Zippo – A Bradford Success Story

In the early 1930s, Zippo was founded in Bradford, Pennsylvania, USA, by George G. Blaisdell. Zippo lighters are still manufactured and repaired there today. It all began with the idea of improving lighters. Blaisdell initially developed a lighter from Austria that his friend found difficult to use. It required two hands to operate and broke easily. Some elements, such as the chimney, which allowed the lighter to function well even in windy conditions, were retained. The result was so successful that it is still manufactured by Zippo today in virtually unchanged form: a small rectangular case with a lid that opens via a side hinge.

Due to World War II, production for civilian consumers had to be halted, and Zippo lighters were manufactured exclusively for the US military. Millions of American service members carried the lighter in combat, significantly boosting Zippo's brand recognition. Normal production resumed in 1945.

Over time, numerous innovations and designs were introduced, such as the handy Slim version, multi-purpose lighters, hand warmers, camping equipment, and much more. The brand remains well-known today through film, television, theater, and music. The "click" of the opening lid is world-famous. Zippo lighters come with a special lifetime guarantee, although in Germany, for legal reasons, it is "only" 30 years. Zippo's motto is "If it works, or we'll fix it for free.™"

We often get asked whether lighter fluid affects the taste of tobacco. We can definitively say no. While modern lighter fluid is called lighter fluid, it is quite different from motor fuels or raw materials. After a brief initial phase when lighting the lighter, the smell of lighter fluid dissipates very quickly and has no effect on the taste of the tobacco. 

The Zippo pipe insert fits the models we offer. This allows you to transform a regular Zippo lighter into a pipe lighter. Instead of the small holes, there is one large hole on the sides of the chimney. This allows the flame to be used comfortably to light the tobacco in the pipe without damaging the wood.