Lighters to collect that were used in movies

[VonMagnum]

Hahway Patent 3 Lighter (Imperator)(1930s)

Push button and it opens and lights at the same time (no safety screw). To change the flint, insert a needle through the holes on the side and open it and it holds the spring for the flint up for you.

Unfortunately, I think it used square flints no longer made. Inserting a half used flint sideways seems to work reasonably well, though. I changed the wick and packing too and polished it (polished version not shown, just a bit shinier).

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[VonMagnum]

McLaughlin Imperator Push Button Semi-Automatic Lighter (1913-1920s)

Similar in design to the German Hahway lighter above, this one was made in the USA!

No Safety. Push the button! PUSH THE BUTTON!!!!

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[VonMagnum]

ASR (American Safety Razor) Ascot Lighters (two examples)(1945)

These do not cost much and they work great. I'm not sure why they don't sell for more, really. One has a built-in windscreen. There were table lighter versions in various shapes as well using the same mechanism. Push the button on the side downward slightly and it pops up and lights at the same time (I seem to be buying semi-automatic push button lighters lately....) I'm not sure how much the "Ascot" name was used, if much at all, but it was in one listing.

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[VonMagnum]

Ronson Literpact (1935) Example #2

I got this for dirt cheap compared to its relative value and it works great with no monogram. The makeup compact powder puff is long gone.

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[joberg]

Ronson Literpact (1935) Example #2

I got this for dirt cheap compared to its relative value and it works great with no monogram. The makeup compact powder puff is long gone.

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That's a beautiful compact As for the McLaughlin Imperator...I shudder at the thought of having this lighter in your pants pocket and lighting it by mistake with that push-button

 

[VonMagnum]

That's a beautiful compact As for the McLaughlin Imperator...I shudder at the thought of having this lighter in your pants pocket and lighting it by mistake with that push-button

The ASR lighters above are also push button (downward slide press instead of straight in might help a little).

That is why Thorens added a safety screw in the 1920s at some point so if it was screwed in, it couldn't go off in your pocket (my 1919 model does not have it, just the button, which are worth more since they are 1st generation, but I'd choose a newer one if I smoked as it's safer and worth less).

I've got a Dunhill Mini-Rollalite coming from Britain soon. It looks like a slightly shorter Rollalite (like a Rollagas with a wick instead), but when you spin the tall wheel, it opens and lights at the same time (like these, but a spin is needed). Even so, one went off somehow in someone's pants and they sued (or their family did; I'm not sure if they died) and Dunhill pulled that version from the market for good.

I don't see how that could happen because a Rollalite/Rollagas requires a substantial flick of that roller, but that's how the story goes.

The Hahway also has a button.

The Imperator has sold for $180-750. I got mine for $120 so I think I did alright. Those early push button lighters are highly desired today. In fact, most lighters before 1920 are in demand. Ronson made their first lighter in 1920 (the WWI Tank lighter I displayed before), but didn't really release a mechanism lighter until 1927 (Banjo). Dunhill was 1924 for the lift-arm lighter so these push button lighters as early as 1910 were highly advanced (if not a bit dangerous) as they are semi-automatic.

 

[VonMagnum]

50 Caliber Browning Machine Gun Bullet Lighter (Maker Unknown).

The bottom indicates the bullet was made in 1943 in the Saint Louis Munition plant. I don't know who converted it to be a lighter. It's 5.25" tall.

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[VonMagnum]

Thorens Oriflam Semi-Automatic Lighter (1931)

This lighter looks a little bit like a Ronson style push button lighter, but the button springs up the snuffer until you manually shut it, making it a hazard for carrying it in your pocket, IMO. The patent is marked for Britain, but the Rooster on the side of the button and the French Tax Stamp on the front (legible for once) indicates it was actually sold in France (and I bought it from someone in France).

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[VonMagnum]

Dunhill Mini Auto-Rollalite (1940+)

This is a smaller version of the semi-automatic version of the wick based Dunhill Rollalite, a precursor to the butane powered Rollagas that came out as early as 1953 and is still made today in one form or another. This one supposedly went off in someone's pocket and that lead to the automatic mechanism not being used in the Rollagas. You turn the large roller and it opens and lights in one motion. I tried turning it slowly and it did not open so I'm not sure how this could go off in a pocket (compared to a push button lighter that has no safety like early Thorens and Hahway, Mclaughlan, etc. above), but that's what I read. Otherwise, its' a great lighter.

This one has been completely disassembled, cleaned inside and out and works and looks almost new again.

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[joberg]

Funny the name Oriflam at the bottom of that Thorens. Oriflamme, in French, means scarlet banner or knight's standard.

 

[VonMagnum]

Seligmann Dubsky Universal Lighter (1910)

Now my oldest lighter (115 years old!), it's another push button semi-automatic lighter you wouldn't want to store in your pocket.

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[VonMagnum]

Dunhill 70 Pocket Butane Lighter (1968+)

This one is serviced and ready to go. It's slightly shorter and slightly wider than a Dunhill Rollagas.

 

[VonMagnum]

Giant Zippo Clone Party Size Lighter (Japan)(1970s/80s?)

Someone at work gave me this one for free. I cleaned it up and put enough fuel near the wick to get it going for a picture, but it could easily swallow and entire bottle or more of lighter fluid. It's huge.

 

[VonMagnum]

I couldn't stand two of the guys running the Facebook group so I'm done with them. A couple of 12-year olds. Sadly, one is an author (total jackhole). For 12k viewers, you'd get about 15 actually participating and maybe 60 viewing.

 

[VonMagnum]

Arthur Dubsky Revolt Lighter (1951)

It's odd this is called the Revolt when daddy Dubsky had a lighter in 1912 with the same name that have nothing else in common.

This one looks similar to a Zippo, but the mechanism folds upward for easy access to the wick.

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[joberg]

I couldn't stand two of the guys running the Facebook group so I'm done with them. A couple of 12-year olds. Sadly, one is an author (total jackhole). For 12k viewers, you'd get about 15 actually participating and maybe 60 viewing.

Yep, one thing that social media showed is that there's a lot of stupid adults out there with the mind of a first year high schooler