Smokers- do you use a Zippo?

[HHI944]

My daily use dunhill and Zino Platinum cutter

My Zippo

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Had a Zippo log time ago just because they look so cool.

But they just smell bad... wouldn't dream of lighting a expensive cigar... or even a stinky little cigarette with one... they are pretty much only good for lighting camp fires IMHO.

+100 I would never use it for a cigar. I have a bunch of them NIB, some kinda collectible but use one? No..

[LeeH]

Picked this one up at a yard sale... keep forgetting to run it on Ebay.

[tevake]

Well you got to remember that when Zippos became so popular the Bic and other disposable gas lighters were not out yet. So the Zippos were about the best around, plus their claim to fame was they could be used in some wind.

The flick and finger snap was common with troops in V.N. the lighter was held lengthwise between the tips of the fingers and the tip of the thumb, with the top toward the thumb. Then squeezed tightly til it flipped to the flat and upright position quickly enough for the lid to flip open in the process. Then the other hand is held close to the striker and a snap of the fingers turns the striker and sparks it.

Funny what people will entertain themselves with, no?

Cheers Richard

[Adam]

When I was 14, I decided to take up smoking.

I bought a Zippo, practiced the finger-snap trick and generally just wanted to look like a badass. I smoked an entire pack of Marlboros on my first day as a smoker and lost my voice for about a week. I never touched a cigarette again, but occasionally still enjoy a cigar.

I still have the Zippo in my desk drawer.

[Eric Hahl]

I use a Bugatti torch lighter for my cigars. As mentioned above, Zippo's leave a bad taste when enjoying a cigar and the butane of the torch lighter does not.

[rouxroux]

OK, got a few of the boxes out and am starting to take some pics. I did not remember all the different sizes, but I have found 4 in the "Traditional look" maked Zippos. The battery on my camera died after the 1st pic, so I'll start with these: Top row, l-r: C-130 maiden flight, GE, General Precision, United Air Lines, Capital Airlines Viscount, General Dynamics Convair 21.

Bottom row: Castle Harbor Yacht Club, Motorola, Braniff Airlines, Douglas RB66 Maiden flight 6/28/54, Rocket City Air, TWA

more to come after battery is charged.

[rouxroux]

One more after a short charge: Norair, Haveg Aircraft Products, Shell Aviation, Airco Supply Co, Bendix International, Goodyear Aerospace, Bell Aerosystems.

Still many more Zippos to come, plus other "art deco" lighters. Would really love to find if there is a market for these and where to look for values. All have boxes.

[rouxroux]

A few more Zippos and other assorted lighters:
Top row, l-r: American Airlines, Airways Systems, Sweet Sue, Ryan, Coke (one of the "Bluebird" music boxes

Middle row, l-r: Republic Airways, Coke, Capital Airlines, Montego Bay, ALA. Football

Bottom row: KLM Airlines (not Zippo), 50cal lighter

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by rusnak

The Zippo fluid does not mix with cigars ...........

It does not go well with pipes either. I have a pipe model Zippo which quickly converted me to a Lotus butane.

[rouxroux]

One more for today:
top row, l-r: Capital Airlines, Capital Airlines, Braniff, TWA, Piedmont

middle row: Air France, Lufthansa, Princess, Gulas, Winston

bottom row: Playboy Club, Wyly Labs, Pan American (cigar/pipe lighter?)

[rusnak]

^ I love those old airlines Zippos !!

[herr_oberst]

rouroux that is one damn impressive collection. Hard to remember a time you could smoke on a plane, until one sees that bit of history!

[red-beard]

Aren't those airline ones Ronsons?

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

rouroux that is one damn impressive collection. Hard to remember a time you could smoke on a plane, until one sees that bit of history!

I remember when they smoked on a plane. My 1st-wife and I were put in the smoking section of 1st class on a 747, Hawaii to LA, 1989. Someone lit up in the non-smoking section. She called a stew over and forced them to put it out!

She HATED people that smoked.

[rouxroux]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Aren't those airline ones Ronsons?

yes sir, in that pic many of those are Ronsons, and other brands that look just like Ronsons (some are in a fancy script, will have to get a magnifying glass to read them. HAve a few more boxes, mainly from airlines and companies that furnished parts/services to the space program in the late 50's/early 60's. This was the contents of 1 of many filled shoeboxes. The Coca Cola Bluebirds (one red, one white) play different songs. One is from a Coke jingle in the early 60's, and the other plays "Dixie".

[rusnak]

I see the Ronsons.

I grabbed my grandfather's old Ronson from the old house just before it was demolished. I want to restore it to working condition.

I was talking about the old airlines Zippos in the top pic. I have some old airlines pins that they gave out to kids in the 1970s (American, Delta, United, Pan Am).

[fred cook]

I have two of my Dad's Zippos from WWII. Both still work, or rather would if I put in some lighter fluid. These two lighters spent about 2 years in the CBI theater (China, Burma, India) and one was in his pocket when he took supplies up the Burma Ledo road to Mitckiyna (SP?) after it was retaken by the Merrills Marauders. If only those two little suckers could talk!

[cashflyer]

My father has smoked all of my life. As a kid, I was intrigued by his lighter. I thought it was the most awesome piece of technology in the world because they had somehow managed to get a fishing lure inside the lighter. It was a Scripto Vu.



I am not a smoker. Well, I have 3 or 4 cigars a year, but the insurance company says that is below their threshold so "I am not a smoker". I have several Zippos, and an old trench lighter. None are ever used by me. I prefer a cheap, $10 Ronson torch lighter. I like it even better than my snazzy little Colibri.

[ledhedsymbols]

Quit smoking a few years ago. Still have this in my "Navy Box."