American Made Pride In A Zippo Lighter

While the attitudes that Americans have had about the common lighter has altered over the years, the Zippo lighter remains a valued part. For some the cigarette lighter has reached a point of whatever is cheapest is okay, but for the rest of the world those disposable lighters will never replace the zippo.Once a statement of style as well as function the Zippo lighter is as much a part of our iconic past as apple pie. It was first manufactured here in the U.S. as a personal lighter by George Blaisdell in 1932.

Mr. Blaisdell, a true entrepreneur in his heart, sat watching a friend try desperately to light a lighter from an Austrian manufacturer. But while the lighter was not performing as planned, Mr. Blaisdell made notice of how the wind effected the flame. At that Bradford Country Club in the early 1930’s, George Blaisdell came to the conclusion he could improve on the lighter design himself.


That was when the original Zippo lighter was born in the mind of a real inventor, who had the intentions of creating an easier to use design. Some time was spent creating the perfect design, then in 1933 the very first Zippo lighter was produced. At the time the price of $1.95 was a very expensive price for a cigarette lighter, especially during the period of the Depression. A large amount of nearly 25,000 cigarette lighters were produced the very first year, coming with the very same lifetime guarantee that is still in effect today.





Nearly immediately the lighters gained a quality reputation as one of the most premier lighter manufacturers. But the greatest gain in popular status was during the years of wars, during WWII especially. The Zippo company was the major supplier of lighters to soldiers by the millions. As of today the very first Zippo lighter that was created by George Blaisdel, now has sold more than 500 million units.

A very basic style was created in the 1930’s with a plain finish, naphtha soaked wick, cap with a flip up design, and flint wheel ignition. While that first design has not really changed, different designs can now be found on the outside of the lighter. But the internal workings of the original Zippo remains simple, holding onto the credibility it has always carried.


Still after all those years Zippo is a proud USA product continued to be manufactured in the founder’s original home of Bradford, Pennsylvania.The United States can stand proud as being the home of one of the very last of the original products ever manufactured solely in America, from the day it was first created. Zippo chose to stay where it was founded and not remove the production facilities to a cheaper, outsourced foreign country. Zippo lighters, born American and remains a source of pride to all owners of the quality lighter. When you think of needing a lighter, if you don’t own a Zippo go and buy a quality American made product.