Everyone is familiar with Zippo. The petrol-powered lighters are not really suitable for cigars. However, Zippo also produces a range of products for other uses.
The history of Zippo
The history of theZippo lighter began in the early 1930s at the Bradford Country Club in Bradford, Pennsylvania. Mr Blaisdell watched as a friend struggled awkwardly to use a clunky lighter made in Austria. Mr Blaisdell noted that, thanks to its unique chimney, the lighter worked well even in the wind, but its appearance and design were utilitarian and inefficient. Operating the lighter required the use of both hands, and its thin metal surface was easily dented.
The Birth of Zippo
In late 1932, Mr Blaisdell decided to redesign the Austrian lighter. He crafted a small rectangular casing and fitted a hinged lid. He retained the chimney design, which protected the flame. The result was an attractive lighter that could be easily operated with one hand. The name ‘Zippo’ was coined by Mr Blaisdell. He liked the sound of the word ‘Zipper’, so he tried out variations of the word until he settled on ‘Zippo’, which he felt had a ‘modern’ sound.
