The lighter required the use of two hands to operate and its thin metal surface was easily dented. In late Mr. Blaisdell decided to reconstruct the Austrian lighter. He fabricated a small rectangular case and attached a lid with a hinge. He preserved the chimney design which protected the flame. The result was an attractive lighter that was easily operated with one hand.
These lighters are believed to be the first company-advertised lighters produced by Zippo and are highly prized collectibles. World War II had a profound impact on Zippo.
This initiative led to the production of the steel-case Zippo lighter with black crackle finish. The fact that millions of American military personnel carried the lighter into battle was a significant catalyst in establishing Zippo as an American icon throughout the world. Supplying the military market resulted in full production for the plant and enabled Zippo to become financially strong and made it a viable company.
At the end of the war in , Zippo returned to selling lighters to a peacetime America and resumed producing lighters for the consumer market. A promoter at heart, Mr. Blaisdell wanted to hit the road with a car that looked like a Zippo lighter and in the Zippo Car was born. On August 1, Zippo was issued its second patent, number The design of the Zippo lighter remains basically the same to this day, with minor improvements.
The original purpose was for quality control, but the codes have become an invaluable tool for collectors. In Zippo launched the Slim lighter , which was a major milestone. This slightly smaller version of the Zippo lighter was designed to appeal to women but much to his surprise also appealed to men.
In Zippo produced its first non-lighter product. Other items have been added and deleted from the Zippo line since the s. Many were primarily geared to the promotional products division including key chains, golf greenskeepers, pen-and-pencil sets and the ZipLight pocket flashlight.
Blaisdell passed away on October 3, He is remembered not only for inventing the Zippo lighter, but also for his generosity and kind spirit. After his passing, his daughters, Harriett B. Route 6 can travel for an hour without seeing so much as a single dwelling or gas station. But three famous products come from this unassuming little mountain town.
The other two—Zippo lighters and Case knives—are collectible icons sought around the world, and both are products of a family-owned business. In , a man named George Blaisdell sat on the porch of the Bradford Country Club and watched a friend fumbling to light a cigarette. But the lighter was cumbersome to use; it required both hands to remove the lid and work the mechanism.
Blaisdell, who had a passion for all things mechanical, was inspired to try and build a windproof lighter with a hinged lid that could be opened and operated with one hand.
Thus the first Zippo was born. He hated school and dropped out in the fifth grade. Next, his father sent him to a military academy but he lasted only two years there before getting himself expelled. After World War I, George took over the business, but he sold the company in and put the money into oil, an economic mainstay of northwestern Pennsylvania in those days.
Nobody had any faith in it. It seemed like a foolish, harebrained idea. And it was. What kept him going? I think whatever it was, it was tinged with desperation. He had to make this work. For him and his family, as they say now, there was no Plan B. Again, Blaisdell proved them wrong. That guarantee is still in force. Also on display are Case knives—Zippo acquired Case in —and an array of product extensions bearing the Zippo name.
The Zippo Repair Clinic is part of the museum, where visitors can peer through a glass window and watch repairs being made. They can also get a chuckle from a display of Zippos that met their ultimate end through such means as a garbage disposal, a metal press, a steamroller and even a cocker spaniel.
As the anti-smoking movement gained power in the U. But a combination of tactics helped keep sales on track: The company diversified into related products and put a particular emphasis on the outside, not the inside, of its core lighter. That can range from a plain brushed or polished finish to ornate engravings to butterflies to sports or military logos. Seven graphic artists and three trend-spotters work to constantly add new relevant designs to the line.
According to company statistics, approximately 4 million people qualify as Zippo collectors, defined as those who own five or more of the lighters. Other products the company has launched include outdoor fire starters, hand warmers and candle lighters, as well as non-flame products like watches and pens. Some of the newer products are outsourced, but never the iconic lighters.
Those are still made entirely—from raw metal to final packaging—in Bradford. It's the movement of the two that generates the spark. Next is the wick. The wick zigzags through cotton that acts as a sponge for the lighter fuel, which is added later on. The insert is finally put into the case.
Lastly, each lighter is meticulously inspected to make sure all its components are there, including the signature click noise Zippo lighters are known for. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options.
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