Since 1932, The Windproof Zippo Lighter has Been a Friend and Tool for Collectors and Users

George G. Blaisdell invented the Zippo lighter in 1932, and got his thought after learning a large and bulky Austrian made small lighter. Blaisdell was an engineer who saw a audience for a good looking lighter that would work even in the wind. He fabricated 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 or stainless steel 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 Engraved Zippo lighters, to an army zippo lighter to a Solid gold Zippo, to a Military Zippo lighter.

Zippos are generally rectangular in form with a flip top lid with a hinge . Unlike throw away plastic lighters that are used and cast aside, Zippos are filled again with a Naphtha based liquid zippo lighter fluid. By removing the inner element out of the exterior shell, its user can pour lighter fluid into a cloth packing that holds a wick. The flint, which gives rise to the flicker to ignite the wick, can be refilled.

It is low-priced and highly reliable. Replenishing a zippo is very much less expensive than purchasing one time use flame sources.

Zippos are considered windproof lighters, and are able to stay ignited in most any weather situation. They became extremely popular in the United States army and navy, especially in World War II stainless steel Zippo a military zippo lighter was standard gear for 100% gentlemen in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. During that period, all Zippo lighters produced went to the Alied forces war effort. In fact, at that time, since brass was utilized for arms, the insides of zippo lighters were chiefly stainless steel. Following the war, Zippo reverted to the standard brass design.

An estimated 200,000 Zippo lighters were held by U.S. military people in the Vietnam War. There is a story told where, a Zippo lighter carried in a shirt pocket blocked a bullet from going into a soldiers body.

In addition, Zippo lighters are known for the lifetime guaranty they carry: if a Zippo comes apart, no matter how old, the company will replace or fix the lighter for free.

Zippo now faces two intimidating challenges. Zippo has smashing brand recognition, stemming from its role as standard GI issue during The Second World War, and the Vietman conflict, but the generation that owned Zippo lighters into combat is wavering. The second issue is that cigarette and cigar smoking is falling.

But, Zippo has endured the storm, as collectors have been the road to firm growth. After all, tobacco users could choose only one or two zippo lighters--each of which carries a lifetime warranty. Plenty of 1940s-vintage Zippos still surface for repairs at the Zippo main office, which has fixed old zippo lighters discovered in the bellies of fish and antique zippo lighters punctured by bullets from the war. Collectors, even so, often buy many at a time, give them as gifts, and entice their family to be collectors. Many zippo collectors have thousands of lighters in their zippo lighter collection and continue buying.

Collectors can collect 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 range from $35 to $75, and some as much as $3,000.

Since 1933, over 400,000,000 Zippos have been produced. After World War II the Zippo became increasingly used in advertising by companies large and small alike through the sixties. Though new Zippo lighter styles are always appearing, he basic mechanics of the Zippo has in essence remained unchanged.

Zippo lighters have attained icon status, which renders the kind of marketing money can't purchase. Rolling Stone Keith Richards, who often smokes on stage, keeps a Zippo as close as his guitar. Movie celebrities from Bruce Willis to Harrison Ford have carried Zippos to ignite fuses, burn documents 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 guarantee.