Zippo Lighters, Since 1932, has Been a Friend and Tool for Anyone Needing a Dependable Flame

George G. Blaisdell invented the Zippo lighter in 1932, and got his thought after discovering a large Austrian made pocket lighter. Blaisdell was an oil drilling engineer who saw a market for a good looking lighter that would light up even in windy weather. He made the first Zippo lighter in Bradford, Pennsylvania. It got its moniker because Blaisdell liked the sound of the word zipper

A Zippo Lighter is a refillable, brass lighter. They are highly collectible and hundreds, if not thousands of varying custom zippo lighter styles have been made in the 70 years since their debut. From Hand-Carved wood Zippo lighters, to an army zippo lighter to a Solid gold Zippo, to a Military Zippo lighter.

Zippos are occasionally rectangular in form with a one handed easy open lid . Unlike throw away colored plastic lighters that are used and cast aside, Zippos are replenished with a Naphtha based liquid zippo lighter fuel. By removing the inner component out of the outer housing, its user can pour lighter fluid into a cotton wadding that holds a wick. The flint, which makes the spark of fire to ignite the cotton wick, can also be replaced.

It is low-priced and very dependable. Filling a dependable zippo lighter is very much cheaper than buying throw away igniters.

Zippos are considered windproof lighters, and are will stay lit up in virtually any wind or weather situation. They became extremely popular in the United States army and navy, especially during World War II stainless steel Zippo a military zippo lighter was standard issue for all soldiers in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. During that period, all Zippo lighters produced went to the Allied war effort. In fact, during that war, because brass was needed for weapon systems, the guts of zippo lighters were manufactured in stainless steel. After the war was over, Zippo reverted to the regular brass design.

Close to 200,000 Zippo lighters were held by U.S. military people in the Vietnam War. There is a story told where, a Zippo lighter held in a shirt pocket held back a bullet from getting into a soldiers body.

In addition, Zippos are known for the lifetime warranty they posess: if a Zippo fails, no matter how old, the company will replace or repair the lighter for free.

Zippo currently faces two intimidating challenges. Zippo has great brand recognition, originating from its role as standard GI issue during World War II, and the War in Vietnam, but the generation that carried Zippo lighters into battle is flittering. The second issue is that smoking is lessening.

Nonetheless, Zippo has weathered the storm, as collectors have been the road to firm growth. After all, cigarette or cigar smokers could acquire only one or two zippo lighters--each of which carries a lifetime warranty. Plenty of 1940s-vintage Zippos still turn up for fixes at the Zippo central office, which has restored antique zippo lighters discovered in the bellies of fish and antique zippo lighters punctured by bullets from a gun. Collectors, nonetheless, often buy many at a time, give them as gifts, and encourage their friends to become collectors. Many zippo collectors have thousands of lighters in their zippo lighter collection and keep purchasing.

Collectors can collect 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 Americans 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 high as $3,000.

Since 1933, over 400,000,000 Zippos have been fabricated. After The Second World War the Zippo grew to become increasingly utilized in advertizing by companies small and large alike through the sixties. Even though new Zippo lighter styles are always emerging, he basic mechanics of the Zippo has basically stayed unchanged.

Zippo lighters have achieved icon status, which gets the kind of marketing money cannot acquire. Rolling Stone Keith Richards, who smokes during his act, keeps a Zippo within an arms reach of his guitar. Movie celebrities from Bruce Willis to Harrison Ford have utilized Zippos to inflame fuses, burn papers and even to ignite cigarettes.

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