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Bowers "Trench" Lighter


These Bowers lighters –tarnished and like new– were popular in the trenches of WWI. Officially called 'Bowers Kalamazoo "Slide Sleeve" Lighters' (round tube shown here), manufacturing began in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1930. 


I have collected two of the "round tube" WWI era lighters; prewar lighters were made of brass. My favorite versions are these round lighters with brass highlights– the grommet, the pull on the spring that holds the flint in place, and I especially like the brass lanyard loop.


More information can be found here: http://www.bowers-mfg.com/about-us.html



8 comments:

  1. I just bought one of these, I'm currently in the process of getting it in working condition.
    I love historical things like this :)

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  2. This style lighter is frequently called 'trench lighters' but they were NOT popular in the trenches of WWII simply because the 'trench war' was WWI; there weren't any trenches in WWII, so you do need to change that part of the description. In fact, the earliest of this style lighters that was factory (mass) produced came out right after WWI, so the mass produced ones weren't even popular in the trenches of WWI because they didn't exist then.

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  3. my dad has a lighter similiar to these but its missing the little wire that pulls the cap to cut the fire off. by any chance do you know where we can find one?

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    Replies
    1. You can easy make it yourself from bending a wire in shape, just draw the dimensions of the closed lighter on a piece of paper, just imagine a C-shape with two notches turned inward

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  4. Anon 1, Thanks, that was a repeated brain fart. Wether they were popular in the trenches of WWI or not, that's what they are commonly referred to as today.

    Anon 2, Maybe take it from another lighter, one that's missing a different part. A part's lighter?

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  5. IT TOOK ME AGES TO EVEN BOTHER TO START
    RESEARCHING THIS LIGHTER.MY GRANDDAD GAVE
    ME IT & ALL I HAD TO DO TO MAKE IT WORK
    WAS TO PUT IN SOME FUEL & A FLINT & 'BAM'
    IT WORKED FIRST TIME!! I SMOKE SO I USED
    IT FOR A WHILE BUT I ALWAYS HAD A FEELING
    IT WAS OLD & SPECIAL! WELL NOW I KNOW!
    THE PICS I'VE SEEN OF OTHERS DON'T COME
    CLOSE TO THE FANTASTIC CONDITION OF MINE!
    IT'S A GUN~METAL ONE BUT SOMEHOW IT SHINES!
    I'VE DONE NOTHING TO IT APART FROM FLINT &
    FUEL. NO POLISHING NOTHING. IT HAS ALL THE
    BRASS IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES! MY GRANDDAD
    HAS NO CLUE WHERE IT CAME FROM. HE MET MY
    NAN IN NAPLES IN 1944,SO MAYBE HE OR SHE
    MAY HAVE GOTTEN IT FROM AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
    THEN, WHO KNOWS? NOT ME!

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    Replies
    1. You're so excited that you're yelling!

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    2. IT'S AGES SINCE I'VE HAD ,OWT TO GET EXCITED ABOUT!
      I HAVE TO TYPE IN THIS WAY BECAUSE MY EYES ARE SO BAD!
      MY GLASSES ENDED UP AS A SUPPOSITORY WHEN I SAT ON
      THEM!GOD!HOW SAD IS THIS? TALKING ABOUT LIGHTERS AT 1AM?
      TIME FOR BED!!!!

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