Zippo Lighters

MainTop eBay AuctionsAll Tobacciana SuperBrowse

About Vintage Zippo Lighters

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 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.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Continue reading

Interviews & Articles

Guest Column: Collecting Vintage Cigarette Lighters

Cigarette lighter collecting is a hobby that never gets boring. Just by browsing eBay auctions for ten minute…  [more]

An Interview with Vintage Cigarette Lighter Collector Urban Cummings

At the very beginning, my interest in lighters was about the mechanism. I had my first lighter when I was 14.…  [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Match World

Match World

This ambitious site showcases the 20,000-item Rankei Library matchbook collection, owned by the Japan Match Manufac… [read review or visit site]

Kensitas Silk Flowers

Kensitas Silk Flowers

Don Wearmouth and his wife showcase the 230 beautiful silk designs that were distributed free with Kensitas cigaret… [read review or visit site]

Advertising Antiques

Advertising Antiques

This classy looking British site features hundreds of high resolution photos of antique porcelain pre-war (enamel) … [read review or visit site]

Matchbox Labels

Matchbox Labels

Jane McDevitt's huge Flickr photoset of matchbox labels, primarily Eastern European, from the 1950s and 60s. These … [read review or visit site]

Truth in Advertising

Truth in Advertising

This gallery of cigarette magazine advertising from the 1940s and 50s contains no surgeon general's warning, just p… [read review or visit site]

Matchbook Museum

Matchbook Museum

James Lileks' gallery of 250 matchbooks from coffee shops, hotels, motels, bars, banks, restaurants and more. Lilek… [read review or visit site]

Cigar Band Museum

Cigar Band Museum

Puff on this... over 1,000 cigar bands from the 1890s through 1920s, organized into themed galleries such as Portra… [read review or visit site]

Non Sports Cards: Tobacco, Gum and Candy

Non Sports Cards: Tobacco, Gum and Candy

Tom Boblitt moderates this extremely deep, collaborative site dedicated to non-sports cards (tobacco, gum and candy… [read review or visit site]

Lamarde

Lamarde

This blog, entirely in Spanish, is an amazingly comprehensive and varied tribute to tobacco and cigarette advertisi… [read review or visit site]


Got a site to suggest? Let us know.




Clubs & Associations: Tobacciana


Other Great Reference Sites: Tobacciana

Are we missing one? Tell us.



Recent News: Zippo Lighters

Source: Google News

Kids and Cancer Motorcycle Run Slated for July

Gant Daily
A limited amount of numbered Zippo collectible lighters featuring a 2009 Kids and Cancer custom design will be on sale to registrants only. ...

Michael Jackson – remembered in gadgets

Examiner.com
The Michael Jackson Zippo Lighter is actually very elegant – one of the more tasteful memorials you'll find. You'll find other memorial plaques as well ...

For the Record

Daily Sentinel
GALLIPOLIS — A jewelry box containing miscellaneous jewelry, a silver Zippo lighter inscribed with Bosworth, three bottles of liquor, a .22 caliber rifle ...

Untapped Potential: Motion control

Destructoid
Untapped Potential: Motion control
Destructoid
When the player selects it, a first person view comes up with Zack holding a Zippo-esque lighter in its closed position. Thinking for a moment of how to ...

Riverfest looks to rebound from 2008 washout

Janesville Gazette
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that Zippo lighter company did not renew its sponsorship of a stage at the annual festival. ...

Bumpass Cove man dies in afternoon blaze

Kingsport Times News
“Everyone had been issued a Zippo lighter. He lost the lighter in that crash. Evidently, someone came along and found it. And back a few years ago, ...

Top 40 best iphone apps of all time

TECH.BLORGE.com
Top 40 best iphone apps of all time
TECH.BLORGE.com
Virtual Zippo Lighter: Customize your Zippo lighter as you see fit and then “light” it so you can hold up at concerts or just for the fun of playing with it ...

Playing with fire

Charlevoix Courier
We were allowed to hold the tips to the flame of uncle Don's Zippo lighter until they caught in a thrilling resplendent burst. We suffered the singeing ...

The “Top 20“ Best Selling Ebay Items In Today's Economy

WebWire (press release)
An old Zippo Cigarette Lighter that sold for $11000. When WhatSellsBest.com founder James Massey was asked what inspired him to publish the site? ...

KISS launches virtual concert lighter app

PR Web (press release)
KISS launches virtual concert lighter app
Sync: the tech & gadgets blog
You don't smoke, so why should you carry a Zippo in your pocket at concerts, when that iPhone can do the job? For years now, concert goers who didn't smoke ...
KISS and Spark of Blue Software Team Up to Create New iPhone ...

Top eBay Auctions    (get weekly Zippo Lighters email)

Status       Display       How this works
Zippo- Mint Unfired Factory Engraved- Pcf 101- Snoopy!$306.00 Ends Monday 12 bids 33 watchers
Zippo Rare Never Massed Produced 21 Casino Lighters New$305.00 Ends in 10 mins 16 bids 16 watchers
Established Zippo Lighters Website Business For Sale $$$280.00 Ends in 4 hours 26 bids 6 watchers
Ww Ii Era Black Crackle Zippo Lighter With Coins Ww Ii$266.66 Ends Friday 2 bids 7 watchers
Vintage Coca Cola Zippo Lighter~original Box~paperwork$206.06 Ends Sunday 15 bids 41 watchers
Engraved Italian 800 Silver Enamel Scene Zippo Lighter$182.50 Ends Wednesday 8 bids 10 watchers
Rarest1988 "elvis Presley" 8pc.dealer Zippo Lighters $177.50 Ends in 4 hours 7 bids 14 watchers
1956 Reddy Kilowatt Zippo Nib$157.55 Ends Sunday 22 bids 33 watchers
2007 Zippo Armor Lighter- Zippo Click 75th Limited Mib$154.99 Ends in 2 hours 2 bids 20 watchers
Rare Zippo Gift Package Late 1953 Mint In Box W/ Papers$151.00 Ends Wednesday 8 bids 10 watchers
Ww Ii Black Crackle Finish Four Barrel Zippo Lighter$142.50 Ends in 2 hours 14 bids 38 watchers
Zippo Town & Country 2001 Replica Set Of 9 Lighters!!! $128.50 Ends Friday 7 bids 8 watchers
New Zippo Lighter Ww 11 D-day Logo$126.15 Ends Tuesday 7 bids 17 watchers
Vintage Original Wind Proof Zippo Lighter In The Box$121.48 Ends Tuesday 7 bids 13 watchers
Old Vietnam Zippo Tunnel Rat Cigar Cigarette Case 1966$117.77 Ends in 5 hours 8 bids 15 watchers
Zippo 'geisha' Black Enamel Japanese Rare Unused 2003!$114.58 Ends Monday 2 bids 2 watchers
Very Rare Brand New Solid Titanium Zippo 2003$113.50 Ends Wednesday 4 bids 31 watchers
Zippo Hit Parade Cicarettes Limited 38/50 Made In1998$104.50 Ends Monday 19 bids 10 watchers
Great White Zippo Lighter$99.99 Ends Sunday 1 bid 2 watchers
Zippo Lighters Cross Violet Titanium Type-a$99.99 Ends Monday 1 bid 2 watchers
Zippo Limited Edition Kendall In Display Box$99.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 4 watchers
Zippo Barcroft Lighter - Vintage With G.a.s.co. Logo$96.99 Ends Sunday 2 bids 8 watchers
Corinthian Pearlescent 1960 Zippo Table Lighter$89.99 Ends Sunday 3 bids 11 watchers
Zippo Ltd Ed. 1935 Replica Z Series Nib Prototype $89.99 Ends Monday 1 bid 5 watchers
Rare!vintage 1937 Zippo Coca-cola Lighter W/box$82.01 Ends Wednesday 8 bids 36 watchers
Vintage Walt Disney World Zippo Lighter In The Box$78.77 Ends Tuesday 5 bids 16 watchers
Mickey Mouse Disney Zippo Lighter Slim 1972 No Resereve$78.00 Ends Sunday 8 bids 26 watchers
Beeton's Christmas Annual Zippo Lighter. 1994 Very Rare$78.00 Ends Sunday 11 bids 4 watchers
Zippo Bottoms Up Lighter Zippo Emblem$78.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 1 watcher
Zippo 1933 Replica Style - Z33$75.00 Ends in 6 mins 1 bid
1953-1956 Table Top Zippo Lighter (chrome)$60.00 Ends in 18 hours 1 bid
Zippo 13 Lot Multi. New And Used$59.99 Ends Friday 1 bid
Zippo Lighters - Lot Of 7$59.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid
Us Navy Carrier Zippo Lighters (8)$57.00 Ends in 1 hour 3 bids
Vintage Zippo Lighter Made In U.s.a Pat.2032695 Early$52.00 Ends in 19 hours 9 bids 23 watchers
Zippo Lighters Lot Of 10 1958-1997 & 14 Retail Sleeve$51.75 Ends Sunday 16 bids 17 watchers
Vintage Lighter Zippo Vietnam Us Army Peace Love 68-69$51.00 Ends in 10 hours 17 bids 30 watchers

»» Get our weekly Zippo Lighters email
Right now on eBay

Tobacciana

See also

Tools

My Favorite PagesNew!   (how this works)