ZIPPO: Dates in History...

 June 5, 1895.
George G. Blaisdell was born in Bradford, Pennsylvania - U.S.A.

Early 1930s.
At the Bradford Country Club in Bradford. Mr. Blaisdell* watched a friend awkwardly using a cumbersome Austrian-made lighter. The lighter worked well, even in the wind, due to the design of the chimney. But its appearance was utilitarian. Its use required two hands, and its thin metal surface dented easily.

Fall of 1932.
Mr. Blaisdell fabricated a rectangular case and attached the top of the lighter to the case with a hinge. He retained the chimney design which protected the flame under adverse conditions. The result was a lighter that looked good and was easy to operate.

1932.
The word “Zippo” was created by Mr. Blaisdell. He liked the sound of the word “zipper” so he formed different variations on the word and settled on “Zippo,” deciding that it had a “modern” sound.

1933.
The first lighter, currently displayed at the Zippo/Case Museum in Bradford, was begun in late 1932 and finished in early 1933.
The first Zippo lighters sold for $ 1.95 each.
Zippo produced 82 lighters in January, 1933, yielding $62.15.

June, 1933.
Rickerson & Pryde factory occupied.

May 17, 1934.
Application for the original Zippo patent was filed.

1935.
Bradford’s Kendall Refining Company placed an order for 500 Zippo lighters. These are believed to be the first company-advertised lighters produced by Zippo and are highly collectible.

March 3, 1936.
First patent (number 2032695) for the Zippo windproof lighter was granted.

1937.
The birth of the Sports Series. The sports related designs began to appear on the Zippo lighters. The first sports model was the 275, this number represented the price of the model, which was sold for $2.75.
Earlier sports models included the Golfer, the Fisherman, the Bulldog, the Hunter, the Greyhound, and the Elephant. In 1938, the Scotch Terrier, the Fisherman and the Bulldog were the only models on the Sports Series.

March 27, 1938 (c).
Barbour Street factory purchased, first building owned by Zippo.

1938 First Zippo Table Lighter.
The No. 10 Zippo Tall Table lighter measured 4.5" tall and had inside fuel capacity four times greater than a pocket lighter. The table lighter was produced between 1938 and 1941.

December 1, 1938.
First national ad for Zippo appears in Esquire magazine.

February 14, 1940.
Pantograph engraved initials replaced metallique initials on lighters.

1942 Black Crackle.
The legendary World War II Black Crackle™ lighter was manufactured from a secondary grade of steel. The standard metal for Zippo lighters was brass, but it was in short supply due to the war effort. The steel case was painted with a thick black paint to prevent the steel from rusting. As the lighter was baked for curing, the paint yielded a textured black crackle finish. During this time Zippo lighters were not available to the consumer market because all lighters were shipped to the military.

May 8, 1943.
Zippo newspaper ad announces that all production is dedicated to the armed forces overseas.

November 24, 1943.
Date of letter to GGB from General Dwight D. Eisenhower “It’s the only lighter I’ve got that will light at all times.”

May 30, 1944.
War correspondent Ernie Pyle devoted national newspaper column to Zippo lighters and George Blaisdell.

June 6, 1944.
G.I. Walter Nadler inscribed lighter while making D-Day crossing; lighter is currently displayed in Zippo museum.

September 25, 1944.
Date of letter to Mr. Blaisdell from General Douglas MacArthur “It is a real work of art which I shall use constantly”.

June 16, 1947.
Original Zippo car purchased.

August 1, 1949.
Zippo Canada opened.

September 4, 1949.
Town and Country imprint process was introduced. The design was engraved to create a brass cavity. Each color of ceramic paint was airbrushed in the cavity to create the colorful imprint. The labor-intensive technique resulted in one of the most sought-after type of collectibles.

January 7, 1950.
GGB established the Philo and Sarah Blaisdell Foundation in honor of his parents.

Circa 1950, full leather covered lighters debuted. The lighters were available in Moroccan or calf leather and were imprinted with company logos or personalized with initials using gold leaf foil.

May 1, 1950.
Lady Bradford table lighter introduced.

August 1, 1950.
A second patent, number 2517191 was issued. The design of the Zippo lighter basically remains the same to this day, with minor improvements.

1951.
Slogan: The One-Zip Windproof Lighter.

March 6, 1951.
Zip Slip and Zireen, petroleum by products, were introduced.

December 24, 1952.
GGB announces plans to construct 3 story office building on Barbour St. beginning May 1953.

1953.
Slogan: America's Number One Business Gift.

1954.
Slogan: Always works - or we fix it free.

1954.
Zippo first appeared in a Marlboro advertisement, coinciding with the first time the cowboy appeared in the role of Marlboro's image character. Zippos were used by Philip Morris in promotional campaigns as well. Ever since, Zippo has had an inseparable relationship with Marlboro, both as a campaign item and an advertising tool.

February 2, 1954.
Table lighter was the subject of Episode 82 of sitcom “I Love Lucy” called The Anniversary Present.

1954.
Slogan: Guaranteed to Work FOREVER.

August 1, 1955.
New office building at 33 Barbour Street occupied.

September 15-16, 1955.
Open House for grand opening of new Zippo headquarters, 33 Barbour Street.

June 8, 1956.
Slim lighters introduced. This launch was a major milestone. This version was designed to appeal primarily to women.

March 7, 1957.
The Etch/Paint imprint process was introduced.

June 10, 1957.
Zippo celebrates its 25th Anniversary.

1958.
Slogan: The Lighter that WORKS.

July 31, 1958 (c).
Date codes implemented on the lighter bottom stamp.

February 21, 1960.
Introduction of the Moderne and Corinthian table lighters.

April 17, 1960.
Zippo Rule (6' Pocket Tape Measure) was introduced as an Advertising Specialty item.

1961.
Slogan: Works always... or we fix them free.

April 26, 1964.
Zippo knife (blade and nail file) was introduced as an Advertising Specialty item.

May 24, 1965 (c).
W. A. Ingram distributor in UK began selling lighters.

May 16, 1966.
Zippo belt buckles were introduced to the Ad Specialty Division.

May 18, 1966.
Fuel plant opened on Congress Street in Bradford.

December 31, 1967.
Capt. Carunna (currently known as N. M Arringo), distributor in Malta, began selling lighters.

1968.
Slogan: It works or we fix it free.

October 23, 1969.
Zippo lighter commemorating the Moon Landing introduced. This was the last Zippo lighter manufactured using the Town and Country imprint process.

January 2, 1970.
Zippo Out-A-Matic Ashtray was introduced in the Ad Specialty Division.

April 4, 1972.
Zippo 40th Anniversary lighter introduced.

March 12, 1973.
Zippo Key Holders were introduced.

February 27, 1975.
Lustre Etch imprinting process introduced.

January 23, 1976.
Zippo magnifier was introduced.

May 21, 1976.
Bicentennial design lighter commemorating the 200th Anniversary of America.

October 3, 1978.
George G. Blaisdell died in Florida.

January 12, 1980.
Donkey and Elephant motifs were imprinted on lighters to commemorate the 1980 Presidential election and Zippo’s ad campaign for the year, Zippo Selects.

March 8, 1980.
Zippo pillbox was introduced.

April 25, 1980.
Handilite base introduced enabling a regular Zippo lighter to become a table lighter.

September 1, 1980.
Zippo Deck Sets (playing cards) were introduced.

February 3, 1982.
Brass lighter cases are introduced to commemorate the 50th Anniversary.

March 1, 1982.
Zippo cut-about knives were introduced.

June 4, 1982.
50th Anniversary gala celebration begins.

February 4, 1985.
Zippo Contempo Refillable butane lighters were introduced.

February 5, 1986.
Dritsas, distributor in Greece, began selling lighters.

July 20, 1986 (c).
Date code changed to alphabetic letter and Roman numerals.

March 18, 1988.
First Original Zippo Replica lighters introduced.

March 30, 1988.
Round, square, rectangle, and oval key rings were introduced.

September 23, 1988.
200,000,000th Zippo lighters rolls off the production line.

April 6, 1990.
Leather lighter pouches were introduced.

September 5, 1991.
Refacing of Barbour St office building begins.

May 14, 1992 (c).
First Collectible of Year introduced.

January 11, 1993.
Varga girl, Windy, the 2nd collectible of the year lighter introduced.

May 28, 1993.
Zippo purchased W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company.

September 12, 1993.
First U.S. Vintage Grand Prix, Watkins Glen International speedway.

1994.
Slogan: Lifetime Guarantee Made in USA.

January 21, 1994.
D-Day 50th Anniversary collectible of the year lighter introduced.

June 7, 1994.
Zippo Family Store & Museum opened.

August 5, 1994.
First celebration of National Zippo Day.

January 24, 1995.
Mysteries of the Forest collectible of the year lighter introduced.

July 21-22, 1995.
First Zippo/Case International Swap Meet in Bradford.

January 10, 1996.
Joan the Pin-Up collectible of the year lighter introduced.

February 29, 1996.
Launch of first Zippo website (ZippoMFG.com)

March 2, 1996.
Zippo writing instruments were introduced.

April 5, 1996.
The 300,000,000th Zippo lighter rolls off the production line.

January 18, 1997.
Lady Barbara table lighters are introduced in commemoration of the 65th Anniversary.

January 19, 1997.
Zippo 65th Anniversary lighter introduced.

July 18, 1997.
Zippo/Case Visitors Center opened. It is a 15,000-square-foot facility that includes a store, museum, and the famous Zippo Repair Clinic, where the Zippo lighter repair process is on display. It has become Northern Pennsylvania’s most-visited museum.

July 19, 1997.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge tours visitors center.
 
October 10, 1997.
W. A. Ingram, UK distributor, became a wholly-owned subsidiary, Zippo UK.

1998.
Slogan: Use it to start something.

January 9, 1998.
Zippo car collectible of the year lighter introduced.

May 10, 1998.
Current Zippo car was delivered.

1999.
Slogan: When you need it, it works.

January 14, 1999.
Titanium case Millennium Collectible of the year lighter introduced.

January 16, 2000.
Keeper of the Flame collectible of the year introduced.

February 10, 2000.
Date code changed to alphabetic letter and numerals.

2001.
Slogan: Zippo. For Real.

January 3, 2001 (c).
Lighter date code changed to alphabetic letter and two digit numeral.

January 8, 2001.
Hollywood’s Leading Light collectible of the year introduced.

March 24-25, 2001.
First Japanese Zippo Swap Meet, Tokyo.

January 5, 2002.
Zippo 70th Anniversary collectible of the year lighter introduced.

January 15th, 2002.
Last collectible of the year introduced.

January 25, 2002.
Friends for a Lifetime collectible of the year introduced.

January 29, 2002.
Brush finish “slim” lighters were introduced.

January 31, 2002.
"Spectrum" lighters were introduced.

July 1, 2002.
300 Commemorative 18K gold Signet lighters, produced by Zippo owners, Sarah Dorn and George Duke, to honor GGB on Zippo’s 70th Anniversary.

July 10, 2002.
Zippo Click collectors club was established.

July 21, 2002.
Zippo Canada closes.

August 9, 2002.
Multi-Purpose Lighters were introduced.

October 11, 2002 (c).
The shape of Zippo lighter was registered as a trademark in the U.S.

September 3, 2003.
The 400,000,000th Zippo lighter is produced.

March 31, 2004.
Zippo purchased Zippo Fashion Italia leather goods company.

April 18, 2004.
Zippo Hot Tour events begin.

July 3, 2004.
10,000 Limited Edition 60th Anniversary D-Day lighter sets were introduced.

April 28, 2005.
Broadway star, Carol Channing and husband Harry Kullijian tour the Zippo/Case museum.

August 10, 2005.
Mini Multi-Purpose Lighters were introduced.

August 13, 2005.
First Zippo 200 Busch Race, Watkins Glen, International speedway.

2006.
Slogan: The Name In Flame.

2006.
Zippo production surpassed the milestone of 425 million lighters since Mr. Blaisdell crafted the first lighter in early 1933.

2007.
75th Anniversary !!!

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(c) = circa

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