On The LIGHTER Side
September 15, 2013
Vol. XXX, No. 4
And Now A Letter From Your Editor
Chairman’s Message:
Here we are at September already and time
for another newsletter.
Although we are slow in
making changes to the
website, the newsletter
keeps coming. In this
issue you will read some interesting articles regarding
lighters you may or may not know about.
Our membership may have similar stories that other
members would be interested in hearing about. Don’t
leave it up to a small handful of members to have to come
up with interesting articles. If you enjoy reading articles
like this, take the time to write some of your own. This
is the only way to keep the newsletter and club fresh. As
the editor of OTLS, it takes quite some time to put this
newsletter together. And with a full time job, I cannot do
this alone. Do not leave it up to the board and a few dedicated members to create a newsletter worthy of the readership. You all see that the articles written in just about
all the newsletters are written by less than 10 members
of OTLS, maybe even 5 or less! This is a tiny percentage of the membership taking the time to write articles
to keep the newsletter going and all have full time jobs.
We would like to see others step up and provide information that would be of interest to other collectors. We have
members who specialize in Zippo, Dunhill, Ronson, Evans, Scripto, and many others avenues of collecting. I am
pleading with all of you to be a real member and not just a
bystander. The dues alone do not make a club. I was once
a member of Pen World. Each month, collectors from
all areas of pen collecting would write an article featuring their precious collections. Pen collectors were ready,
willing and able to share their knowledge with other pen
collectors. Why is it different with lighter collectors?
On another note, it has been decided that the next
convention should and will be in Las Vegas June 5th -8th
2014. In an effort to give the hotel a reasonable estimate
of rooms that will be taken, can you please email Judith
The Board continues to re-think how the club operates and what can be done to ensure its future. Rob
is steadfast in his efforts to improve the website. A few
projects are underway in that regard which will be paid
for by club funds. The reduction in Judith’s duties continues. We have opened a new bank account to relieve Judith of this function and will be discarding boxes of stored
old records and documents. This is another hidden cost
that the club has absorbed for years. While we are sadden
to know that years of documentation and correspondence
from members will be lost, there is no one with adequate
space to easily & freely house 30+ years of paperwork.
Art Brooks is very active on the OTLS Facebook
page and monitors it religiously. Please visit and click
“Like” below the cover page. We have over 175 people
who have not only visited, but clicked on this button. Add
photos, and forward the page to others using the Share
Button. Per the numbers that Art is compiling, in his most
recent report to the Board, we are seeing close to 100 hits
on the site in an average week. There is definite interest
and we hope to drive them to our website and to eventually add them to our roster.
We are adding another feature to our club website.
It is a guideline to consider when grading your lighters.
Keep in mind that it is a Work-In-Progress. We actively
solicit your input and experience as we know that grading
is an art and not a science. We would be pleased if someone took this on as a full-blown project. In any event, it is
hoped that we can move a little closer to common ground
when discussing the condition of a lighter we wish to sell,
trade, or buy. The first iteration of this guideline is printed
in this issue.
We have asked for constructive criticism from members and do consider them. Recently, we had some feedback that the ads in the newsletter do not change. Consequently, members are not spending any time in viewing
this section. We admit that this has been an on-going
challenge. We believe it is a potentially wonderful benefit to members but it is not serving our membership if it
is not utilized. It was thought that because we have such
Richard Weinstein
Continued on Page 2
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Continued on Page 2
Letter from the Editor
regale my friends in how I dug out a near mint one in a
box of buttons for a dollar. I can purchase a new plastic
table lighter on-line or pat myself on the back after having sanded, buffed and polished one found in a junk box
to near perfection. Admiring a gleaming lighter you have
rescued and restored from near death is a most satisfying
experience.
I have fond memories of how I acquired many of my
cherished lighters. Yes, there was cunning and guile and
a lot of luck involved. There was back and forth communication with another member that sometimes taxed my
patience. But it made the desired outcome all the more
satisfying. While I do have a few memories of a winning
bid on Ebay, they are more than tempered by the times I
was outbid and out-sniped by an anonymous competitor.
In my roundabout way, I am urging all members to
introduce themselves to fellow members or renew old
acquaintances. We are only going to survive as a club
if we make the most of our resources. Submitting ads
and responding to ads is a way to do this. I do have a
very recent success to share. A Japanese member named
Fumitaka Nisimura responded to my ad for bottle lighters. I traded 3 bottle lighters for a couple of Zippos. It is
uplifting to know that there are members who are willing
to deal with fellow members. We recognize that commercial ad campaigns constantly barrage us with the same
message; infomercials harp on getting off the chair and
calling immediately. They all know the human tendency
to procrastinate; to not make the effort to order the product. Don’t be that couch potato regarding interacting with
fellow members!
Guy Nishida
Continued from page 1
at otls@suddenlink.net or Guy at btrade@ca.rr.com if you
intend to come. I understand it’s only September but if
you think you may be coming, please say so. That way
we can make a realistic contract with the hotel.
Now please enjoy the newsletter and remember to
thank the members who take the time from their hectic lives to provide you with something of interest and
if reading them spurs you on to write something of your
own, we would then know that we are not wasting our
time and efforts. John Cornelius suggested it would be a
great idea to request specific articles from members such
as Funny Advertising, Bakelite, Pinup Girls etc. Now you
have a few subjects to think about and if you have in your
collections a fine segment of these to show, please take
the time to send us a photo of them and include some information that members would like to know.
Chairman’s Message
Continued from Page 1
a dearth of new ads, leaving old ones on was better than
none at all. As part of the re-thinking process, we have
decided that all ads will have a 2 issue validity period.
We will be recording the submission date within the ad
and when the ad expires, it will be deleted. If you wish to
continue to advertise the contents of your ad, we request
that you re-submit and hopefully, freshen it up with your
own deletions or additions.
We urge all our members to utilize this FREE service. But it is important that the ads be viewed. By only
publishing ads recently submitted and for a shorter duration, we increase the likelihood that our members will
read them. Please explore this avenue of marketing. And
please read the ads of others with a view to respond. You
can easily submit or re-new your ad by faxing, mailing or
emailing Richie Weinstein. His email is: otls@vintagelighters.com Fax: 828 693-3213 Address: 3450 Asheville Highway Hendersonville, NC 28791
We are heading back to the Tuscany Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas for the 2014 convention. The contract
has already been signed. With that in mind, please open
your sketchpads and design our convention lighter. The
cut-off date for submissions is February 1st, 2014. If you
aren’t an artist but have an idea, present that as well. Zippo will assist in putting ideas to paper. Email, mail or fax
to Richie Weinstein at the numbers noted above. Don’t
forget the award given to the winner of this contest.
Ebay and the internet have forever changed the collector landscape. But for all of us, especially the old-timers, I think an important aspect of our desire to collect is
the hunt, the stories, the interaction with others. To paraphrase a lyric from a song by the great Nat King Cole: It’s
the cream in our coffee. It’s the salt in our stew.
I can buy a new Dunhill at a high-end boutique or
-2-
!"#$%&'(
Quality & Endurance
Without Extravagance
By John Cornelius
enameled thus tending to wear quickly.....
especially those plated with gold. The
1954 “Lighter Repair Manual” noted
that Regens were the most popular of
the squeeze lighters, but then stated
that these lighters were not worth the
cost of repair. Thus, finding suitable
enameled examples in excellent condition
due to construction and lower production
numbers of these models has taken
some time.
“Quality and endurance without
extravagance”
so stated the advertising for the Regens
Automatic Storm Lighter. Certainly,
these lighters were inexpensive,
retailing for $5.00 or less in 1949.
Most sold for under $2.00. I bought
my first plain chrome Regens lighter
in the late 1970’s due to a memory of
my father carrying one for years. I
did not buy another until the late
1990’s - an art deco enamel
model and I was hooked.
For me, being unable or
unwilling to pay the higher
prices for the Ronson and
Evans deco enamels, Regens
made collecting sense. Initially,
some of them even MIB
could be had for around
$15.00. In spite of some
increased interest, still today
many excellent ones can be
picked up for $30-$50.
Since then I have accumulated
approximately 70 lighters,
fifty of which are deco
enameled versions. Despite
the company’s claim of quality,
these inexpensive lighters
were often thinly plated and
PAGE 10
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LIGHTER GRADES
& GRADING GUIDELINES
long as they are identical new old stock replacements
in every respect. Reproductions are not considered
stock replacement parts.
by Guy Nishida
NEAR MINT: No evidence of use. No damage other
than browning of the wick for dry firing, some faint
storage and handling marks. A “Flea Bite” mark may
be acceptable. A ‘Good Judgment Call” must be made
in grading these specimens with consideration for the
location of the damage and the decrease in visual appeal.
“9.5 – 9.9”
The only point upon which we expect to agree is that
grading is subjective. Grading it typically based on an
overall assessment of the lighter. Collectors all have
their distinct views on how they judge imperfections.
Does one large dent or scratch lower the grade more
than multiple small blemishes? Is a missing striker
wand of greater significance than a torn leather cover?
This grading guideline cannot possibly address even a
tiny portion of the types of questions that may arise.
It is intended merely as a starting point. By its nature,
it is incomplete and is subject to on-going review and
revision.
EXCELLENT PLUS: May have seen actual use a
few times but overall the wick still shows as white.
May have very slight abrasions. Typical examples
would be a lighter used for special occasions and then
put back into storage. No plating or enamel loss. “9
– 9.4”
MINT IN BOX (MIB): A specimen that is identical to
one that would be for sale at the time of manufacture.
It has never been used. No browning of the wick even
for purposes of dry test firing. Factory flaws undetected at the time of production are conditions that require
disclosure, regardless of whether this flaw is seen on
multiple examples. A “Good Judgment Call” must be
exercised to determine whether this flaw would have
passed quality control standards at the factory. Imperfections due to storage and handling wear or moisture
damage/blemishes are not permissible flaws.
The condition of the box must be disclosed using the
same guidelines. A lighter may be mint in box but any
deficiencies in the condition of the box must be noted.
Torn corners, scuffing, age marks, peeling labels and
the like. If paperwork is known to be missing, that
must be disclosed. If there is no paperwork, “MIB, no
paperwork” should be the default description. Accessory items included in the factory packaging must also
be described as must their exclusion. Examples are
brushes, spare flint and wick kits, and tools.
“10”
MINT: Same as above but without the box.
EXCELLENT: Still traces of white wick but wick
may be more burned than not. An example might be
Mint but…. “Flea Bite” marks along the edges of the
body. Light surface abrasions on enameling. Possible
evidence that the fluid and/or flint screws had been
manipulated. May exhibit very minor loss of gloss
but little or no plating or enamel loss.
“8.5 – 8.9”
Note: For any grade EXCELLENT and above, the
specimen must be complete and without any missing
parts. In the case of lighters with flints, the tube must
be cleared or able to be cleared without damage to the
flint tube. In the case of compressed gas lighters, all
seals must function properly with no gas leakage and
all regulators functioning properly.
VERY FINE: May have fine scratches and surface
scuffing, some edge nicks and a few small soft indentations. Will have only minor loss to plating (as would
be expected typically on major operating parts) and
only minor enamel loss, most commonly on edges but
there may be pinpoint enamel loss to the body. Has
the capacity to be polished and buffed such that the
plating or enameling will become glossy again to 80%
or better. A lighter purchased for use but maintained
with care. “8 – 8.4”
“10”
Note to above: A silver plated or sterling lighter may
have tarnish but will still be considered mint. Flint or
storage dust that can be easily wiped or blown away
will not diminish the grading. However, any protective coating that has discolored over time, age marks
from moisture and mold that cannot be easily and
completely removed will reduce the grading by one or
more levels based purely on esthetics. Replacement
of missing parts, packaging or accessories with identical new replacements will not prohibit specimens
from being categorized as MINT IN BOX or MINT as
FINE: More noticeable damage from use and pocket
storage. Typical marks expected from contact with
coins and keys when stored in the pocket, much
like the nicks and scratches on coins. Used but not
“Abused”. No unsightly physical deformation. With
restoration, finish can be brought to 70% of new condition.
“7 – 7.9”
-4-
Note: For grades FINE and VERY FINE, specimens
must have all moving parts necessary to function
properly. All decorative features are present. Under
these conditions, exceptions may include a missing interior snuffer cap or the cap cover for a butane lighter
filler hole. It may include the absence of a spare flint
holder, a fluid filler gasket or fabric wick. Under normal circumstances, missing parts will not prevent the
lighter from functioning mechanically. The previous
examples are items are not considered essential for the
majority of collectors since they do not prevent the
functioning of a lighter mechanically.
tify a purchase until a suitable replacement or a missing part could be secured. Rarity of the lighter will
often dictate the price and the need for accepting an
example suitable only for display.
ALTERATIONS, RESTORATION, REFURBISHING AND REPAIRS: Lighters may be repaired to
working condition notwithstanding the fact that they
show solder marks, use non-factory screws and other
parts, whether factory-made or handcrafted. They
may be altered in appearance with the addition of nonoriginal parts or the subtraction of original parts. The
specimen could be a marriage of two or more otherwise unrelated parts or sets. They may be re-plated,
re-leathered or re-painted. Chips, nicks, cracks and
gouges may be filled. While the grading would be
impacted, as mentioned earlier, how these alterations
and repairs are perceived is a “Good Judgment Call”
that can only be made by the owner. However, these
condition facts must be disclosed so a fully considered
“Good Judgment Call” can be made by an acquirer as
well.
GOOD USER to WELL USED: mechanically sound.
Unsightly to very distracting blemishes. Deep or long
scratches and nicks and/or very noticeable dents may
be present. Moderate to heavy loss of plating and
enameling. Embellishments such as rhinestones, emblems, and exterior wraps may be missing, damaged
or incomplete.
“5 – 6.9”
No distinction is made between grades
GOOD USER and WELL USED because from a
collector’s perspective, there is very little value difference. This grade represents the minimum grade a
collector would accept for inclusion in his collection
while awaiting an upgrade. (Allowances considered
for rarity and the lighter category. Eg., military and
trench lighters carried in the field and very early firemaking devices)
Definitions:
Abused: Damage expected from other than normal
wear. Examples are major dents/ dings that resulted
from the lighter being dropped on a rough stone or
similar surface and scratches resulting from contact
with the same surface. Typical damage resulting from
tools or other implements used to force lighter parts
open or faulty repair/restoration. In other words, blunt
force trauma. Examples would be damage to screws
and gouges in the lighter body in an attempt to open
the snuffer cap. Stripping the threads on a screw and
repeatedly sliding the lighter along tabletops and desk
causing accelerated wear. Evidence consistent with
the lighter having been used as a substitute for a hammer or for other inappropriate purpose.
REPAIR/PARTS: The lighter may be restored to displayable condition (Good to Well-Used) with considerable effort or may only be suitable to dismantle for
useable parts.
“4.9 and under”
GRADING ON A SCALE OF 1 – 10:
Because some collectors prefer a numerical grading
system, all descriptive grades above include a numerical equivalent in quotation marks at the end of the description. It is presumed that a “Dedicated Collector”
would not be expected to add any specimen to their
collection below a grade of 7 unless he did not expect
to locate another example for several years.
DISPLAYABLE: This is a special grading category
outside the general standards. This is because an otherwise excellent or better lighter may be missing
critical parts. It may have prominent damage on a
body segment not normally viewed. For practical purposes, it is a specimen that a “Dedicated Collector”
would not purchase unless the price was sufficiently
discounted from the then current market price to jus-
Flea Bite: nearly invisible to the naked eye. Imperfections that would not normally be seen unless a thorough examination of the lighter had been undertaken,
typically under low magnification.
-5-
Dedicated Collector: A passionate collector who devotes multiple hours each week to hunting, researching, restoring, organizing and displaying his collection. He takes a long-range view to the hobby and his
acquisition methodology is aligned with this view.
Good Judgment Call: The assessment a Dedicated
Collector would make when deciding whether or not
to add the specimen to their collection. How would
they judge the flaw?
Virality: A percentage of people who have created
a story from your page post out of the number of
unique people who have seen it.
FACTS ABOUT THE OTLS
FACEBOOK PAGE
by Art Brooks
Below are some of the definitions Facebook uses to
define the numbers for the Overview pages.
The graph itself :
People Talking About This. The number of unique
people who have created a story about your Page
from 9/2/13 to 9/8/13. A story is created when
someone likes your Page; posts to your Page Wall;
likes, comments on or shares one of your Page
posts; answers a question you posted; responds to
your event; mentions your Page; tags your Page in
a photo; checks in at your location; or recommends
your location.
OTLS Facebook Page Update
Weekly Total Reach. The number of unique people
who have seen any content associated with your
Page from 9/2/13 to 9/8/13. This includes ads and
Sponsored Stories that point to your Page.
As an Overview, As of Sept 11 OTLS has 132
people who have “Liked” the Facebook page. The
age and demographic information is provided below
for these 132 people. The weekly total reach (people
who have looked at the page) for 9/2 to 9/11 is
1,124 people. There were 55 people “Talking About
This” between those dates. This means a story is
created when someone likes your Page; posts to
your Page Wall; likes, comments on or shares one
of your Page posts; answers a question you posted;
responds to your event; mentions your Page; tags
your Page in a photo; checks in at your location; or
recommends your location. This basically means
someone REALLY likes a given post. They repost
or comment.
The second page of the Overview gives the stats for
each individual post:
We have 132 likes as of 9/9/13. The gender and age
of those who have “Liked” the OTLS page, 28.9%
are female and 70.3% are male. Of the females
the highest percentage (7.0%) for each age group
betwee, 25 to 34, and 45 to 54 and 55 to 65. Of the
males the highest percentage (20.3%) are between
the ages of 35 to 44.
Reach, same definition as above. This number is
only counted the first 28 days of the post and none
after that.
Engaged Users: The number of people who clicked
on your post. Click on the number to see more details. Figures are for the first 28 days after the post
publication only.
Talking about this, same definition as above, and for
first 28 days of post only.
-6-
The second part of the Likes information is the
demographics. It tells us what countries, cities and
language spoken the 132 are from. These folks are
from 17 different countries with the highest being
the USA. The vast majority have English as their
primary language.
The bottom line is we are reaching a lot of people
on a weekly basis and people are visiting our page.
We are getting a lot of good exposure as a result of
the page. What can you do to help? If you are on
Facebook, go to the search bar and type in OTLS
Cigarette Lighter Collectors Club, click on the link.
When you get to the page, on the upper right below
the large or cover photo, hit the like button. If you
see a photo or comment you like. hit the like button for that also. Even better, make a comment, this
is what makes the people viewing the page coming back. The best thing you can do is hit the share
button and post the photo or comment on your own
page. If you are not on Facebook, Google search
OTLS Cigarette Lighter Collectors Club, hit the link
comes up for Facebook and it will take you to the
page. You do not have to be a member of Facebook
to visit the page as it is an open or public page.
We reached 1,124 people between 9/2 and 9/11.
This is an incredible number. The gender and age
of those we have reached 9/2 to 9/11 are 50.5%
female and 48.9% male. It doesn’t add up to 100
and I think this is due to age groups tracked. Of the
females the highest percentage (22.6%) are between the ages of 25 to 34. Of the males the highest
percentage (15.1%) are between the ages of 35 to
44. The attached chart shows the countries, cities
and language of those reached. As an example 158
people were reached in Thailand and 200 people
were from Bradford, PA.
Note from Rich Weinstein: As you can see, Art has
been working very hard to increase the visibility of
OTLS. We need the help of other members to work
to make OTLS a strong and growing club. Please
help by going to Facebook and follow Art’s suggestions.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD....
Tatsuya Watabe (whatzippo@hotmail.
com) has just created a new lighter collectors’ club in Japan on May 15th and its name is
“FEEF” for Far East Eternal Flame. Tatsuya formed
this club to help elder Japanese collectors who are
not able to read and speak English well and there
were no lighter clubs focusing on this demographic.
The website is http://www.feef.jp. At this time it is
only written in Japanese but please visit his website.
We offer you much success in your new venture.
Please check out the new website from Fumitaka Nishimura http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~zippo/..
Mr. Nishimura specializes in Maritime Self-Defense
Force Zippos. To contact Mr. Nishimura, his email
address is xiwen@xvh.biglobe.ne.jp.
The posts with the highest number of reaches or
people who viewed the post was 627 posted on 9/6.
see attached chart. This post was was reposted or
Shared (by hitting the Share button) and was placed
on someone else’s page. That is how we multiply
our exposure, hence the number of people who visit
our page and potential NEW club members.
-7-
I Have Never Seen This Lighter……. Have You?
By: Art Brooks
One of my favorite categories of lighters is ring lighters. Unfortunately, for me, there are very few actual specimens out there. Perhaps the most common, and yet rare, is the Korea ring lighter. I do not own one so if you
have one for sale, shoot me an email or bring it to the convention. This is the second column I have dedicated to
a ring lighter.
On September 17th 1949, Edward Conway and Vito Amendolara of New York applied for a patent titled Finger
Ring Lighter. As the title implies, the purpose of the invention was to combine a ring with a friction type lighter
within the ring. The lighter would fire when the hinged portion is swung open. The lighter was designed to provide automatic opening, with the thumb on the hand the ring is worn. The patent states “the other hand then being
free to steady and guide the cigar or cigarette which is to be lighted, to the flame, or to manipulate the steering
wheel of a moving automobile while lighting a cigar or cigarette.” And some people say talking on a cell phone
or texting while driving is DANGEROUS!!!
In the patent drawing below, Figure 1, Item 23 is the fluid screw, 17 is the flint screw and 33 is the automatic push
button. Item 22 is the fluid chamber and item 13 is the wick chamber. Figure 6 and Figure 4 explains the method
of operation. Figure 6 shows the leaf spring, item 34, extending circumferentially thru the interior of the ring to
the button, item 33. This holds the lighter in the locked or closed position. When you push the button it allows
the lid to open and under the spring pressure in Figure 1, item 27. Figure 4 shows how it rotates the flint wheel to
generate the spark. Under the lid, item 25, is a piece of metal item 38. Attached to item 38 is a small piece metal,
item 40, bent at an angle slightly less than 90 degrees. This piece of metal attaches to the flint wheel and when
the button is pushed, the lid springs open and the wheel turns to create the spark to light the wick. The design of
this ring is incredible!!!
Edward and Vito were granted a patent for this lighter on November
14th 1950. On a personal note; I Have Never Seen This Lighter…….
Have You? Please send your comments or questions to
caymus99@sbcglobal.net.
Edward and Vito were granted a patent for this lighter on November 14th 1950. On a personal note; I Have
Never Seen This Lighter……. Have You? Please send your comments or questions to caymus99@sbcglobal.net.
-8-
Have you ever seen this piece?
By Rich Weinstein
Sometimes, you come across something that would seem run of the mill until you look closer. Not being an
expert on Evans lighters, this one seems strange to me. I bought it on eBay with a bunch of “stuff” but I only bid
on it to get this piece. Basically, it is an Evans short Banner embedded in a rectangular plastic housing which
slips into a base holding a music box, “playing Stardust, made famous by Joni James, one of my favorite singers
from the 50’s”. At first I thought someone just made it but it looks too well constructed to be a makeshift piece.
The catch is that I cannot see anyway how the music box is activated. You can see from the bottom of the lighter
part there is no stem that comes down when pressing the plunger which is usually the way you see most musical
lighters work. Nothing broken off, just no area even where there could be one. Next, if you look at the photo of
the inside of the music box, it is completely solid, that is, there is no opening to the music box either.
The lighter unit even has 2 little protrusions on either long side that snaps into an indentation on the inside of
the lighter area of the box which shows that the lighter was definitely made for this piece. The music box does
work but I see no way to activate it. If you shake the box hard, the music will start but it is doubtful that this is the
way it was intended to work. Perhaps there is a weight inside that when you pick up the complete piece and turn
it sideways or tilt it, this might activate the music but that is only conjecture. The music box part is completely
finished on all sides as you can see from the photos. Very strange. Has anyone ever seen this before? If so, I am
sure we would all love to know how this is supposed to work. I wish Boris was here. He would know in a few
minutes.
Let’s go Evans experts!
-9-
Down Time at Ronson?
By Rich Weinstein
This is only conjecture but it might be one reason for the following. If you look at the lighters
below, they look quite common. Stuff you see all
the time and usually don’t pay much attention. But
look closer at some of the photos. To back up a bit,
I purchased these from a relative whose own relative
worked for Ronson many years ago. So what is different about these? If you look closer, you will see
what looks like the standard insert for the Nordic and
other similar style table lighters. But what is different about this insert is that it has been transformed
into butane. Looking at the bottom, the filler screw
which used to be the inlet for lighter fluid has now
been replaced by the Ronson inlet valve and the wick
post has been replaced by an interesting designed
burner valve which I have not seen on other lighters
so I would assume it was made specifically for this
lighter.
an original Ronson Banjo transformed into a butane
model. As soon as I find it again in my office mess,
I will write about it.
So how do we explain these strange lighters? In
my opinion for what it’s worth, as Ronson saw that
the future of lighters was to transform the company
from a petrol lighter company to a butane lighter
company, they found in their inventory, thousands of
petrol bodies of lighters that they knew would not
sell anymore as customers wanted butane so they had
their technicians work on possibly salvaging what
they had by transforming these models into butane
equivalents. Now as far as these particular lighters
goes, I do not recall seeing these before in the market
so they could be assumed to be prototypes that never
made it into production. The VanDyke might be a
different situation. They went as far as creating a
new name for the lighter. It might be that right after
this new model was created, Ronson may have realized that consumers could have a hard time filling the
lighter as they had to use the single use butane tank
shaped like a CO2 cartridge. Perhaps that is why
The Maximus and the Vanguard were not manufactured for very long.
Look at the next lighter. A typical looking Ronson Adonis you say? Look closer and you will see
that it has also been transformed into a butane model
with an inlet valve similar to that of the Ronson Maximus and a burner valve similar to that of the previous lighter. But wait! Look closely at the bottom. It
is not an Adonis! It is a VanDyke!
Now I have been repairing Ronson lighters for
over 50 years. Never seen this lighter name before
and the probably the forerunner of the Varaflame
Adonis.
I am sure there are other lighters that will or have
been found to have these peculiarities and if anyone
has any, I am sure the rest of the members, including
me, would like to hear about them.
The biggest surprise for me and the only reason it’s not shown here is because I cannot find it, is
- 10 -
In the Spotlight
Michael and Sandi Kolb…..Interviewed by Judith Sanders
On a recent trip to Oregon, Mike and Sandi picked me up one morning and
took me to the nearby city of Newport to do some sightseeing. I had a wonderful day and was so glad to get to meet Mike and Sandi, after talking to them for
so many years. Not only are they avid lighter collectors, they are great folks and
great hosts.
Mike and Sandy have been members since 1989 and actually began collecting lighters in the mid 1970’s. Mike got started with one of his Fathers Zippo’s
and one that he had from the aircraft carrier he served on while serving our country in the United States Navy. A friend gave him another one and then on day it
dawned on him that he had several and realized he had become a collector!
Zippo is their main area of interest and their collection now consist of approximately 800 to 1000 lighters. They specifically like radio and broadcast related themes. With a collection this size, they only have some displayed, not all.
Mostly in flat cases with glass tops. Mike has the task of cleaning!
They find most of their collectables these days on Ebay and advertisements
in the OTLS Newsletter. Mike says the biggest tip he can give is that when you
get your new gem, take out the flint immediately so the lighters don’t accumulate
dust and freeze up the flint tube.
What Mike and Sandi like best about OTLS are the people they have come
to know. He also stated we need to figure out a way to attract younger members
in order to keep the club going.
And to Mike and Sandi, thank you for being supporters of OTLS.
Classified Ads
For Sale: from a former member the
following Convention Lighters: 2000
(Imperial Palace), 2003 (Radisson New
Orleans) & 2004 (IP, Las Vegas). $30
each plus postage. All MIB. Email or
call Judith Sanders otls@suddenlink.net
or 903.763.2795 9/15/13
IF YOU WANT TO SPEND AT LEAST
$5000 AND BUY A LOT OF LIGHTERS (SEVERAL DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS) & YOU ARE WILLING
TO TRAVEL, CALL OR EMAIL
JUDITH SANDERS ABOUT A COLLECTION. otls@suddenlink.net or
903.763.2795 9/15/13
Wanted: Ronson and Evans Enameled
Atomizers In excellent to mint condition. Contact Rich Weinstein
@ info@vintagelighters.com. 9/15/13
Wanted: Old unused lighter parts for
American and European Lighters pre
1950 Contact Rich Weinstein at info@
vintagelighters.com. 9/15/13
Wanted: Enameled Evans and Ronson Atomizers to give as a gift to Rich Weinstein.
Contact me with photos and price. Ira Pilossof at vintageltr@aol.com 9/15/13
Wanted: Articles for OTLS Newsletter.
Any subject pertaining to lighters and/or
tobacciana. Any language accepted. Specialty lighters like Trench, Enameled Italian Lighters with Scenes, Erotic Lighters,
even Butane lighters which will eventually be the new collectable. 9/15/13
Wanted: Scriptos with dates on the display insert. Zippo with Texas Hold-Em
motif, mint only. Lucite table lighters with
liquor bottles inside. I already have Seagrams VO, Crown Royal, Nikka Whisky,
Prunnelle, Galliano, Ruskava, Chivas Regal, Smirnoff, Glenlivet 12, Johnnie Walker 12, Gordon’s Gin, Cutty Sark (green),
Johnnie Walker Red. Contact Guy Nishida
@ 310 804-4899 (cell). 9/15/13
Michael & Sandy Kolb
To The Members: You will notice that all
ads from previous newsletters have been
deleted. If you wish to run new ads, they
will run for 2 consecutive newsletters and
be deleted so you will need to renew the
ads each edition. New ads will now appear in the November Issue.
Some of Mike’s Radio Zippo Lighters
- 11 -
ROPE LIGHTERS OR PEOPLE LIGHTERS?
By Judith Sanders
Most of you know my favorite category is “People’ lighters. However, I also like Novelty Lighters and have quite a few.
I have cars, trains, airplanes, etc.
A few years ago I got my first ‘Rope lighter’ and was fascinated with how it worked. The rope itself is treated with a
flammable liquid and therefore you just pull the rope up a little,
turn the flint wheel and it lights. According to a friend of mine
in Brazil, a lot of field workers would carry these because they
didn’t have to go find lighter fluid while they were working.
Shown in Fig. 1 are some of the rope lighters I have had
for a long time. Also one of my neighbors saw them one day
and said ‘I can make a ‘hanging rack” for your rope lighters!’
So he did. Shown in Fig. 2 is the very simple rack he made for
me with the rope lighters hanging on it. Previously they were
laying on a shelf and you really couldn’t see them – now you
can.
So now we get to the “People” part of this story. A while
back I got the lighter shown in Fig. 3. This is a cute people
lighter, but is also a rope lighter. And one that I have never seen
before. This one came in the original box and is called ‘Kokeshi
Doll Sportman Lighter”. It has a Pat. No. 13370 on the front of
the box. We need to ask Scott Beehler about the pat. Number
since that is something I’m not good at figuring out. There are
also the original instruction on a very thin tissue type paper inside the box.
I emailed OTLS Member Takashi Fujii to ask him
about Kokeshi Dolls and he sent me a link, which is http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokeshi Thanks Takashi! You can read
more about these dolls on that link.
The first paragraph of that link said
Kokeshi (こけし) kokeshi?), are Japanese dolls, originally from northern Japan. They are handmade from wood, have
a simple trunk and an enlarged head with a few thin, painted
lines to define the face. The body has a floral design painted in
red, black, and sometimes yellow, and covered with a layer of
wax. One characteristic of kokeshi dolls is their lack of arms
or legs. The bottom is marked with the signature of the artist.
(My Kokeshi lighter is not marked on the bottom, except to say
Made in Japan)
He also sent me a picture of a regular Kokeshi doll,
also shown at the end of this article.
Unfortunately I cannot locate the note where I wrote
down where I got this lighter. So if one of you knows if you
gave it to me, please tell me.
FIG. 1: The larger rope lighter has a small Emblem on it, which
says “Sanders Piensos Compuestos” Look that one up on Google!
FIG. 2: Here is the rack my
Neighbor made for me to
keep the Rope lighters upright. Very simple Rack, but
works good!
FIG 3: My Kokeshi Doll
Rope Lighter.
Photo of a Kokeshi Doll, sent by
Takashi Fujii
NEXT ISSUE November 2013.
SEND ADS BY October 20, 2013.
On The LIGHTER Side
International Lighter Collectors
Founders:
John Cuevas
Judith Sanders
Scott Beehler
Art Brooks
Rich Weinstein
Judith Sanders
Ira Pilossof
Karen Politi
Tom Jones
Rob Giarretta
President
Vice Pres.
Editor
Secretary
Historian
Social Sec
Conv. Lighter Chrm
Web Master
Board of Directors:
Rob Giarretta, Guy Nishida, Richard Weinstein
ALL ARTICLES & PHOTOS USED IN ANY NEWSLETTER
ARE PROPERTY OF “ON THE LIGHTER SIDE” AND MAY
NOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION. OTLS IS
NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR NEGOTIATIONS IN TRADING
THROUGH CLASSIFIED ADS. FOR INFORMATION, CALL
OR WRITE:
JUDITH SANDERS
P O BOX 1733
QUITMAN TX 75783-1733
U.S.A.
PHONE: (903)763-2795
WEB PAGE: http://www.otls.com