05/02/2022
From the estate of MGM executive, Mr. Leslie Petersen.
Not only is this gorgeous, Sterling elegant, mid-century Zippo lighter in its original box, it has never been used!
Zippo Manufacturing Company was founded by American inventor George Grant Blaisdell in 1932.
Born in 1895 in Bradford Pennsylvania, George had this idea while watching a friend struggle with an Austrian made lighter. He noted that though it was windy, the lighter worked well due to the unique chimney. But the design was utilitarian and it was inefficient because it required two hands.
In 1932 Mr. Blaisdell decided to reconstruct the Austrian lighter by fabricating a rectangular case and attaching a hinged lid. He preserved the chimney design which protected the flame. His version was more attractive and could be used with one hand!
The entrepreneur liked the sound of the word "zipper" and settled on what he felt had a more "modern" sound......ZIPPO.
Through the nine decades, there have been thousands of models. A notable one has a black crackle finish. The company created this model at the onset of WW2 and upon realizing that millions of service members were carrying their lighters into battle. Zippo not only created this version especially for our heroes but they ceased production of lighters for consumer markets and dedicated all production to the U.S military.
At the end of the war in 1945, Zippo began once again selling to a peacetime America.
Zippo is one of America's most recognizable icons with huge ties to pop culture. They have been featured in 2000 movies, countless television shows and on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine in the hands of iconic rock stars.
It was in the 1960's that concert-goers began raising the flame as a salute to a favorite song or performer. A gesture dubbed the "Zippo Moment”
Zippo Manufacturing Co is still family operated.
# history # #2020