Lighters - Zippo Lighters

Makers of the most reliable lighter on Earth, Zippo was founded in Bradford, Pennsylvania in 1932 when George G. Blaisdell decided to create a lighter that would look good and be easy to use. Blaisdell obtained the rights for an Austrian windproof lighter with a removable top, and re-designed it to his own requirements. He made the case rectangular and attached the lid to the bottom with a welded hinge, and surrounded the wick with a windhood. He liked the sound of the name of another new product, the zipper. Blaisdell called his new lighter "Zippo", and backed it with a Lifetime Guarantee. George G. Blaisdell was nicknamed "Mr. Zippo" by famous WWII correspondent Ernie Pyle. Zippo Manufacturing Company is still owned by second and third generation members of the Blaisdell Family.