Anyone own a Zippo?
Or think they do? I used to live in Bradford, PA. Zippo was one of the largest employers in that small town, back in the 60s. They just laid off 129 employees due to Chinese counterfeit's. Another American icon falters. Story attached.
http://www.thestar.com/Life/article/199115
http://www.thestar.com/Life/article/199115
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It's been going on a long time. My Zippo counterfeit has a British Commonwealth shield on it. It was bought at a NAAFI House in Korea 54 years ago.
You can't blame counterfeits altogether. Most everyone smoked then.
They worked in the wind0 -
I bought a Zippo Harley Lighter back a year ago. Never have got it to work right, its a piece of junk and now I wonder if its a cheap copy. How do you tell??
I bought it at a smoke shop and thought I would be rock solid like the Zippos of old. Not any more I guess.
I changed the flint, I changed the wick. Still a piece of crap.0 -
sig: that sounds like a knock off. i bought a bunch on ebay a while back, i am sure you could find some here, on gunbroker also, and i just checked and there's a bunch here. 0 -
mine are all old 0 -
1948 model here- 0 -
Have had a Zippo that worked like crap....
Have had a few el-cheapos that worked wonders.
The Zippo also leaked fuel.. seemed like it couldnt hold it's fluid no matter how little I put in it.
It gave me a rather nasty rash too.
The el-cheapos still worked wonders.0 -
Don't know about counterfeits, but I have some Zippos. I bought one in each of my USAF assignments during my 21 years in the AF. I have them now with all the unit shields on them along with the dates. Don't guess they're worth much, but they are history to me. I have maybe ten or twelve or so. 0 -
I am a Zippo![:D] 0 -
Have 2 Zippo butane lighters that I bought in the mid to late 80s... the work great, not wind proof, but they don't stink and they are like a regular lighter. Built like mini brick outhouses 0 -
Way to go Hobbyguy..Your head is in the right place.. 0 -
Dad and both my Granddads always carried Zippo's because they were American Made and guaranteed for life. You could send an old worn out unit back to the plant and they would come back like new, for a couple bucks. That was long before disposables. I still have one with my Dad's initials he got at the PX in Subic Bay. It's priceless.[^] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by oldgunner
Don't know about counterfeits, but I have some Zippos. I bought one in each of my USAF assignments during my 21 years in the AF. I have them now with all the unit shields on them along with the dates. Don't guess they're worth much, but they are history to me. I have maybe ten or twelve or so.
I can't say what they are worth, but I was amazed at what people will pay for them. Summer before last I came across a box of old unit lighters in the basement. I took them to the flea market and they sold pretty quick. There are Zippo collectors who will buy any Zippo they don't already have, and there are people who will buy anything with a military unit identification on it. They are probably worth more to you than you could sell them for, but they do have value other than sentimental.
quote:Originally posted by jbc23060
Dad and both my Granddads always carried Zippo's because they were American Made and guaranteed for life. You could send an old worn out unit back to the plant and they would come back like new, for a couple bucks. That was long before disposables. I still have one with my Dad's initials he got at the PX in Subic Bay. It's priceless.[^]
The only thing it costs is the postage to send it back. They just pull the innards out of the case and stick a new one in it and return the "fixed" one and the innards they removed. I don't know, but I expect if you called them they would let you just send them the case. I think I have returned two in one lifetime. Not a bad deal.
This is the one I use every day. I think I got it from R. J. Reynolds. I've only worn it out once.0 -
If it's a Zippo you can still send it back and they will fix it free. If it's not working from the git-go it's probably not genuine. Markings on the bottom tell you everything, slashes give year made, etc. New Zippos now have a flame stamped over the "i". Next time you get in a book store browse thru the books on collecting and you will find one on Zippos. You will be surprised to find that you probably have one worth $150-200 if it has any age at all.Especially military marked ones and logos. Funny, I was in Borders tonight and picked one up and thumbed thru it a few minutes, started to buy it but didn't. Have a few Z's myself. Everything is collectible these days.I just like'em cause they are made here and they damn well work. 0 -
I have a 53 vintage around here somewhere from when I used to smoke[;)][8D] The hinge broke about 10 years ago, so I sent it back to zippo to repair, they swapped the brass innards for new aluminum innards[V]
Don0 -
When I sent them a brass one they replace the brass innards with new brass innards and return the old one with the new one. You must have caught them on a bad day. 0 -
I have one around here somewhere. Kinda wish I could find it again. 0 -
I'd have to think that the massive anti-smoking movements of the last 25 years, combined with the inexpensive disposable lighter, is what actually spelled doom for the Zippo. That plus the associated cost of flints, lighter fluid, the smell, etc. Disposables are a "no brainer".
Back when I was much younger and an avid smoker, I had several Zippos and there were indestructible unless and until the little tack weld on the hinge broke leaving one with two pieces.0 -
quote:Originally posted by JamesRK
When I sent them a brass one they replace the brass innards with new brass innards and return the old one with the new one. You must have caught them on a bad day.
Maybe, I quit smoking a couple years after getting it back, it lives in a box in the basement now.
On another note, when I was in the service, we would use mogas in our zippos when we were out of fluid[:0][xx(] kinda made your smoke taste funny, but you got a good flame no matter what the wind was like[:D]
Don0 -
dongizmo, at the risk of being accused of hijacking jbc23060's thread, I have to ask you something.
It's my understanding the young thieves who got into my car last Friday most likely did it with a tennis ball. I notice Barney has two of them. Where was Barney last Friday night?0 -
quote:Originally posted by JamesRK
dongizmo, at the risk of being accused of hijacking jbc23060's thread, I have to ask you something.
It's my understanding the young thieves who got into my car last Friday most likely did it with a tennis ball. I notice Barney has two of them. Where was Barney last Friday night?
James,
I don't know, those are the only balls Barney has left, he keeps them hid pretty good.[:0][:D]
Don0 -
I suspected as much. [:D] 0 -
I have my Grandfather's from the 60's... 0 -
quote:Originally posted by William81
I have my Grandfather's from the 60's...
HIS BALLS!!??0 -
I have one that was my grandpa's before he died. It's very old but not sure how old. The hinge broke about a year ago and I just haven't sent it in yet. I guess I'm just lazy like that. I do want to get a plain one though. 0 -
I have several.
Some old,some NIB
I don't even remember where I got the one I'm carryin' now.
ZIPPO
Don't leave home without it.
[:D][:D]
BW0 -
I used to carry one most of the time, but always found that when I needed them the fluid would have evaporated. I don't smoke and only carried it for emergencies. Such as falling overboard hauling traps and making it to shore. Also didn't know how well it would work after being underwater.
Now I carry a Brunton weatherproof lighter that uses Butane and does not evaporate and can be underwater and still work.0 -
quote:Originally posted by HobbyGuy
I have the Zippo that my father carried in Korea during the war. The enamel is mostly worn off, but it references the Fighting Manchu's. My father was an Army Captain, received the Bronze Star with three oak leaf clusters and played a key role in the taking of Porkchop Hill. [^] He's my favorite hero. [;)]
Jessica Lynch got a bronze star too!! Wonder if SHE carried a zippo[:D][:D]
(no offense meant to you or your dad hobbyguy)0 -
My Grandfather gave me a Zippo he carried in WW2. It was engraved all fancy. I sent it into Zippo to be repaired and never got it back.
It wouldn't bother me one bit to see them go out of business.0 -
I have and use a Zippo daily. Mine is a "C" grade /02 and works flawlessly. Stampted Bradford P.A. Now that I think of it, thats the home town of the infamous Cyclonus! 0 -
Zippos do leak if you overfill them. I had one that lit after being in the pocket of my cutoffs while swimming for a half hour. When they do leak, the naptha burns the crap out of your leg. Quit Zippo long before I quit smoking. 0
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