| It's the king of lighters. No one can deny the allure of | | | | single, graceful motion. |
| Zippo lighters. The distinctive design is instantly | | | | A name was needed for the lighters. Blaisdell called his |
| recognizable, even as the lighters sport individual and | | | | lighter a ‘Zippo.' If it sounds suspiciously similar to |
| even customized finishes and cases. But where did | | | | the word ‘zipper,' there's a reason. The zipper |
| Zippo lighters begin? | | | | was a relatively new invention at the time, and |
| In 1932, George G. Blaisdell founded the Zippo | | | | undeniably cool. |
| company by manufacturing the famous lighters. He | | | | Today there are collectors' clubs all over the world. |
| bought the rights to an Austrian lighter, which | | | | People meet to share their love of Zippo lighters and |
| happened to be windproof. Blaisdell didn't just want | | | | show off their collections. Rare lighters, as well as |
| to make windproof lighters; he wanted his lighters to | | | | Zippo lighters customized for celebrities, are routinely |
| look good as well. And today, Zippo lighters are | | | | auctioned off on the Internet. They are popular even |
| renowned for their looks. | | | | with people who don't smoke. Zippo lighters are so |
| In order to manufacture good looking lighters, the | | | | cool that they are a fashion statement. |
| Austrian design needed to be modified. Blaisdell gave | | | | From humble beginnings in Bradford, PA, Zippo lighters |
| the Zippo its shape, as well as the flip-top cover. | | | | have grown into the world's premier and preferred |
| Lovers and collectors of Zippo lighters have | | | | lighter. Millions of people own at least one, and |
| perfected the art of opening the Zippo with a snazzy | | | | thousands of people collect them. Just owning a |
| flick of the wrist. Some of them even can even light | | | | Zippo lighter feels good. Windproof and classy. You |
| a Zippo while opening it, reducing the process to a | | | | can't beat that. |