Anyone Else Here Have a Thing for Old Zippos?

[Blake Noble]

If so, if anyone has an idea what these old things might be worth, drop me a line. Or drop me a line telling me what a crazy a-hole I am for buying eight of them.

I bought what I'm thinking will be my last one today.

Anyway, the four lighters are:

• Chrome Standard Zippo from 1967 in worn but loved condition. The original hinge pin fell out and was replaced with a paper clip (works very, very well).
  
• Chrome Standard Zippo Mini from 1968 in beat to hell condition. I wonder if it found it's way to 'Nam, honestly.
  
• Chrome Standard Zippo from 1995 with a 2000 insert in used condition. This one is worth maybe $15 bucks, tops, so I'm not worried about it's value.
  
• Chrome Engraved Camel Advertising Zippo from 1994 in good condition.
  

Oh, if you were wondering, the four I'm keeping are:

• Brushed Steel 1941 Zippo Replica from 2009. My dad bought me this for my 19th birthday, so of course I'm going to keep it and use it.
  
• Brushed Steel Engraved "Michigan Boiler and Eng. Co." Advertising Zippo from 1969.
  
• Brushed Steel Engraved "Chris Erhart Foundry and Machine Co." Advertising Zippo from 195? -196? (no visible dating markings on the bottom side with a "PAT. 2517191" marking in the bottom centered). Still has the original box. This was the one I mentioned earlier.
  
• Chrome Engraved "Manitoulin Island, Canada" Zippo from 195?. Obviously this is an uncommon Canadian-made Zippo (Niagara Falls, Ontario). It's been through hell and back many, many times and has "Perry L. Richardson -Loves- Donna K. Richardson" hand carved into the lid and a few names hand carved into the back of it.
  

Okay ... I'd still love to stumble across an old '30s Zippo or a vintage one with the "GM" logo engraved into it. Fat chance of that happening, though, so I'm not going to worry about it.

Edited October 8, 2010 by black-knight

[SAmadei]

I'm a non-smoker, so anytime I have to set something on fire, I find those MAPP gas torches much better.

Yes, the Zippo is more compact... but you'd be surprised what disappears into a extra long, 4XL trench coat. ;-)

[Blake Noble]

I'm a non-smoker, so anytime I have to set something on fire, I find those MAPP gas torches much better.

Yes, the Zippo is more compact... but you'd be surprised what disappears into a extra long, 4XL trench coat. ;-)

A MAPP doesn't have the charm of a Zippo, though. You don't have to be a smoker to appreciate it either.

The characteristic "clink" of the lid when you open it, the design, the feel, the look ... it's just classy.

Light a non-filter Pall Mall with one and you're committing suicide with real class. (Bonus points for anyone who gets the reference.)

Edited October 8, 2010 by black-knight

[balthazar]

I have a Arirang lighter stamped with "KOREA" and a risque cartoon.

Don't kno the vintage, but it was made there ("inchon tai yang co")

I don't collect lighters, so anyone interested, make an offer.

[Blake Noble]

I have a Arirang lighter stamped with "KOREA" and a risque cartoon.

Don't kno the vintage, but it was made there ("inchon tai yang co")

I don't collect lighters, so anyone interested, make an offer.

Hmmmm ... I've heard of Storm Kings and Blue Shield lighters from Japan (Zippo rip-offs), but this is a first. Interesting lighter you've got there.

[balthazar]

How about you buy it off me ?

[Blake Noble]

How about you buy it off me ?

Tempting ... but I'll have to pass. I have 4 Zippos too many. I'm trying to go cold turkey on buying these things.

Not only that, I could use the spare cash I've thrown at this little hobby for some other things.

I only bought this last one because, well, hey $17 bucks for a lighter that will bring me $150 - $200 dollars because it's in good shape and has the original box? No brainer. I'd be an idiot to pass it up. The Canadian Zippo is a something of an oddity (only made these from 1949 - 2002) and it's worth $100 in crap condition and I bought it for chump chanage. The Michigan Boiler Zippo is worth a solid $125 to 150 and I use it on occasion and again, I bought it for nothing. They'll all keep their value, too.

It's easy to determine a value on the advertising lighters. Collectors want them and you can determine their going rate from similar vintage advertising lighters.

And they're cool as hell to boot. I found a site where a guy had a Chrysler Zippo from the late '30s. Talk about oozing cool.

It's hard to get a value down on the standard issue lighters. I think the '67 is worth about $50 to $65 in it's condition. The '68 Mini is probably worth about $20 to $35 (no one wants these things really). The '94 is worth about $15 and the Camel Zippo would probably fetch about $50 because I have the tin for it. At least I think I'm right on those prices. I don't know for sure. That's why I sort of need a second opinion here.

Your lighter ... that one is a tough nut to crack. I'd hold on to it, honestly. From what I'm seeing regarding this brand, this might be a Korean War-era lighter and it might hold a nice historic significance in the future. Not only that, some of these lesser known Zippo-like brands are just now catching on with collectors. Some vintage Storm Kings are bringing asking prices of about $60 bucks, depending on the condition and features. Ronson-made Zippo competitors can sometimes bring a few hundred bucks (Zippo owns Ronson now, so pre-Zippo Ronson lighters can be desirable).

Edited October 8, 2010 by black-knight

[GMTruckGuy74]

Practically everyone in my family is a smoker (my sister, my and my wife are the non-smokers). There have been plenty of lighters used over the years, and my grandparents (dad's side) and grandmother (mom's side) used Zippo. Though I'm a non-smoker, I used to carry my grandfather's old Zippo, until I lost it (got it in the early '90s when he quit smoking, and lost it in the mid '90s somewhere). Can't tell you how old it was, but it was a plain chrome (or was it brushed steel?) Zippo. I think my dad still has his lighter from his old trucking company (AAA Trucking Corporation), not sure if its a Zippo or not. I'd love to find an original '48 Tucker Zippo lighter (dealer promotional piece), but they are expensive from what I've read. I look at the new Zippos for sale at the sports/lottery/smoke shop inside Columbus Flea Market (Columbus, NJ) from time to time, but since I don't smoke I don't see a need to spend $$$ for something that would just cause problems at some point (fire bug!)

[Intrepidation]

IT BURNS

[Blake Noble]

IT BURNS

I get it, I get it. Smoking's bad.

On that note, I refuse to smoke while I'm driving now, so I'm starting to smoke a lot less now. I do want to quit, so banning smoking in my own car and getting out of this hobby is a start.

Edited October 9, 2010 by black-knight

[Camino LS6]

I have a very old Zippo that was presented to my grandfather by the Radnor Hunt (very old fox hunting club).

He rode with them and was admired for his horsemanship and gentlmanly demeanor by the blue-bloods that made up (and still make up) the membership.

My grandfather didn't smoke, so it has hardly been used, and has medallion (fox hunting scene) affixed to the front.

I can't make out all of the info on the bottom of the case (I'll have to get a magnifier).

But I can see that it says: made in ZIPPO usa Just like that, with Zippo in the middle.

Have to tell you though, I have no idea of the value of these lighters.

[Blake Noble]

I have a very old Zippo that was presented to my grandfather by the Radnor Hunt (very old fox hunting club).

He rode with them and was admired for his horsemanship and gentlmanly demeanor by the blue-bloods that made up (and still make up) the membership.

My grandfather didn't smoke, so it has hardly been used, and has medallion (fox hunting scene) affixed to the front.

I can't make out all of the info on the bottom of the case (I'll have to get a magnifier).

But I can see that it says: made in ZIPPO usa Just like that, with Zippo in the middle.

Have to tell you though, I have no idea of the value of these lighters.

You have quite an old Zippo there, Camino. Zippos read "Made in USA" on the bottom of the casing from 1932 until early 1955. If it reads "Pat. Pending" it's definitely a '32 to '35 model lighter. If it's in that good of shape, it's worth a grand or two easy.

[SAmadei]

You have quite an old Zippo there, Camino. Zippos read "Made in USA" on the bottom of the casing from 1932 until early 1955. If it reads "Pat. Pending" it's definitely a '32 to '35 model lighter. If it's in that good of shape, it's worth a grand or two easy.

"Pennsylvanian man trades cigarette lighter for Corvette, details at 11". ;-)

[Blake Noble]

"Pennsylvanian man trades cigarette lighter for Corvette, details at 11". ;-)

No Craigslist required.

[Camino LS6]

Wow!

Yeah, I'd do that trade.

I had no idea these were so valuable.

[Camino LS6]

I could see the bottom stamp a bit better in the daylight, and according to this site: http://www.zippoclick.com/collecting/dateCodes.aspx

My lighter was made between 1949 and 1957 in Bradford,PA.

pat# 2517191 is tamped on the left, with "Pat Pend" on the right

[Drew Dowdell]

Okay ... I'd still love to stumble across an old '30s Zippo or a vintage one with the "GM" logo engraved into it. Fat chance of that happening, though, so I'm not going to worry about it.

For you! Special Deal! $34 dolla!

[Blake Noble]

For you! Special Deal! $34 dolla!

Highly tempting. But it's a Zippo Mini so I can safely pass it up.