Since 1932, the Reliable and Durable Zippo has Been an Invaluable Friend and Tool for Military Men and Women

George G. Blaisdell invented the Zippo lighter in 1932, and got his idea after learning about a large Austrian made pocket lighter. Blaisdell was an oil rig engineer who saw a audience for a good looking lighter that would light up even in the wind. He designed the first Zippo lighter in Bradford, Pennsylvania. It got its logo because Blaisdell liked the sound of the word zipper

A Zippo Lighter is a refillable, metal lighter. They are highly collectible and 100s of varying custom zippo lighter patterns have been made in the 70 plus years since their unveiling. From Hand-Carved wood Zippo lighters, to an army zippo lighter to a Custom-designed collector Zippo, to a Truck Zippo lighter.

Zippos are almost always rectangular in configuration with a flip top lid with a hinge . Unlike one time use colored plastic lighters that are used and discarded in the trash, Zippos are refilled with a Naphtha based liquid zippo lighter fuel. By removing the internal part out of the exterior casing, its owner can pour lighter fluid into a cotton wadding that incorporates a wick. The flint, which brings about the trigger to inflame the wick, can also be replaced.

It is low cost and super reliable. Replenishing a zippo lighter is often cheaper than purchasing single use igniters.

Zippos are considered windproof lighters, and are will stay ignited in almost any weather condition. They grew to become very popular in the United States army and navy, particularly during World War II standard silver Zippo lighter a military zippo lighter was standard issue for 100% gentlemen in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. During that time, all Zippo lighters produced went to the Allied war effort. In fact, during the conflict, as brass was needed for weapon systems, the insides of zippos were principally stainless steel. After the war had ended, Zippo reverted to the traditional brass design.

Roughly 200,000 Zippo lighters were held by U.S. military people in the Vietnam War. One time, a Zippo lighter carried in a shirt pocket held back a bullet from going into a soldiers heart.

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

Zippo now faces two daunting challenges. Zippo has smashing name recognition, coming from its function as standard GI issue during World War II, and the War in Vietnam, but the generation that held Zippo lighters into battle is quivering. The second problem is that smoking is diminishing.

Even so, Zippo has endured the storm, as collectors have been the route to substantial growth. After all, cigarette or cigar smokers may purchase only one or two zippo lighters--each of which carries a lifetime warranty. Plenty of 1940s-vintage Zippos still turn up for repairs at the Zippo shop, which has mended antique zippo lighters discovered inside the bellies of fish and old zippo lighters pierced by lead bullets. Collectors, still, often buy many at a time, give them as gifts, and appeal to their family to turn into collectors. Many zippo collectors have thousands of lighters in their zippo lighter collection and keep buying.

Collectors can accumulate all of their favourite 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 Citizens recognize the Zippo brand, and 30% of Zippo's customers are collectors. While a basic brushed-chrome Zippo runs $10.95, Collectible Zippos typically ranges in price from $35 to $75, and some as high as $3,000.

Since 1933, over 400,000,000 Zippos have been manufactured. After World War II the Zippo grew to become more and more utilized in advertizing by companies both large and small through the decade of the 60's. Even though new Zippo lighter designs are always coming out, he basic mechanism of the Zippo has essentially remained unaltered.

Zippo lighters have attained icon status, which gives the kind of promotion money can't buy. Rolling Stone Keith Richards, who smokes while on stage, keeps a Zippo as close as his guitar. Movie superstars from Bruce Willis to Harrison Ford have needed Zippos to light fuses, burn documents and papers and even to ignite cigarettes.

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