has appeared...Read more

Culinary disasters happen to the best of us
Clarksville Leaf Chronicle, May 22nd

Thinking I might be able to salvage the meal, I looked down at the platter that served as a rescue station and noticed that the end of a chicken leg was still burning like the Zippo lighter that my Grandpa used to use. At that point, all you can do is...Read more

Win VIP tickets to see The Prodigy, Metallica, Black Sabbath and more at Download
Mirror.co.uk, May 22nd

You will also each get your hands on a very special Download Festival 2012 limited edition Zippo Windproof Lighter. All you have to do to be in with a chance to see the biggest names in rock at Donington Park from 8-10 June is answer the question below...Read more

Pa.'s Zippo expects 500 millionth lighter in June
SouthCoastToday.com, May 20th

By JOE MANDAK AP WRITER PITTSBURGH — A Pennsylvania company that makes metal-cased cigarette lighters with lids known for their distinctive "click," is on schedule to produce its 500 millionth lighter this year. And by ramping up production, Zippo is...Read more

Zippo Earns President's "E Star" Award
MarketWatch (press release), May 17th

WASHINGTON, May 17, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Today, Zippo®, maker of the world famous windproof lighter with the lifetime guarantee, was presented with the President's prestigious "E Star" Award by US Commerce Secretary John Bryson...Read more

Hotel chef tried to set man on fire with lighter fluid
This is Gloucestershire, May 17th

But luckily for Mr Paddock, Norris' Zippo lighter was out of fuel and did not light. Norris, of Carlton Street, Cheltenham, a chef at the four-star Queens Hotel, admitted spraying the lighter fuel with intent to burn, maim, disfigure or disable Mr...Read more

The 10 Best self-catering essentials
The Independent, May 1st

Zippo Lighter £17.79, langtoninfo.co.uk A lighter is a must. For lighting the gas hob, romantic dinner candles or just finding your way to the fuse box in a power cut, you'll almost certainly need one. 2. Casio LED travel clock £9.18,...Read more

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