Since 1932, the Tuff and Durable Zippo Lighter has Been a Trusted Friend and Tool for Smokers and Non-Smokers Alike

George G. Blaisdell invented the Zippo lighter in 1932, and got his idea after examining a bulky Austrian made portable-pocket lighter. Blaisdell was an engineer who saw a audience for a good looking lighter that would light up consistently even in tough weather conditions. He invented the first Zippo lighter in Bradford, Pennsylvania. It got its logo for Blaisdell liked the sound of the word zipper

A Zippo Lighter is a refillable, brass lighter. They are highly collectible and 100s, if not 1000s of varying custom zippo lighter fashions have been made in the 70 plus years since their launch. From Solid gold Zippo lighters, to an army zippo lighter to a Truck Zippo, to a Custom-designed collector Zippo lighter.

Zippos are usually rectangular in shape with a hinged flip open lid . Unlike one time use cheap plastic lighters that are used and chucked out, Zippos are replenished with a Naphtha based liquid zippo lighter fuel. By taking the inner element out of the outside housing, its user can pour lighter fluid into a gauze packing that contains a wick. The flint, which brings on the fire to light the wick, is replaceable.

It is cost-efficient and very reliable. Refilling a zippo lighter is often cheaper than purchasing throw away lighters.

Zippos are considered windproof lighters, and are are capable of staying lighted in about any wind condition. They grew to become extremely popular in the United States armed forces, particularly in World War II military Zippo a military zippo lighter was standard equipment for 100% of men in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. During that period, all Zippo lighters produced went to the Alied forces war effort. In fact, during the war, because brass was demanded for weapon systems, the guts of zippo lighters were manufactured in stainless steel. At the end of the war, Zippo reverted to the previous brass design.

An estimated 200,000 Zippo lighters were held by U.S. military personnel in the War in Vietnam. In one story, a Zippo lighter held in a shirt pocket held back a bullet from entering a soldiers chest.

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

Zippo currently faces two tough challenges. Zippo has great brand recognition, rising from its function as standard GI issue during The Second World War, and the Conflict in Vietnam, but the generation that used Zippo lighters into combat is flittering. The second challenge is that cigarette and cigar smoking is falling.

However, Zippo has weathered the storm, as collectors have been the road to firm growth. After all, cigarette or cigar smokers may choose only one or two zippo lighters--each of which carries a lifetime guaranty. Plenty of 1940s-vintage Zippos still show up for repairs at the Zippo home office, which has fixed old zippo lighters found in the stomachs of fish and old zippo lighters punctured by bullets. Collectors, all the same, often buy numbers of at a time, give them as gifts, and lure their family to become collectors. Many zippo collectors have thousands of lighters in their zippo lighter collection and keep on buying.

Collectors can amass 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 US Residents recognize the Zippo brand, and 30% of Zippo's clients are collectors. While a basic brushed-chrome Zippo runs $10.95, Collectible Zippos typically ranges from $35 to $75, and some as high as $3,000.

Since 1933, over 400,000,000 Zippos have been manufactured. After The Second World War the Zippo grew to become increasingly utilized in advertizements by companies large and small alike through the decade of the 1960's. Although new Zippo lighter designs are always being released, he basic interior mechanics of the Zippo has essentially stayed unaltered.

Zippo lighters have risen to icon status, which generates the kind of publicity money can't buy. Rolling Stone Keith Richards, who smokes during his act, keeps a Zippo within an arms reach of his guitar. Movie actors from Bruce Willis to Harrison Ford have used Zippos to ignite fuses, burn documents and papers and even to light cigarettes.

Zippo is branching out in other ways, too, with Zippo pens, belt buckles, and money clips, Zippo watches all with a lifetime warranty.