The Tuff and Durable Zippo has Been a Valuable Friend and Tool for Serious Collectors and Smokers Alike

George G. Blaisdell invented the Zippo lighter in 1932, and got his idea after hearing a overly large Austrian made portable-pocket lighter. Blaisdell was an oil drilling engineer who saw a audience for a good looking lighter that would burn consistently even in harsh weather. He forged the first Zippo lighter in Bradford, Pennsylvania. It got its zippo name since Blaisdell liked the sound of the word zipper

A Zippo Lighter is a refillable, brass or stainless steel lighter. They are highly collectible and many of varying custom zippo lighter designs have been made in the 70 years since their first appearance. From Classic Zippo lighters, to an army zippo lighter to a Hand-Carved wood Zippo, to a Engraved Zippo lighter.

Zippos are occasionally rectangular in shape with a hinged flip top lid . Unlike throw away thin plastic lighters that are used and tossed out, Zippos are refilled with a Naphtha based liquid zippo lighter fuel. By removing the inner element out of the outside casing, its user can pour lighter fluid into a cotton wadding that holds a wick. The flint, which brings about the fire to light the cotton wick, is replaceable.

It is cost effective and super dependable. Refilling a zippo is much more inexpensive than purchasing single use lighters.

Zippos are classified as windproof lighters, and are able to stay ignited in virtually any wind or weather situation. They were extremely popular in the United States armed forces, particularly during World War II standard silver Zippo a military zippo lighter was standard issue for all soldiers in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. At that time, all Zippo lighters produced went to the American war effort. In fact, at that point in time, since brass was needed for weapon systems, the interiors of zippo lighters were primarily stainless steel. After the war was over, Zippo reverted to the standard brass design.

Roughly 200,000 Zippo lighters were carried by U.S. military personnel in the Vietnam War. There is a story told where, a Zippo lighter carried in a shirt pocket stopped a bullet from going in a soldiers heart.

In addition, Zippo lighters are known for the lifetime guarantee they carry: if a Zippo fails, no matter how old, the company will replace or repair the lighter for free.

Zippo currently faces two intimidating challenges. Zippo has wonderful name recognition, rising from its function as standard GI issue during The Second World War, and the Vietnam war, but the generation that possessed Zippo lighters into combat is rapidly decreasing. The second problem is that smoking is decreasing.

Notwithstanding, Zippo has weathered the storm, as collectors have been the missing link to substantial growth. After all, cigarette or cigar smokers may acquire only one or two zippos--each of which carries a lifetime warranty. Plenty of 1940s-vintage Zippos still surface for repairs at the Zippo shop, which has fixed old zippo lighters retrieved from the stomachs of fish and antique zippo lighters pierced by lead bullets. Collectors, nonetheless, often buy numbers of at a time, give them as gifts, and encourage their friends and family to be collectors. Many zippo collectors have thousands of lighters in their zippo lighter collection and continue buying.

Collectors can accumulate all of their preferred 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 grew to become increasingly used in marketing by companies large and small alike through the decade of the 60's. Though new Zippo lighter designs are always coming out, he basic mechanism of the Zippo has in essence stayed unchanged.

Zippo lighters have attained icon status, which renders the kind of publicity money cannot acquire. Rolling Stone Keith Richards, who smokes while performing, 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 light cigarettes.

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

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