Lighters to collect that were used in movies
- Thread starter VonMagnum
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VonMagnum
Sr Member
It's a 1937 replica Zippo case with a modern insert and hinge, from what I've read elsewhere. It appears to be brushed aluminum, possibly polished up a bit. One site claims this is the same model:
VonMagnum
Sr Member
Ronson Savoy Lighter (1953-1954)
This lighter is similar in appearance to the Ronson Decanter table lighter that was originally made in the 1936 except it has a different floral pattern and vertical grooves added. It was also heavy plated in 24K Gold. It was Ronson's most expensive mass produced lighter at the time ($19.50 according to a flyer), but is still much harder to find by comparison to the Decanter, particularly in great condition and rated "Rare" overall. It's supposedly worth $250-350 today in excellent condition, although at least one antique appraiser rated it higher still.
To that end this is the only Savoy I've seen for sale in over a year. I paid a bit less than above, but it wasn't in perfect condition, despite seemingly having not been used. I believe it was probably dropped as there's a tiny dent on each side at the bottom. It did have a nasty stuck flint at the top of the mechanism that I had to disassemble to remove, but it turns out it wasn't that hard to reassemble despite the different looking mechanism. Otherwise, the wick looked new and an inspector tag was still across the screw for the flint spring (although that could have been from a pair of Hanes underwear for all I know). In any case, it's fully functional now.
Right Facing
Left Facing
Lit
This lighter is similar in appearance to the Ronson Decanter table lighter that was originally made in the 1936 except it has a different floral pattern and vertical grooves added. It was also heavy plated in 24K Gold. It was Ronson's most expensive mass produced lighter at the time ($19.50 according to a flyer), but is still much harder to find by comparison to the Decanter, particularly in great condition and rated "Rare" overall. It's supposedly worth $250-350 today in excellent condition, although at least one antique appraiser rated it higher still.
To that end this is the only Savoy I've seen for sale in over a year. I paid a bit less than above, but it wasn't in perfect condition, despite seemingly having not been used. I believe it was probably dropped as there's a tiny dent on each side at the bottom. It did have a nasty stuck flint at the top of the mechanism that I had to disassemble to remove, but it turns out it wasn't that hard to reassemble despite the different looking mechanism. Otherwise, the wick looked new and an inspector tag was still across the screw for the flint spring (although that could have been from a pair of Hanes underwear for all I know). In any case, it's fully functional now.
Right Facing
Left Facing
Lit
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VonMagnum
Sr Member
Ronson Mastercase Lighter (1933-1953)
I bought this one to use in that Ronson display case shown previously as the one shown there was in my Bullets or Ballots display (as having the same design, even though it wasn't the exact one from the film, although one of the other two was, namely the Twentycase lighter).
I bought this one to use in that Ronson display case shown previously as the one shown there was in my Bullets or Ballots display (as having the same design, even though it wasn't the exact one from the film, although one of the other two was, namely the Twentycase lighter).
VonMagnum
Sr Member
I finally managed to get my IMCO 2200 lighter (1932) working, which is the predecessor to the 4600 that would have been available in small quantity in 1936 (Marion in Raiders of the Lost Ark) and that was, of course the predecessor to the 6700 that was probably the actual prop used that is still made today. The fulcrum seemed to be missing its rivet on one side and kept falling out. I got it working by drilling out the openings for the fulcrum screw with some round diamond and carbon steel files until a slightly larger Ronson fulcrum fit through that takes a screw on the other side to hold it together instead of a rivet. It actually now works fine and is easier to take apart, if needed.
After using FLITZ Polish....
Edit: Forgot part that helps to pull the top up (it was only popping up every 3rd time or so showing sparks shooting against the snuffer when it didn't move out of the way, although I swear it sparked better with it off....
Edit:
Oops. I turns out I had the spark wheel in backwards when I reassembled it with the little handle part. Unlike Ronson spark wheels that can only insert one way correctly to work with the clutch, this one has nothing to stop it from being inserted so it's not really grinding the flint. Now it lights every time with no real effort....
I also had the spring loaded wires inward instead of outward (as last photo shows compared to previous). I don't know what difference that makes, but I corrected that too while I was at it.
After using FLITZ Polish....
Edit: Forgot part that helps to pull the top up (it was only popping up every 3rd time or so showing sparks shooting against the snuffer when it didn't move out of the way, although I swear it sparked better with it off....
Edit:
Oops. I turns out I had the spark wheel in backwards when I reassembled it with the little handle part. Unlike Ronson spark wheels that can only insert one way correctly to work with the clutch, this one has nothing to stop it from being inserted so it's not really grinding the flint. Now it lights every time with no real effort....
I also had the spring loaded wires inward instead of outward (as last photo shows compared to previous). I don't know what difference that makes, but I corrected that too while I was at it.
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VonMagnum
Sr Member
Ronson Penciliter (1940s/50s) (Mechanical Pencil + Lighter) in Gold filled version.
Sadly, it had the spring detached and I broke the metal bit that holds in attempting to fix it. I had it working, but then the lighter wouldn't spark when I put it back together (clutch rotated out of position slightly) and by the time I fixed that, the metal part just wore out having to bend it slightly to attach the spring again.... (sigh). You just have to push up to shut it instead of a spring doing it for you (at least until I can find a spare part, but that's unlikely to happen). I wanted the gold one for display in that Ronson display box anyway....
Sadly, it had the spring detached and I broke the metal bit that holds in attempting to fix it. I had it working, but then the lighter wouldn't spark when I put it back together (clutch rotated out of position slightly) and by the time I fixed that, the metal part just wore out having to bend it slightly to attach the spring again.... (sigh). You just have to push up to shut it instead of a spring doing it for you (at least until I can find a spare part, but that's unlikely to happen). I wanted the gold one for display in that Ronson display box anyway....
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VonMagnum
Sr Member
Ronson Lighterpact (1936) (Compact with Mirror and powder plus a De-Light Lighter in one pocket lighter case, this one in Art Deco green, silver and turtle. It does have a monogram on it. AES could be Audio Engineering Society, though. ). This one is missing its screw on the far side of the fulcrum (clearly broke off as part of it is still stuck in the fulcrum. I have several spare fulcrums and screws, but none this size for the "De-Light". Fortunately, until I do, the fulcrum fits quite tight and so the lighter still works without coming apart. I had to remove a stuck flint in a curved surface, so it had to come apart as well to remove it. It is working now, however.
). This one is missing its screw on the far side of the fulcrum (clearly broke off as part of it is still stuck in the fulcrum. I have several spare fulcrums and screws, but none this size for the "De-Light". Fortunately, until I do, the fulcrum fits quite tight and so the lighter still works without coming apart. I had to remove a stuck flint in a curved surface, so it had to come apart as well to remove it. It is working now, however.
VonMagnum
Sr Member
Ronson Fantasy Lighter (1951)
This lighter appeared in 1951 with the Essex wick/petrol lighter fitment and made through most of the '50s and then appeared again around 1960 in a butane fitment version.
This one had a lovely broken stem on the button depressed to light it under the larger extension button.... I didn't have the same size in spare parts, so I had to improvise a solution for now. I bought a 2nd body for $10 that was in slightly better condition (no mark on gold part on back), but when I tried to lightly polish the gold to clean it, well, it the cheap/thin stuff half wiped off. I used lighter fluid to clean the other one with the mark (shown here). Lovely fun issues....
Edit: I've since purchased yet another one (as of March 9th, 2023 it has arrived) (this one missing the larger handle) and used its button to make this one fully functional and normal feeling once again....
This lighter appeared in 1951 with the Essex wick/petrol lighter fitment and made through most of the '50s and then appeared again around 1960 in a butane fitment version.
This one had a lovely broken stem on the button depressed to light it under the larger extension button.... I didn't have the same size in spare parts, so I had to improvise a solution for now. I bought a 2nd body for $10 that was in slightly better condition (no mark on gold part on back), but when I tried to lightly polish the gold to clean it, well, it the cheap/thin stuff half wiped off. I used lighter fluid to clean the other one with the mark (shown here). Lovely fun issues....
Edit: I've since purchased yet another one (as of March 9th, 2023 it has arrived) (this one missing the larger handle) and used its button to make this one fully functional and normal feeling once again....
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VonMagnum
Sr Member
Ronson Black Marble and Gold Nordic Set (1955)
Like the New-In-Box lighter shown previously in the thread, except this one was a set that included a matching cup to put cigarettes or cigars in to offer your guests alongside the matching lighter.
Oddly, this one was advertised as working, but when I would light it, the flame would start to go out a few seconds later, even if I filled up the lighter first. I suspected the wick was inserted from the top without removing the cotton and therefore wasn't soaking up the fluid fast enough. To my surprise, instead of cotton in the bottom, I found string. Yes, string. Well, that made it easy to remove as it just kept coming out as one piece until it was gone. I removed the wick and and put in a larger diameter one and packed it with COTTON (like it should have) and it works great now. I tried polishing the marble, but apparently Flitz doesn't do marble all that well (not terrible, but not super shiny). I think I need some car wax or something instead....
Like the New-In-Box lighter shown previously in the thread, except this one was a set that included a matching cup to put cigarettes or cigars in to offer your guests alongside the matching lighter.
Oddly, this one was advertised as working, but when I would light it, the flame would start to go out a few seconds later, even if I filled up the lighter first. I suspected the wick was inserted from the top without removing the cotton and therefore wasn't soaking up the fluid fast enough. To my surprise, instead of cotton in the bottom, I found string. Yes, string. Well, that made it easy to remove as it just kept coming out as one piece until it was gone. I removed the wick and and put in a larger diameter one and packed it with COTTON (like it should have) and it works great now. I tried polishing the marble, but apparently Flitz doesn't do marble all that well (not terrible, but not super shiny). I think I need some car wax or something instead....
VonMagnum
Sr Member
Ronson Senator Lighter (Wood Veneer Version) (1950)
I finally got the fuel cap off this one by drilling through it until it broke that horrible rubber seal. That ruined the cap and I messed the threads up a bit too, but I found a replacement cap that fits and it's now working.
I tried some Turtlewax ICE car polish on this one and the Nordic marble lighter above (only on the marble there and wood veneer here). Both seem much shinier now.
I also got my other (original one I bought) IMCO Dandy lighter working by taking the damn thing apart completely and cleaning it and reassembling (not a rivet after all, just a single fulcrum screw). That also allowed me to free the stuck flint I inadvertently got stuck in the tube. It's now working about as well as my other one, which is to say you have to spin it pretty hard to get a strong spark since the lid comes up at the same time and takes some of the wind out of the spin. But it's working, in any case.
I finally got the fuel cap off this one by drilling through it until it broke that horrible rubber seal. That ruined the cap and I messed the threads up a bit too, but I found a replacement cap that fits and it's now working.
I tried some Turtlewax ICE car polish on this one and the Nordic marble lighter above (only on the marble there and wood veneer here). Both seem much shinier now.
I also got my other (original one I bought) IMCO Dandy lighter working by taking the damn thing apart completely and cleaning it and reassembling (not a rivet after all, just a single fulcrum screw). That also allowed me to free the stuck flint I inadvertently got stuck in the tube. It's now working about as well as my other one, which is to say you have to spin it pretty hard to get a strong spark since the lid comes up at the same time and takes some of the wind out of the spin. But it's working, in any case.
VonMagnum
Sr Member
Ronson Viola Table Lighter (1948-?)(1953?)
I'm not sure if all of these were butane or not since sites online say 1948 was the first year for it and I'm pretty sure butane lighters didn't exist in 1948 and the ones I've seen for sale list 1953 for the year and as an early butane lighter. In fact, I thought it was going to be a wick lighter based on the appearance at first. I suspect the year was wrong and it's a 1953 model. This particular one is certainly a butane model or at least it has a butane insert in it and surprisingly it doesn't leak (so far). I polished up the insert an bottom (I thought the bottom was brass based on its color, but it was all tarnish and polished up into a nice silver reflective shine with some Flitz metal polish. I cleaned the chrome top as well with it, which according to an add is a rhodium plated fitment, not chrome and the bottom is listed as silver, which would explain why the fitment wasn't tarnished and the bottom was).
I'm not sure if all of these were butane or not since sites online say 1948 was the first year for it and I'm pretty sure butane lighters didn't exist in 1948 and the ones I've seen for sale list 1953 for the year and as an early butane lighter. In fact, I thought it was going to be a wick lighter based on the appearance at first. I suspect the year was wrong and it's a 1953 model. This particular one is certainly a butane model or at least it has a butane insert in it and surprisingly it doesn't leak (so far). I polished up the insert an bottom (I thought the bottom was brass based on its color, but it was all tarnish and polished up into a nice silver reflective shine with some Flitz metal polish. I cleaned the chrome top as well with it, which according to an add is a rhodium plated fitment, not chrome and the bottom is listed as silver, which would explain why the fitment wasn't tarnished and the bottom was).
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VonMagnum
Sr Member
The Ronson Regent Jr (Rhodium Plated)(1934)
Similar looking to the Rondette lighter and even more so to its smaller version, the Rondette Junior (both having a straight snuffer whereas the Rondette has a slight curve at the fulcrum), this one is yet even smaller than either one (just look at it lit in my hand to get an idea). This particular one was plated in the ultra-expensive metal known as Rhodium from the platinum elemental group, known for resisting oxidation and tarnish to the extreme. This one is in excellent condition. It's a bit hard for me to light one-handed, though because it's so darn small compared to most pocket lighters. The lighter is an insert into the round case and this one was tight as all hell to remove.
Similar looking to the Rondette lighter and even more so to its smaller version, the Rondette Junior (both having a straight snuffer whereas the Rondette has a slight curve at the fulcrum), this one is yet even smaller than either one (just look at it lit in my hand to get an idea). This particular one was plated in the ultra-expensive metal known as Rhodium from the platinum elemental group, known for resisting oxidation and tarnish to the extreme. This one is in excellent condition. It's a bit hard for me to light one-handed, though because it's so darn small compared to most pocket lighters. The lighter is an insert into the round case and this one was tight as all hell to remove.
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