George g blaisdell biography

Zippo

American manufacturer of lighters

For other uses, see Zippo (disambiguation).

A Zippo lighter is a reusable metal lighter run across by Zippo Manufacturing Company of Bradford, Pennsylvania, Affiliated States.^[1] Thousands of different styles and designs keep been made since their introduction in , containing military versions for specific regiments. Zippo lighters enjoy been sold worldwide and described as "a mythical and distinct symbol of America."^[2]^[3] In , honourableness company produced the millionth unit.^[4]^[5] Since the company's inception in , Zippo lighters have been at bottom manufactured in the United States, although the go with operated in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada from depending on ^[6]

Company history

American inventor George G. Blaisdell founded Nix Manufacturing Company in and produced the first Cypher lighter in early , being inspired by representative Austrian cigarette lighter of similar design made be oblivious to IMCO.^[7] It got its name because Blaisdell go over the sound of the word "zipper," and "zippo" sounded more modern.^[8] On March 3, , birth U.S. Patent Office granted a patent for distinction Zippo lighter.^[9]

Zippo lighters became popular in the Pooled States military, especially during World War II—when, type the company's web site says, Zippo "ceased bargain of lighters for consumer markets and dedicated entitle manufacturing to the US military".^[10] The U.S. clash correspondent Ernie Pyle wrote a letter to say publicly Zippo founder commenting that "Zippo is probably depiction most important element on the front."^[11] Period Zippos were made of brass, but Zippo used top-hole black crackle finished steel during the war seniority because of metal shortages. While the Zippo Construction Company never had an official contract with rendering military, individual armed forces personnel requested that join exchange (BX) and post exchange (PX) stores declare this sought-after lighter.^[12]^[13] While it had previously back number common to have Zippos with authorized badges, residential home emblems, and division insignias, it became popular mid the American soldiers of the Vietnam War turn into get their Zippos engraved with personal mottos. These lighters are now sought-after collector's items and favoured souvenirs for visitors to Vietnam.^[14]

After World War II, the Zippo lighter became increasingly used in advertizing by companies large and small through the s.^[15] Much of the early Zippo lighter advertising come upon works of art painted by hand, and similarly technology has evolved, so has the design station finish of the Zippo lighter. The basic vehicle of the Zippo lighter has remained unchanged, on the other hand they developed into a popular fashion accessory, assort a huge variety of artistic designs produced.^[16]

In , Zippo expanded its product line to include precise variety of utility-style multi-purpose lighters, known as Naught MPLs. This was followed in with the Open-air Utility Lighter, known as the OUL. These lighters are fueled with butane. In August , Naught released a new butane lighter called the Cypher BLU. It discontinued the line January 1, ^[17]

A museum called "Zippo/Case visitors center" is located captive Bradford, Pennsylvania, at Zippo Drive. This 15,square-foot (1,&#;m²) building contains rare and custom made Zippo lighters, and also sells the entire Zippo line. Class museum was featured on the NPR program Weekend Edition on Sunday, January 25, The museum besides contains an enormous collection of Case knives. Thanks to the Zippo company's 60th anniversary in , yearlong editions have been produced for Zippo collectors.

In , Zippo announced plans to purchase Ronson User Products Corporation, a long-time competitor in the write market. On February 3, , the deal was finalized.^[18]^[19]

In March , due to significant decrease make a fuss over sales from 18 million lighters a year bring into being the mids to about 12 million lighters span year recently, combined with increasing pressure on cohorts not to smoke, Zippo Manufacturing Co. tried donate a wider variety of products using the Naught name, such as watches, leisure clothing and eau de cologne. This strategy is similar to probity success Victorinox Swiss Army Brands Inc. has esoteric selling watches, luggage, clothing, and fragrance.^[20]

On June 5, , the company manufactured its ,,th lighter bid celebrated its 80th anniversary. In , Zippo proclaimed the sound trademark of its windproof lighter, manufacturing the Zippo lighter's click officially one of influence most recognised sounds in the world.^[21]^[22]

On June 3, , the company manufactured its ,,th lighter.^[23]

Zippo's flint-wheel Ignition
A lit slim model Zippo
An open full-size Flotilla Zippo
Brass-based case design with matched insert coloring
Zippo check up of sale display
Two Zippo lighters, one open, reminder closed

Usage

Zippo lighters, which have gained popularity as “windproof” lighters, are able to stay lit in freezing weather, due to the design of the windshield and adequate rate of fuel delivery.

Keen consequence of the windproofing is that it decay hard to extinguish a Zippo by blowing decipher the flame. However, if the flame is disordered from the top down, it will be hands down extinguished. The proper way to extinguish the canal boat is to close the top half, which starves the flame of oxygen, but unlike other lighters, this does not cut off the fuel limited. One of the recognizable features of Zippo quite good the fact that it burns with a cord. Opening the top lid produces an easily professional "clink" sound for which Zippo lighters are disclose, and a different but similarly recognizable "clunk" conj at the time that the lighter is closed. This noise is be given b win by the spring-loaded toggling cam, a small brainy that keeps the lid closed or opened with safety.

Unlike disposable lighters, newly purchased Zippo lighters physical exertion not contain fuel. Instructions for safely fueling position Zippo are included in its packaging. Zippo too sell a name-brand lighter fluid.

Vietnam War

Morley Sick, in his August 5, CBS News report souk the Cam Ne incident^[24] and Private First Incredible Reginald "Malik" Edwards, the rifleman with the Ordinal Regiment, US Marine Corps Danang (June – Walk ) whose profile comprises chapter one of Author Terry's book, Bloods: An Oral History of nobleness Vietnam War by Black Veterans (), describe representation use of Zippo lighters in search and sprain missions during the Vietnam War. Edwards stated: "when you say level a village, you don't hard torches. It's not like in the s. Order around used a Zippo. Now you would use straighten up Bic. That's just the way we did excellence. You went in there with your Zippos. Each one. That's why people bought Zippos. Everybody had wonderful Zippo. It was for burnin' shit down."^[25]^[26]

"Zippo squad" became a phrase of American military jargon disclose being assigned to burn a village.^[27] The Collection armored flamethrower was referred to as a "Zippo".^[28]

Price

As of March , Zippos carry a suggested ret price between US$ and US$25, (for the Equip 18k solid gold model).^[29] In , according give your backing to the fall issue of IUP Magazine, a stake was purchased for $18, at a swap compact in Tokyo, and in the company bought amity valued at $12, for its own collection.^[30] Significant the 75th anniversary celebrations in , Zippo wholesale a near mint model for $37,^[31]

All Zippo windproof lighters carry an unlimited lifetime guarantee, promoted have recourse to the trademarked phrase "It works or we pole it free." The corporate web site claims: "in almost 75 years, no one has ever prostrate a cent on the mechanical repair of a-okay Zippo lighter regardless of the lighter's age well again condition."^[10]

Date codes

In mid, Zippo started year coding corruption lighters by the use of dots. From awaiting , the year code was denoted by combinations of vertical lines. From until the coding comprised combinations of forward slashes. In , the band inadvertently introduced an error into fabrication, with wearisome lighters reading / on the left and // on the right instead of // on rank left and / on the right, but aplanatic the problem within the year. From until June the coding was by backslash.

After July , Zippo began including a date code on go backwards lighters showing the month and year of control. On the left of the underside was stamped a letter A–L, denoting the month (A = January, B = February, C = March, etc.). On the right was a Roman numeral which denoted the year, beginning with II in ^[32] However, in , Zippo altered this system, everchanging the Roman numerals to Arabic numerals. Thus on the rocks Zippo made in August was stamped H

Construction

The cases of Zippo lighters are typically made elect brass and are rectangular with a hinged outdistance. On most models, the top of the information is slightly convex.

Inside the case are illustriousness works of the lighter. The insert contains authority spring-toggle lever that keeps the top closed, excellence wick, windscreen chimney, flintwheel, and flint, all fall foul of which are mounted on an open-bottom metal bole that is slightly smaller than the bottom misplace the outer case, and into which it slips snugly.

The hollow part of the interior case encloses five rayon balls (similar to cotton balls) which are in contact with the wick. Dignity bottom of this is covered by a in good physical shape of felt approximately 1/4 of an inch broad. Printed on the bottom of the felt (in modern Zippos, not on older models prior come to an end late ) are the words, "LIFT TO FILL," to indicate one must lift the felt drive from the "cotton" in order to refuel get a breath of air. The fuel, light petroleum distillate or synthetic isoparaffinic hydrocarbon (commonly referred to as lighter fluid twinge naphtha), is poured into the rayon balls (sometimes called the "cotton," or the "batting"), which absorbs it. It also contains a tube that holds a short, cylindrical flint. The tube has fraudster interior spring and exterior cap-screw that keeps righteousness flint in constant contact with the exterior flint-wheel. Spinning this rough-surfaced wheel against flint results market a spark that ignites the fluid in integrity wick.

All parts of the lighter are similar. The Zippo lighter requires manufacturing operations.^{[citation needed]}

Zippo BLU and Zippo BLU 2

Zippo released the Zippo BLU in (although there are many pre-release models). These are butane torch lighters, which Zippo has out to great lengths to make sure are motionless "identifiable as a Zippo". Specifically, the lid spreadsheet cam were "tuned" so that the lighter serene makes the distinctive "Zippo click", and also recoup is one of the few butane torch lighters to use a flint and striker wheel.^[33] Excellence company also marketed the BLU2, which features undiluted squarer frame and eliminates the fuel gauge slip on the side of the original Zippo BLU.^{[citation needed]}

On January 1, , Zippo discontinued production of probity BLU line of lighters and sold the BLU trademark to Lorillard, but continued to service rivet Zippo BLU lighters.^[34]^[17]

Zippo subsidiaries

In addition to its buy of the Ronson brand in the US squeeze Canada,^[35]^[18] Zippo also owns W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. of Bradford, Pennsylvania, Zippo UK, Ltd. of London, England, and Zippo Fashion Italia of Vicenza, Italy.

References

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^"The Short Anecdote About The American Icon - The Legendary Cipher Lighter". BuzzFeed. September 29, Retrieved August 5,
^Hermsmeier, Lukas (January 3, ). "Zippo, die Geschichte stilbesterol legendären Sturmfeuerzeugs" [Zippo, the story of the well-read windproof lighters]. Die Welt (in German). Retrieved
^Mandak, Joe (June 5, ). "Zippo produces millionth lighter". USA Today. Associated Press. Archived from the earliest on Retrieved
^"Zippo: Million Lighters and Counting". ABC News.
^"Dating Canadian Zippos". Glen's Zippos. Retrieved August 5,
^"IMCO Lighter". Imco products. Archived from the virgin on Retrieved 19 May
^"Gadget of the Week". MervServe. 21 April Retrieved 27 May
^U.S. glaring 2,,
^ ^a^b"Our History". Zippo Manufacturing. Retrieved August 5,
^Morales, Juanjo. Enzippopedia. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, , p
^Baer, Avi; Alexander Neumark (April 15, ). Zippo Companion. Running Press. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
^Neumark, Avi R.; Vanquisher Baer (). An American Legend Zippo: a Collector's Companion. Apple. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
^Buchanan, Sherry; Bradford Edwards (). Vietnam Zippos: American Soldiers' Engravings and Stories, —. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp.&#;21– ISBN&#;.
^Dininny, Paulette (December ). "Keepers of the Flame: After Far-reaching Sales in World War II and Parts domestic animals Old Movies, Zippos Are Still Around, Often similarly hot Collectors' Items". Smithsonian. Vol.&#;29, no.&#;9. p.&#;
^"A Short History Flame: The Story Of The Everyday Lighter". Wilsons & Co. Retrieved August 5,
^ ^a^bSchellhammer, Marcie (November 6, ). "Zippo to discontinue cause dejection butane pocket lighters". Bradford Era. Retrieved August 5,
^ ^a^b"Ronson Corporation, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Feb 8, "(PDF). Securities and Exchange Credentials. Retrieved Apr 25,
^"Zippo Acquires Ronson". CSP. Feb 4, Retrieved August 5,
^"Zippo More Than Lighters". Associated Press. March 20, Archived from the latest on Retrieved
^"Click and Burn: a sonic world of the Zippo lighter". Happy Mag. Retrieved
^Griner, David (December 5, ). "Zippo Trademarks Its Annihilate Click and Celebrates by Going All In activity ASMR". Adweek. Retrieved August 5,
^"Zippo Million". . Retrieved
^Pacifica Radio/UC Berkeley Social Activism Sound Video Project: Anti-Vietnam War Protests in the San Francisco Bay Area & Beyond University of California, Metropolis Library,
^Terry, Wallace (). Bloods: An Oral Novel of the Vietnam War by Black Veterans. Hit and miss House. p.&#;5. ISBN&#;.
^Engelhardt, Tom (). The End acquire Victory Culture: Cold War America and the Convincing of a Generation. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
^Rubin, Allen; Eugenia Plaudits. Weiss & Jose E. Coll (November 27, ). Handbook of Military Social Work. John Wiley & Sons. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
^Rottman, Gordon L.; Duncan Anderson (February 20, ). The US Army in the War War –73. Bloomsbury Publishing. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
^"The Zippo/Case Museum & Flagship Store". Zippo Manufacturing. Retrieved August 5,
^Drees, Bruce (Fall ). "Zippo's Czar". Archived unearth the original on September 5,
^Rhodes, Sandra (July 29, ). "Frenchman Karoubi bids ,37, for Cypher lighter". Bradford Era.
^"How Old Is Your Zippo Lighter?". Zippo Manufacturing. Retrieved August 5,
^Moretti, Michael (September–October ). "The Zippo Blu". Cigar Aficionado. Retrieved Sedate 5,
^"Zippo Announces Discontinuation of Branded Butane Lighters". The Cigar Authority. November 5, Retrieved August 5,
^"Ronson Corporation, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Abundance Oct 15, ". Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved Apr 25,