Lighters to collect that were used in movies

[VonMagnum]

Yeah, I wouldn't want to bet my life on those photos. I wonder if the 4K footage on the new UHD discs provide any more clarity?

Meanwhile, I just bought a 4th Ronson Crown table lighter. I couldn't help myself. It looks brand new and I low-balled an offer (still within range, IMO but on the low side) and they still took it. I'm going to have to start selling lighters at some point If this keeps up....

 

[VonMagnum]

Wow. Someone really wanted that Ronson Cameo table lighter in serviced near mint condition on eBay. A previous version with a red oval instead of black went for around $105 on eBay, but it looked like some of the plating might have been off (could have just as easily been a reflection, though). I didn't think it'd go much over $200 and it went sailing by for like $327. I doubt it's worth quite that much, but I don't have the Ronson "Book" pricing guide to be sure where it falls.

I hate out of print books. EBay sellers price gouge on them constantly. That book sells normally for $35 in hardback form (and it's not even a full size book, but more of a car manual style rectangular (horizontally wide) little thing and gouges want $120+ for it. WTF don't they sell PDF or digital books that never have to go out of print for this sort of thing by now? Sheesh... (rant over)

 

[VonMagnum]

I just got the book I did order for $25 today. It includes over 800 lighters with full color photos and suggested values so it's a nice well rounded book and newer than the Ronson book, but it doesn't try to include every single model like the Ronson book. But it's a nice book.

It's called, "The Handbook of Vintage Cigarette Lighters" by Stuart Schneider.

 

[VonMagnum]

I'm looking for the Ronson "Colonial" lighter and there's a nice on on eBay right now and the auction is just about to end. He has a starting bid of $159. It's in the book above. In excellent condition (meaning possibly slighter better than what his is) it's worth $50-75 according to that book. Zero bids. Small wonder.... Yet they're INSULTED when you offer them what it's actually worth. Keep it, I say. I'm in no hurry. This is just a hobby at this point and that lighter isn't all that rare.

There was another Colonial for $25 I meant to buy (auction only I think), but as often happens I miss the auction and it's not relisted (and no one bought that one at $25 either. I wanted to offer $20 as it needed a lot of work and it looks like the plating was off in some places, which I cannot fix). Hell, I'm looking for deals on eBay, not market prices, but I'll pay market prices if I want it or even a bit more if I really want it (Maltese Falcon Touch Tip according to this book is only worth $550 in 2015. Everyone I know that has one in near mint condition paid around $800, which is what I paid too. You can say all day it's worth $550 only, but they don't show up in that condition very often. The book does say mint or mint-in-box is worth more, but the definition of "mint" is like "perfect" looking and unless they were never used, they're rarely truly "mint" so I've always though there should be a grade between excellent and mint and I call it "near mint". Oh well.

 

[joberg]

^^
This! I agree 100% with your "near mint" nomenclature

 

[VonMagnum]

Ronson "Melrose" Table Lighter (1953)

I really wish I had taken a "before" photo because the ones on eBay are NOT what it looked like (horribly tarnished and dark). But this is the first lighter I tried "Flitz" metal polish on and OMG! The difference is like night and day and I just used Q-Tips, tissues and a silver polishing cloth with a little bit of this polish and rubbing by hand (no Dremel or extreme work) and it looks almost like it just came off the assembly line in person.... I cleared the flint and have to put it back together yet, but it's unbelievable compared to before.... GREAT STUFF. Now I'm wondering what I can do with other lighters I have that are tarnished or have light scratches. You have to be careful, though because many Ronsons have a clear coat on them that will be damaged by a polish like this. But if they're turning dark grey or black it's a pretty good indication it's just tarnished exposed silver plate. There were also very black bands on the part of the igniter button that aren't shown when it's assembled (where it rubs) and after 3 applications, it all came off and looks like brand new chrome again....


This is as close to an idea as I got off the eBay photo (probably taken a long time before sale given how dark it was). But you can see the top is not exactly glossy. I realize the background is grey and affects the photo, but trust me, that color isn't far from where it was and you couldn't see a reflection to save your life in that lighter in the "before" photos.

eBay "Before" Photos

This is after polishing thus far:

I still have to put the lighter back together and take photos of it lit, etc., but I was so shocked at how well and easy this "Flitz" polish worked for me, I had to share some photos. It's like night and day....

 

[VonMagnum]

Of course, the Ronson Melrose lighter (1953) would have to have a weird problem (one spoke of a gear was apparently too worn or something and it stopped sparking after a few tries. After numerous attempts, I ended up taking a part from one of those former Adonis lighters I already fixed (the one I managed to polish the initials down to the brass) and using it here and that did the trick.

 

[VonMagnum]

Previous Ronson Waldorf Lighter After Restoration from a couple of weeks ago:

After Flitz Polishing..... Mirror Shine baby! (Still, the photos don't quite capture the incredible looking shine difference, though. It went from flat to almost mirror-like; you can see it best where my finger reflects below on the flat part and the mat reflection on the middle part that isn't there on the "before" one)

 

[cjunco1937]

Very nice work dude

 

[joberg]

Wow...that "Flitz" compound seems to be a blessing at restoring the polish of those lighters

 

[VonMagnum]

 

[VonMagnum]

Flitz Strikes Again!!!

Here is a 1930s Ronson Queen Anne Lighter as received from eBay that I originally bought for $5 for parts to fix another lighter (ended up not needing the parts so I got it working again, but look at why is sold CHEAP):

Now watch the power of Flitz Ultra Shine!!! Only $19.95 at 555-555-5555 while supplies last (kidding about the number, not the result):

Man, I could sell this stuff on TV all day long.... It actually works and quite easily too. A product that isn't BS for once. Amazing.

 

[VonMagnum]

My Dunhill Squareboy lighter Pre-FLITZ and Post-FLITZ.....

Before

After:

 

[joberg]

It's really "night and day" results Are you using a toothbrush to do the little nooks and crannies?

 

[cjunco1937]

Well you convinced me. Going to try it on this Made in Germany 4700 when it comes in.

 

[VonMagnum]

Well you convinced me. Going to try it on this Made in Germany 4700 when it comes in.
View attachment 1645826

I don't know if it works on rust as that takes the finish off. I'm dealing with dirt and silver tarnish

 

[cjunco1937]

ok, thx. guess we'll find out.

 

[VonMagnum]

Another Ronson "Nordic" lighter (1950s), this one with a polished wooden base fitment (other one shown on here was white marble; they also made black marble, clear glass and pink marble versions).

I bought this lighter for an offer under $10 plus shipping and tax as it was advertised as missing a screw. It actually had the wrong fulcrum pin, the missing screw and a missing larger lever, all of which I salvaged from another broken Nordic lighter I already used parts from to fix the 2nd Nordic it came in as part of a lot (the base was damaged on that one as well). So using parts from it, I was able to fully repair and replace the parts missing and it's now fully functional. The handle is from the other lighter and it's a bit pitted, unfortunately, but still probably preferable to a missing lever. It might be possible to remove the pitting, but I don't know how thick the chromium plating is and I'm not sure I want to risk it.

 

[cjunco1937]

Excellent job

 

[VonMagnum]

Ronson "De-Light" pocket lighter (It said 1928 in the listing, but my lighter book says 1931 so I'm not sure which is accurate, but it's still at least 91 years old) with vertical monogram "cameo" and 90+ year old leather still intact. There's some minor chrome bubbling and a few tiny bits missing, but overall for a lighter over 90 years old, it's in pretty good condition. It's fully functional and works great (lights 10/10 times here). Given a certain restoration/repair shop wants $150 for the identical model in brown leather in similar visual condition, I feel paying 1/4 of that was a good purchase, especially since it needed zero work, which is unusual. I thought there'd be something wrong, but it's in great condition and it looks like someone already changed the cotton packing at some point as it looks quite fresh. (I tried some Flitz on it carefully with a Q-Tip), but it didn't look much different except on the monogram plate which got shinier, but the minor scratches are still there and I don't want to risk pulling the chrome plating off any more than it already had).