The History of Zippo Lighters

The lighter was invented in 1823 but it was not popular until World War I when it was used to light the way for soldiers at night. Lighters did not have a bright flare-up when struck as a match stick did, so as to give away the soldiers position. In 1932, George Blaisdell started the Zippo Manufacturing Company and produced the first lighter in 1933. He was granted a patent in 1936. The first lighter cases were made of brass, but when World War II broke out, the Zippo Manufacturing Company stopped selling its lighters to the general public, changed the cases to steel and concentrated on supplying lighters to the United States military. The base exchanges (PX) sold Zippos which soldiers would purchase for friends and family members, which in turn increased the popularity of the lighters. After the war, in the late fifties and sixties, Zippo used their lighters for business advertising. They started out hand painting the lighter cases, but with time technology took over. Today you can join a Lighter Collector’s Club called “Zippo Click”. Visit the Zippo Lighters Manufacturing Company

Have A Great Story About A Zippo Lighter?

Do you have a great story about a Zippo Lighter? I know at one time or another almost everyone owned a Zippo, even if you did not smoke. Share it!