Ronson Golden De-Light
by Larry Tolkin
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Shown is an extremely rare late 1920’s Ronson modernistic table De-Light lighter. The gold lighter features a zig-zag skyscraper Art Deco double border inlay blue enamel design.
The mechanism has an unusual fluted thumb press not seen on other Ronson De-Light models.
This rare model was a New York special order made by Ronson Art Metal Works and enameled in France as it bears a BL “briquet lux” hallmark.
The base consists of 2 levels of either Catalin* or other hand cut material.
The best part of collecting vintage lighters is discovering and learning about unknown models. In certain ways - it is like discovering gold.
* Catalin is a brand name for a thermosetting polymer popular in the 1930s. Catalin is a cast phenolic which can be worked with files, grinders and cutters and polishes to a fine sheen. Catalin can be transparent to near colorless, and is heavy and quite greasy in feel and as hard as brass.
Photos by Larry Tolkin
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Larry Tolkin's article has also appeared in Issue 121 May, 2011 of BLAZE - the quarterly newsletter of The Lighter Club of Great Britain - http://www.lighterclub.co.uk/
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