Old Lighter,vintage Zippo,old Zippo
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| Zippos have many benefits over cheaper plastic lighters. Because of the rate of fuel delivery, and the fact that it has a built in wind screen, the Zippo lighter is much more wind resistant than regular plastic lighters. The increased rate of fuel delivery also allows an object to be lit much quicker than standard lighters. Since Zippos are refillable they are cheaper over time than plastic lighters, and since they are not constantly disposed of, Zippos are better for the environment.
Over the past 77 years since their inception, the Zippos Manufacturing Company has developed thousands of different models of Zippos. Zippos have been featured in many movies, television shows, and other forms of advertisement. Because of the amount of Zippo models and styles that have been produced and the product’s popularity and history, collecting Zippos has become a very popular hobby. |
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| Like most collectibles, one of the largest drivers of a Zippo’s value is the age of the lighter and the lighter’s rarity. Beginning in the mid 1950s, the Zippo manufacturing company began stamping the bottom of their lighter with a series of bullets that can be used to signify the year of its creation. For Zippos manufactured prior to that, the Zippo’s age can be identified by its style, model, and patent pending marks. The most expensive Zippo ever sold was a near mint and functional 1933 Zippo, which in 2007 reportedly sold for $37,000.
One of the most sought after Zippos is the Town and Country model. The Town and Country Zippos were developed from 1949 to 1969 and contained an engraved or painted image on the face of the Zippo. The Town and Country model Zippos first had images of animals and fish, although other images were eventually included. The last Town and Country Zippo contained a picture of the moon landing, which took place in 1969. |
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| Another popular and historical line of Zippos are the Metallique Zippos. These Zippos are made of hand crafted and chrome plated brass. These Zippos were originally sold in the 1930s and 1940s. Like the Town and County model, the Metallique’s contained popular images including Kendall Oil and the 1939 World’s Fair. In 1999, the Metallique Zippo was reintroduced as a part of the 65th Anniversary Celebration.
The most complete collection of Zippo lighters is though to be the Zippo Case Visitors Center located in Bradford, PA. The 15,000 square foot museum is the most visited museum in Northern Pennsylvania and contains a retail store which holds the most complete collection of Zippo products in the world, many of which can be purchased to fill up a collection. The Zippo Case Visitors center opened in 1993 and has attracted over a million visitors. |
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