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
I just bought one of these, I'm currently in the process of getting it in working condition.
ReplyDeleteI love historical things like this :)
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.
ReplyDeletemy 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?
ReplyDeleteYou 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
DeleteAnon 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.
ReplyDeleteAnon 2, Maybe take it from another lighter, one that's missing a different part. A part's lighter?
IT TOOK ME AGES TO EVEN BOTHER TO START
ReplyDeleteRESEARCHING 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!
You're so excited that you're yelling!
DeleteIT'S AGES SINCE I'VE HAD ,OWT TO GET EXCITED ABOUT!
DeleteI 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!!!!