FIRST PICK: HISTORY OF ZIPPO LIGHTERS

Zippo lighter entered the marketplace in 1932. The Zippo was inspired by an Austrian cigarette lighter of similar design. American George G. Blaisdell founded Zippo Manufacturing Company in 1932. Zippo originated in a small Pennsylvania town at the hight of the Depression. Zippo's success came about through the creation of a durable and functional lighter, the ingenious marketing and the innovation of a lifetime product warranty.
The original model had a rectangular shape with a protruding hinge holding the lid to the body and three barrels.The retail price of the original windproof model was $1.95.
During the Vietnam war, several items became an essential tool and canvas on which US soldiers painted their feelings. More than 200,000 Zippos were used by American soldiers in Vietnam. In the modern era, they are priceless and often counterfeited. How can you tell the difference? Watch our endepth history lesson on the history of Zippos.