The Zippo LIghter has Been an Invaluable Friend and Tool for People of all Shapes and Sizes

George G. Blaisdell invented the Zippo lighter in 1932, and got his theme after hearing about a gaudy Austrian made small lighter. Blaisdell was an oil engineer who saw a potential market for a good looking lighter that would operate even in tough weather conditions. He produced the first Zippo lighter in Bradford, Pennsylvania. It got its logo since Blaisdell liked the sound of the word zipper

A Zippo Lighter is a refillable, brass lighter. They are highly collectibl e and hundreds, if not thousands of different custom zippo lighter designs have been made in the 70 plus years since their launch. From NFL Zippo lighters, to an army zippo lighter to a Classic Zippo, to a Engraved Zippo lighter.

Zippos are usually rectangular in design with a hinged flip open lid . Unlike throw away plastic lighters that are used and tossed away, Zippos are replenished with a Naphtha based liquid zippo lighter fuel. By sliding the inside component out of the outside husk, its owner can pour lighter fluid into a gauze packing that incorporates a wick. The flint, which creates the trigger to ignite the cotton wick, is also replaceable.

It is low-priced and really reliable. Filling a dependable zippo lighter is very much cheaper than buying throw away flame sources.

Zippos are considered windproof lighters, and are are capable of staying ignited in virtually any wind situation. They became popular in the United States military, particularly during World War II standard silver Zippo lighter a mi litary zippo lighter was standard issue for 100% of gentlemen in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. During that period, all Zippo lighters produced went to the American war effort. In fact, during the war, since brass was demanded for weapon systems, the interiors of zippo lighters were made of stainless steel. After the war ended, Zippo reverted to the regular brass design.

Approx. 200,000 Zippo lighters were used by U.S. military personnel in the Vietnam War. One time, a Zippo lighter held in a shirt pocket blocked a bullet from getting into a soldiers body.

In addition, Zippos are known for the lifetime guarantee they have: if a Zippo breaks, no matter how old, the company will replace or fix the lighter for free.

Zippo now faces two tough challenges. Zippo has great brand recognition, coming from its function as standard GI issue during The Second World War, and the War in Vietnam, but the generation that used Zippo lighters into combat is quivering. The second problem is that smoking is diminishing.

Nonetheless, Zippo has endured the storm, as collectors have been the key to solid growth. After all, cigarette or cigar smokers might acquire only one or two of the lighters--each of which carries a lifetime guarantee. Plenty of 1940s-vintage Zippos still appear for repairs at the Zippo central office, which has repaired antique zippo lighters found in the bellies of fish and old zippo lighters pierced by bullets from a gun. Collectors, even so, often buy several at a time, give them away, and appeal to their friends to be collectors. Many zippo collectors have thousands of lighters in their zippo lighter collection and keep on buying.

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

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

Since 1933, over 400,000,000 Zippos have been fabricated. After The Second World War the Zippo became more and more utilized in marketing by companies both large and small through the sixties. Though new Zippo lighter styles are always appearing, he basic interior desgin of the Zippo has basically stayed unaltered.

Zippo lighters have reached icon status, which generates the kind of promotion money cannot purchase. Rolling Stone Keith Richards, who smokes while on stage, keeps a Zippo right by guitar. Movie celebrities from Bruce Willis to Harrison Ford have needed Zippos to ignite 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 warranty.