Zippo Lighters, Since 1932, has Been a Friend and Tool for User and Collectors Alike

George G. Blaisdell invented the Zippo lighter in 1932, and got his theme after hearing a gaudy Austrian made portable-pocket lighter. Blaisdell was an oil drilling engineer who saw a audience for a good looking lighter that would light up even in windy and rough. He manufactured the first Zippo lighter in Bradford, Pennsylvania. It got its identify since Blaisdell liked the sound of the word zipper

A Zippo Lighter is a refillable, metallic lighter. They are highly collectible and hundreds of varying custom zippo lighter fashions have been made in the seven plus decades since their first roll-out. From Solid gold Zippo lighters, to an army zippo lighter to a NFL Zippo, to a Hand-Carved wood Zippo lighter.

Zippos are generally rectangular in configuration with a hinged flip top lid . Unlike single use polymer lighters that are used and discarded, Zippos are replenished with a Naphtha based liquid zippo lighter fuel. By taking the inner part out of the outside casing, its owner can pour lighter fluid into a cloth packing material that holds a wick. The flint, which produces the arc to light the cotton wick, is replaceable.

It is affordable and exceedingly dependable. Refilling a dependable zippo lighter is often cheaper than purchasing throw away igniters.

Zippos are considered windproof lighters, and are will remain lit in just about any wind or weather condition. They became very popular in the United States military, especially during World War II when a military zippo lighter was standard equipment for all of military personnel in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. At that time, all Zippo lighters produced went to the Alied forces war effort. In fact, during the conflict, because brass was utilized for weapons, the interiors of zippos were made of stainless steel. Following the war, Zippo reverted to the typical brass design.

About 200,000 Zippo lighters were carried by U.S. military personnel in the Vietnam War. There was one story, a Zippo lighter transported in a shirt pocket stopped a bullet from going in a soldiers heart.

Additionally, Zippo lighters are known for the lifetime guarantee they have: if a Zippo breaks down, no matter how old, the company will replace or repair the lighter for free.

Zippo currently faces two hard challenges. Zippo has outstanding brand recognition, originating from its role as standard GI issue during World War II, and the War in Vietnam, but the generation that used Zippo lighters into combat is rapidly decreasing. The second issue is that cigarette and cigar smoking is lessening.

Still, Zippo has endured the storm, as collectors have been the route to steady growth. After all, cigarette or cigar smokers may buy only one or two zippos--each of which carries a lifetime guarantee. Plenty of 1940s-vintage Zippos still surface for fixes at the Zippo main office, which has repaired antique zippo lighters discovered inside the bellies of fish and antique zippo lighters punctured by bullets. Collectors, all the same, often buy numerous at a time, give them away as gifts, and appeal to their friends and family to become collectors. Many zippo collectors have thousands of lighters in their zippo lighter collection and keep on purchasing.

Collectors can gather up all of their favourite sports teams including the National football league, Major league baseball, and the National basketball association as well as motorsports and fishing Zippos.

It's a fact that more than 90% of American citizens recognize the Zippo brand, and 30% of Zippo's customers are collectors. While a basic brushed-chrome Zippo runs $10.95, Collectible Zippos typically ranges in price from $35 to $75, and some as much as $3,000.

Since 1933, over 400,000,000 Zippos have been manufactured. After World War II the Zippo became more and more used in advertizements by companies both large and small through the sixties. Though new Zippo lighter designs are always surfacing, he basic mechanism of the Zippo has fundamentally remained unchanged.

Zippo lighters have risen to icon status, which gets the kind of publicity money can't buy. Rolling Stone Keith Richards, who often smokes during his act, keeps a Zippo right by guitar. Movie superstars from Bruce Willis to Harrison Ford have carried Zippos to inflame fuses, burn documents and even to ignite cigarettes.

Zippo is growing in other ways, too, with Zippo pens, belt buckles, and money clips, Zippo watches all with a lifetime guaranty.

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