Lighter, cigarette

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Ingenium, 1998.0357.001
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OBJECT TYPE: BUTANE/REFILLABLE/ADJUSTABLE FLAME
DATE: 1955
ARTIFACT NUMBER: 1998.0357.001

MANUFACTURER: RONSON
MODEL: VARAFLAME
LOCATION: England

More Information

General Information

Serial #: N/A
Part Number: 1
Total Parts: 1
AKA: N/A
Patents: N/A
General Description: ALL METAL CONSTRUCTION.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length: 6.4 cm
Width: 1.1 cm
Height: 4.0 cm
Thickness: N/A
Weight: N/A
Diameter: N/A
Volume: N/A

Lexicon

Group: Domestic Technology
Category: Miscellaneous
Sub-Category: N/A

Manufacturer

AKA: RONSON
Country: England
State/Province: Unknown
City: Unknown

Context

Country: Canada
State/Province: Ontario
Period: THIS TYPE OF LIGHTER USED C. MID-1950S +
Canada: EXAMPLE OF ENGRAVED LIGHTER GIVEN AS GIFT TO MALE EMPLOYEES OF CONSUMERS' GAS CO. LTD. FOR EFFORTSDURING CONVERSION FROM MANUFACTURED (COAL) TO NATURAL GAS IN 1955. OAKAH JONES (VP AND GENERAL MANAGER) ALSO PRESENTED A SILVER CAKE SERVER TO EACH FEMALE EMPLOYEE: EACH CONVERSION WORKER'S WIFE ALSO RECEIVED A CAKE SERVER, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTRIBUTION SHE HAD INDIRECTLY MADE IN THIS UNDERTAKING. (REF.2)
Function: TO PRODUCE A SMALL FLAME, PARTICULARLY IN ORDER TO IGNITE A CIGARETTE, CIGAR, ETC.
Technical: RONSON CREATED A COMPLETELY REDESIGNED SYSTEM FOR FUELLING LIGHTERS IN THE EARLY 1950S. THE 'PREMIER VARAFLAME' WAS LAUNCHED AS THE FIRST GAS AND VARIABLE FLAME LIGHTER OF THIS NEW LINE OF POCKET LIGHTERS, AND WAS EXTREMELY POPULAR." BY THE LATE 1950S THE VARAFLAME LINE HAD REVOLUTIONISED THE BUTANE LIGHTER INDUSTRY, AND PUSH[ED] ASIDE THE WICK MODELS." (REF. 3)
Area Notes: Unknown

Details

Markings: " R. Wilkinson " engraved on one side. " OPEN/ FOR/ FLINT " & down pointing arrow symbol; " RONSON [registered trade mark symbol]/ REG. TRADE MARK ", " VERAFLAME/ MADE IN ENGLAND " and " PATENTED/ RD. DES. " all incised on base.
Missing: APPEARS COMPLETE. From CA of 02/20/2001 by Kevin Machan: No - Artifact appears to be complete.
Finish: BRUSHED AND POLISHED SILVER METAL FINISHES.
Decoration: RECESSED SMALL REVERSE CHEVRON AND GAS FLAME SYMBOL, BOTH BRASS-COLOURED, APPEAR ON ONE SIDE OF LIGHTER.

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If you choose to share our information about this collection object, please cite:

RONSON, Lighter, cigarette, circa 1955, Artifact no. 1998.0357, Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, http://collection.ingeniumcanada.org/en/id/1998.0357.001/

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