Vintage Cigarette Lighters

Ronson Lighters

Ronson

Ronson Vanguard Lighter - 1948

Ronson invented the multi-refillable gas lighter and this is one of the first. The first gas lighter was the Quercia Flaminaire. Ronson also invented the "gas can" to refill gas lighters. These lighters used a one-time refill can that was discarded when it had refilled the tank in the lighter.

Refilling A Ronson Vanguard Tank:
I am not recommending this; I am just relating a personal experience. I had an adapter valve lying around, so I screwed it into the bottom of the tank where the refill capsule would hook up for a "regular" refill. I plugged in a can of butane and there was a fair amount of "spillage" - but most of the gas went in the tank and the lighter worked fine - fired right up. So, these old lighters aren't necessarily dead just because you can't buy the intended fuel canisters for them. Obviously, I followed safe procedures during the refueling and attempted to determine if the filled tank had any leaks prior to firing it up.

Tank View    Tank View    Tank View

Ronson Varaflame Butane Lighter

c. 1958. The first of the Varaflame models.

Patent

Ronson Varaflame Comet Butane Lighter

c. 1968. One of the first plastic lighters made. The top swivels for replacement of the flint - which isn't really easy to do unless you remove the screw and remove the top and then put it all back together again. There are also two small holes in the top compartment where spare flints may be stored.

 Store Display  Patent pg 1  Patent pg 2    Patent pg 1  Patent pg 2    Patent pg 1   Patent pg 2    Patent pg 3    Patent pg 4    Patent pg 5    Patent pg 6    Patent pg 7    Patent pg 8

Ronson Varaflame Ladylight MKII Butane Lighter

c. 1965

Ronson Varaflame Liteguard Butane Lighter

c. 1962
IMK-00G

Another View

Ronson Varaflame MKII Butane Lighter

This beautiful lighter has an abstract holographic design on it and is very attractive. c. 1972
HPK-0AA

Patent pg 1    Patent pg 2    Patent pg 3

Ronson Varaflame Table Butane Lighter

c. 1969 Silver Plated Champagne Bucket
BNL-00H

Another View   Another View   Another View   Patent 1 pg 1    Patent 1 pg 2   Patent 2

Ronson Varaflame Windlite Butane Lighter

Ronson Varatronic Butane Lighter

Bicentennial Commemorative - 1976

Ronson Varatronic 2000 Nova Lighter

Ronson Varatronic Piezo-Electric Lighter

IRK-0A0

Another View

Ronson Vee (a.k.a. Fob) Lighter

First manufactured in 1936 and produced in at least 4 designs. These originally came with a colored silk tassel attached.
HcK-AGH

Another View

Patent    Patent

Ronson Venus Lighter

This distaff version of the Adonis lighter wasn't introduced until 1959 - fully 12 years after the Adonis (such was the state of women's lib back then!) and in about 10 finishes; the red lizard finish is shown.
HRK-0AB

Ronson Viola Table Lighter

First manufactured c. 1948.

Ronson Wedgewood Table Lighter

Ronson offered a variety of Wedgewood based lighters beginning as early as 1958 with the Rosette then 1962 the Royalty, Ulysses, Imperial, and Four Seasons. Later Wedgewood versions were also made using Varaflame butane lighters.

Ronson Whirlwind Lighter

The Whirlwind was a long-running model series first produced in 1941 and until 1956. These featured a wind shield that could easily be pulled up to protect the flame in windy conditions. On the earliest models the wind screen has "Ronson / Whirlwind / us pat. 2,002,845" embossed on it.

Patent

Ronson Whirlwind Imperial Lighter

The Whirlwind Imperial was introduced in 1956 and replaced its predecessor - the Whirlwind. This was the last of the retractable wind shield models. The Whirlwind Imperial was made in at least 5 designs.

Ronson WindII Lighter

The WindII was first made in 1997 after Ronson quit making the Typhoon in Korea.
HYK-00H

Another View    Another View    Store Display

Ronson Windlite Lighter

First manufactured in 1953, the Windlite was the first flip-top lighter Ronson officially issued to directly compete with the increasing popular Zippo. Though it functions much like a Zippo, the Windlite does not have a pull-out insert. It features a removable bottom plate, held in place using an interesting rubber gasket and tension screw mechanism. Loosen the bottom screw (Another View) and the plate removes, exposing the flint and refueling chambers. The curved, steel body of the Windlite is a bit thicker and heftier than Zippos. This example c. 1953-1955
IIK-0BE

Another View    Another View    Another View    Patent   Store Display

Ronson Windsor Lighter

Ronson produced the Windsor beginning in 1953, but didn't produce it for very long - probably 2 - 3 years. This is the only Ronson made with a plastic body (at least, as far as wick type lighters is concerned). This example from 1953.
HRK-0AB

Ronson Wonderliter Striker Lighter

c. 1915

See the article: Ronson Wonderliter Surprise