-
The First Lighter (aka Döbereiner's lamp)
It was invented by Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner. Also known as a tinderbox, the lamp was an exceptionally popular item, selling over a million units in the 1820s. -
THE RONSON PIST-O-LITER AND WONDERLITE
One of the most well-known classic lighter designs was the Pist-O-Liter, manufactured by Ronson in 1910. Designed to resemble a long-barreled pistol, the trigger released a file-like component that rubbed against a flint-like surface contained in the barrel. -
WORLD WAR I: IMPROVISED LIGHTERS
Soldiers started to create everyday tools by hand using whatever discarded items they could find. One of these was a handmade lighter fashioned from an empty bullet cartridge; it even included a holed chimney cap to better protect the flame from wind. -
RONSON BANJO
Ronson went on to refine their design with the Banjo lighter in 1926. The Ronson Banjo was a huge success thanks to its simple usability and attractive design. The world’s first automatic pocket lighter, the Ronson Banjo required only the press of a button to make the flame. -
THE FIRST ZIPPO LIGHTER
The inventor of the first Zippo lighter is George G. Blaisdell, who introduced what would become the world’s most famous lighter in 1933. Early Zippos were made of brass, however, during the Second World War, they were manufactured from black crackle steel due to metal shortages. -
BIC LIGHTER
Bic introduced a new disposable lighter in 1973 with the intention of rivaling the popular but relatively expensive metal cased Zippos at the time. While lacking the artistic or fashion appeal of the Zippo, disposable lighters were perfect for a fast-moving society, as they did not require refills and could be easily discarded.
