Zippo Lighters, Since 1932, has Been a Lifelong Companion and Tool for Serious Collectors and Smokers Alike

George G. Blaisdell invented the Zippo lighter in 1932, and got his thought after learning a gaudy Austrian made small lighter. Blaisdell was an oil field engineer who saw a audience for a good looking lighter that would light up consistently even in windy conditions. He made the first Zippo lighter in Bradford, Pennsylvania. It got its name because Blaisdell liked the sound of the word zipper

A Zippo Lighter is a refillable, metallic lighter. They are highly collectible and 100s of varying custom zippo lighter designs have been made in the 70 years since their unveiling. From Hand-Carved wood Zippo lighters, to an army zippo lighter to a NFL Zippo, to a Engraved Zippo lighter.

Zippos are generally rectangular in form with a easy open hinged flip top lid . Unlike single use colored plastic lighters that are used and thrown away, Zippos are filled again with a Naphtha based liquid zippo lighter fluid. By taking the inside portion out of the outside casing, its user can pour lighter fluid into a cotton packing material that holds a wick. The flint, which gives rise to the arc to inflame the wick, can also be replaced.

It is low-priced and exceedingly dependable. Refilling a zippo lighter is often less expensive than purchasing disposable lighters.

Zippos are classified as windproof lighters, and are are able to remain lit in about any weather condition. They became popular in the United States army and navy, especially in the second world war military Zippo a military zippo lighter was standard gear 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 that war, as brass was utilized for weapon systems, the interiors of zippos were manufactured in stainless steel. At the end of the war, Zippo reverted to the regular brass design.

Roughly 200,000 Zippo lighters were held by U.S. military personnel in the Conflict in Vietnam. There is a story told where, a Zippo lighter transported in a shirt pocket held back a bullet from going in a soldiers chest.

Additionally, Zippos are known for the lifetime guaranty they have: if a Zippo goes bad, no matter how old, the company will replace or fix the lighter for free.

Zippo currently faces two hard challenges. Zippo has outstanding brand recognition, rising from its role as standard GI issue during The Second World War, and the Conflict in Vietnam, but the generation that carried Zippo lighters into battle is wavering. The second problem is that cigarette and cigar smoking is trending downward.

Still, Zippo has weathered the storm, as collectors have been the route to firm growth. After all, smokers could acquire only one or two zippos--each of which carries a lifetime warranty. Plenty of 1940s-vintage Zippos still surface for fixes at the Zippo shop, which has reconditioned old zippo lighters discovered inside the stomachs of fish and antique zippo lighters punctured by bullets from the war. Collectors, even so, often buy several at a time, give them away as gifts, and appeal to their family to be collectors. Many zippo collectors have thousands of lighters in their zippo lighter collection and keep purchasing.

Collectors can gather up all of their favorite 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 clients 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 constructed. After The Second World War the Zippo became more and more used in advertising by companies both small and large through the decade of the 1960's. Even though new Zippo lighter styles are always emerging, he basic interior desgin of the Zippo has fundamentally remained unchanged.

Zippo lighters have reached icon status, which returns the kind of publicity money cannot buy. Rolling Stone Keith Richards, who smokes cigarettes on stage, keeps a Zippo within an arms reach of his guitar. Movie superstars from Bruce Willis to Harrison Ford have utilized Zippos to light fuses, burn papers and even to spark cigarettes.

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