Maltese Falcon Ronson Touch Tip Lighter

[Lightning]

So, the Calendar. Doesn't feature particularly prominently, always blurry, but it peaked my interest. Not enough resolution on the DVD to do anything but make me think "Grand Canyon".
then I found this picture today:

best image I'd seen of the Calendar
blown up:

Still says Grand Canyon to me

Also that clearly says TWA, and the layout of the dates can only be November 1940

So I looked up Grand Canyon on the New York Public Library website and found this image:

This is Bissell's Point near the Hotel El Tovar. I'd suspected Bissel's point, from other images before I found this, but the shadows match here, acting as confirmation.

here it is on Google maps:

With November 1940 and TWA I was able to track down a picture of this calendar:

clearly the correct date panel.

That's what I have so far. I haven't been able to locate a copy of the actual picture, or a matching TWA calendar. It's possible they put another picture over an airplane photo, as it's not the only landcape picture in the office. But I do have enough info to replicate it if I really wanted to.

 

[VonMagnum]

So you want an office recreation locked in 1941 or whatever year the movie was supposed to take place in? Sam Spade never gets any older?

Shouldn't he have an iPad or Notebook computer by now???

I think I have a similar picture of the Grand Canyon in my own photo collection (I've been there three different times in the past 13 years).

 

[VonMagnum]

A BROKEN black Ronson Touch Tip lighter without any clock just went for $112 on eBay (sold as-is to fix or for parts). $112 + shipping for a broken beat up one. I was thinking it might just need a new flint by the description ($15-20 for a whole pack of them), but it could be more than that. Still, that model only goes for $200-250 in good working order so that's a chance on not knowing exactly what's wrong with it. I'd assume a place that already stocks the repair parts (like Ronson Repairs online) would have no trouble fixing it and turning it around for minimal dollars and reselling for $200-250, though. It doesn't bode well, IMO for getting anything remotely resembling a deal on a clock model. The cheapest I saw anyone get one for online was $550 or so and that wasn't on eBay where everyone and there brother is looking. It sounds like $800+ is far more typical. I guess it shows they're in demand if you need to turn around and sell it for the cash or something.

25 people watching one that resembles the Mary Astor apartment model right now on eBay and expires tomorrow. I bet it goes for $250+ despite the fact it doesn't say it works (just says "nice" ; yeah that's a GREAT description and typical of a lot of eBay stuff).

Ronson Repairs has one that looks exactly like the one featured in Mr. Wong in Chinatown (1939). $600 though.... Given I never heard of that movie I'm not paying that much for it. But at least it's a visual replica of the one in a movie of some kind.

 

[JamesM242]

Lightning - thank you for the stapler info - I am officially on the case! And nice work on the calendar research!

VonMagnum - sounds like you have a fantastic Bogart film collection. I keep track of the Bogart films I have seen (and still have most of his early movies to still watch), but only have his classics on my shelves.

 

[VonMagnum]

I just found out there was one of these Bogart Falcon style 1936 Touch Tips for auction three weeks ago on eBay. It sold for $190!!! WTF!?! (It wasn't working, but probably needed minor attention; the clock worked and in any case it would have made a nice proper either way for my display).

I just couldn't have started looking a couple of weeks sooner.... (sigh)

 

[VonMagnum]

I found one in England for sale... 1000 pounds and not working. I want one, but that's ridiculous. Even with the pound at its lowest exchange in ages (if not ever), that's like $1260 US for a non-working one similar to that one that went for $190 three weeks ago on eBay.

 

[VonMagnum]

I just watched The Maltese Falcon 1931 version... Has anyone ever made a prop replica of that version of the Falcon?

 

[VonMagnum]

I know what Touch Tip Mary Astor is using in her apartment. It's an Art Deco cigarette box model as you can see in this snapshot. I haven't been able to find a single photo of that exact model online, though. It has the zig-zag design on the box part of the double cigarette box (in creme color), but without the center handle and a box on only one side. I've found a one-sided box version, but it does not have a zig-zag. There's probably little hope in locating one of these if they're so rare there isn't even a photo online of the same model.

Notice the box design. It's similar to this one:

But that one has handles in the center, which also interrupts the zig-zag pattern with a square in the center and hers clearly does not have one and is one-sided only. This next one is one-sided and a similar color, but it has a handle and no zig-zag.

Ronson apparently made over 200 variations of Touch Tip lighters so there could very well be one like that with a different box top.

 

[VonMagnum]

Getting closer.... (still has the square in the center; hers appears to be a narrower box without the square, just the single zig-zag line. I suppose it could be a separate cigarette box and touch tip lighter sitting next to each other on a tray and not all-in-one like this one.

 

[JamesM242]

VonMagnum - WOW! Nice work! You are tenacious, sir!

 

[VonMagnum]

A Maltese Falcon Touch Tip just appeared on eBay. 6 days to go and the bidding starts at 245 British Pounds (~$296), 0 bids. It's a rusted POS, unfortunately. Have at it. The starting price is higher than the selling price of the one from early July and it was in MUCH better shape, IMO from the photos. I want one, but I don't want a rusted POS for a ridiculous price. You can tell they know it's from the Maltese Falcon because they include the snapshot from the movie. Yeah, that makes a rusted one worth almost $300 to start.... He says he thinks those are nicotine stains, not rust/corrosion.

Oh and it doesn't have a wand at all (but you can go buy one for even more money!) The clock "works" (barely...sorta...well it doesn't keep anything close to accurate time, but hey, it ticks). Definitely a $1000+ model! Not. I wouldn't be shocked if it doesn't even sell. Oh and it's from Britain so US buyers get ready for a 40 pound ($48+) shipping price tacked on as well.

That 1000 pound version on Gumtree isn't looking so bad, after all...ok it's in better shape (very little rust, but cracked paint just the same and that price is out of line too for anything short of perfection, IMO.

 

[VonMagnum]

Has anyone ever made the 1931 Falcon? I think it'd be an interesting addition as it looked more like the novel cover.

 

[Captain Dunsel]

Has anyone ever made the 1931 Falcon? I think it'd be an interesting addition as it looked more like the novel cover.

View attachment 1045392

Pretty scrawny looking Falcon.

It looks like an organic, free range Falcon vs. the Bogart Falcon, which is clearly pumped up with steroids and preservatives, by comparison.

 

[JamesM242]

VonMagnum - What about the lighter on Gutman's coffee table? Have you looked into finding that?

 

[BrianM]

fun thread

 

[VonMagnum]

VonMagnum - What about the lighter on Gutman's coffee table? Have you looked into finding that?

No, I haven't. It's clearly a table top lighter, probably also a Ronson and probably much easier to locate and cheaper to buy (most of them seem to go for less than $100, many for less than $50). They're not as interesting to me (the Touch Tip's area almost like a magic trick by comparison), but you're right, it would make a nice addition. Here's two cropped photos from the movie:

I saw a plaster Maltese Falcon for sale for a pretty low price today as well, but it doesn't match the movie one (it's the full feathered version) so I don't know what I'd do with it other than maybe put it in my China Closet or something (pretty delicate compared to the resin ones).

 

[VonMagnum]

And another view.....

 

[VonMagnum]

VonMagnum has located the 7th symbol.....

Sadly, it's even rarer than the Touch Tip with the watch....

 

[VonMagnum]

Gutman lighter....

It appears to be a cover for a "round" lighter that is underneath. There's one for sale on eBay right now for $200 with the cigarette case, but it doesn't have the cover (just the round lighter underneath and the box and the chrome is in poor condition. Here's a picture of it close-up with the cover on:

 

[VonMagnum]

In Green....