Lighters to collect that were used in movies
- Thread starter VonMagnum
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VonMagnum
Sr Member
Here's a note for any lighter collectors that wonder why their gas lighter is still leaking after changing the o-ring seals.
My M2 machine gun lighter butane lighter from the 1980s kept leaking all the gas out of it and I took it apart and the rubber o-ring seals didn't look too bad despite their age. I changed 2/3 anyway (the 3rd was definitely fine) and it still slowly leaked. I examined the snuffer cap and it has some kind of material that sits inside to cover the "needle" valve for the flame. It had holes punched in it like Swiss Cheese from the needle pressed against it over the years. Most Ronson gas lighters use a ball bearing and a spring-loaded needle to turn it on/off. This one depends on it covering the needle, apparently. So I suspected it was leaking out the needle around that material that had a hold in it. I put a tiny bit of gum in there and sure enough, it no longer leaked. So it's not just o-rings that can leak in gas lighters.
That was a bad move, though as the gum eventually sizzled and started falling out. I've switched to flex glue, which I let sit overnight to dry. I don't know how well that will hold, but we'll see. I'm not sure what the material it originally used is made out of. It almost looks like some kind of dried putty or something. I also discovered turning the ring that controls the flame height all the way off also prevented gas leakage. It's pretty sensitive, though. Turning it more than 1/4 the way results in a flame thrower. I don't know how that could be adjusted, but it's not loose so it can be fine tuned easy enough for various heights in-between.
EDIT: Flex Glue didn't work. Needle punched right through it and spread it out of the way and gas leaked out. Try something harder next, I guess like contact cement.
My M2 machine gun lighter butane lighter from the 1980s kept leaking all the gas out of it and I took it apart and the rubber o-ring seals didn't look too bad despite their age. I changed 2/3 anyway (the 3rd was definitely fine) and it still slowly leaked. I examined the snuffer cap and it has some kind of material that sits inside to cover the "needle" valve for the flame. It had holes punched in it like Swiss Cheese from the needle pressed against it over the years. Most Ronson gas lighters use a ball bearing and a spring-loaded needle to turn it on/off. This one depends on it covering the needle, apparently. So I suspected it was leaking out the needle around that material that had a hold in it. I put a tiny bit of gum in there and sure enough, it no longer leaked. So it's not just o-rings that can leak in gas lighters.
That was a bad move, though as the gum eventually sizzled and started falling out. I've switched to flex glue, which I let sit overnight to dry. I don't know how well that will hold, but we'll see. I'm not sure what the material it originally used is made out of. It almost looks like some kind of dried putty or something. I also discovered turning the ring that controls the flame height all the way off also prevented gas leakage. It's pretty sensitive, though. Turning it more than 1/4 the way results in a flame thrower. I don't know how that could be adjusted, but it's not loose so it can be fine tuned easy enough for various heights in-between.
EDIT: Flex Glue didn't work. Needle punched right through it and spread it out of the way and gas leaked out. Try something harder next, I guess like contact cement.
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VonMagnum
Sr Member
I was watching Stolen Face (1952) with then gorgeous Lizabeth Scott (who played Dusty Chandler in Bogart's 1947 movie Dead Reckoning), a movie about a plastic surgeon (played by Paul Henreid, who played Victor Laszlo in Casablanca with Bogart) that takes place in Britain that finds when he can't have the woman he wants (at first), he decides to make a criminal with a damaged face to look like the woman he loved and marries her and then it all goes wrong, of course and then the original woman shows up ready to marry him and he's already married to her doppelgänger who can't give up her criminal ways....
I noticed a Ronson Queen Anne table lighter about 50 minutes in (and again at 58 minutes in):
(My Ronson Queen Anne lighter)
I noticed a Ronson Queen Anne table lighter about 50 minutes in (and again at 58 minutes in):
(My Ronson Queen Anne lighter)
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VonMagnum
Sr Member
I really don't know. It was made in Japan in the 1980s so I kind of doubt it as asbestos was more or less banned by then except for special uses, but then sometimes imports lack the same controls.Is that special part asbestos? I know that old lighters have asbestos wicks...but other parts?
VonMagnum
Sr Member
In Sabrina (1954), we see Bogie lighting up with what appears to be a Dunhill Rollalite, which was the original wick lighter in this form, first made in 1939 that was succeeded in 1956 by the ever popular Dunhill Rollagas (a butane powered version, which is still made despite negative operational changes to make them practically unserviceable at home in recent years and lower quality at that (despite ever higher prices). Since the Rollagas wasn't sold until 1956, the one here has to be a Rollalite. There's no way to tell in black and white if it's a gold, silver or Rhodium (looks like silver but doesn't tarnish like plated non-sterling silver) and they came in a few different patterns (which expanded to a lot more patterns with the Rollagas. I recently picked up the grid pattern one below, which I didn't even know existed in Rollalite form as most were engine turn, flat or lines (vertical or diagonal), especially early ones. Note that the top is smooth regardless of the pattern and early ones often had entirely smooth caps even if the body had a pattern. Given the character is rich and Bogie was too, you might assume it's 14K Gold or Sterling Silver, but it's also a movie prop and black and white doesn't show any difference so impossible to say. I own one Rhodium Rollalite and two different gold plated versions.
(Click for full size slideshow):
The three pocket versions I own currently
(There's also a table lighter version; I have 5 of those in Rhodium/Silver and one gold plated in mint condition which is rare as the gold ones usually have some wear on the edges of things like the ribbed stripes).
Gold Plated Table Lighter Version:
(Click for full size slideshow):
The three pocket versions I own currently
(There's also a table lighter version; I have 5 of those in Rhodium/Silver and one gold plated in mint condition which is rare as the gold ones usually have some wear on the edges of things like the ribbed stripes).
Gold Plated Table Lighter Version:
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joberg
Legendary Member
It was banned in Japan in 2006...so it's possible that it could be an asbestos piece
VonMagnum
Sr Member
I don't know if would survive importation. I'm sure they could use other materials. I just tested contact cement to fill in the middle gap of the snuffer lid. I was a little concerned that it might be flammable after drying, but it doesn't appear to be. That appears to have worked better, at least. It's now been nearly 24 hours and there's still gas in it so if it's leaking, it's leaking a lot slower. If I turn the valve all the way off, it won't leak either way for long periods of time. A working lighter is preferable to a non-working lighter either way.It was banned in Japan in 2006...so it's possible that it could be an asbestos piece
VonMagnum
Sr Member
There was another lighter (other than the previously mentioned Ronson Rondelight Ball lighter) in The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938) (Bogart / Edward G. Robinson) sitting on the police commissioner's desk. I believe it is an Evans Trig-a-lite (possibly an Evans Ball Bearing lighter as they looked nearly identical as the Trig-a-lite replaced it). Both are from 1938 or earlier. I'm looking for a dirt cheap one in a basic chrome style....
Evans Trig-A-Lite Example:
Evans Trig-A-Lite Example:
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VonMagnum
Sr Member
OMSCO Lite (Japanese knockoff of Ronson Crown Lighter). Needed new wick and packing (PITA).
Another Ronson "Crown" Lighter I picked up as part of a Lot. It needed a new wick and packing. The packing smelled bad. I don't know if that's Naptha (before my time with lighters and they don't make it anymore) or something else (almost reminded me of blue cheese):
Another Ronson "Crown" Lighter I picked up as part of a Lot. It needed a new wick and packing. The packing smelled bad. I don't know if that's Naptha (before my time with lighters and they don't make it anymore) or something else (almost reminded me of blue cheese):
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