History of Zippo Manufacturing Company

Zippo Manufacturing Company is the maker of the world famous windproof lighter with the Lifetime Guarantee. Other products from Zippo's diverse line include a variety of pocket knives, key holders, money clips, writing instruments and tape measures.

History

Zippo was founded in Bradford, Pennsylvania in 1932 when George G. Blaisdell decided to create a lighter that would look good and be easy to use. Blaisdell obtained the rights for an Austrian windproof lighter with a removable top, and re-designed it to his own requirements. He made the case rectangular and attached the lid to the bottom with a welded hinge, and surrounded the wick with a wind hood. Fascinated by another recent invention, the zipper, Blaisdell called his new lighter "Zippo", and backed it with a Lifetime Guarantee.

Today

Zippo has produced nearly 300 million windproof lighters since its founding in 1932. Except for improvements in the flint wheel and modifications in case finishes, Blaisdell's original design remains virtually unchanged today. The Lifetime Guarantee that accompanies every Zippo metal product still guarantees that it works or we fix it free.

Although the windproof lighter is the most popular Zippo product, Zippo took its first step toward diversification with the introduction of a six-foot flexible steel pocket tape measure in 1962. The success of this product led Zippo to expand the line to its current product family of tape measures, knives, money clips, writing instruments and key holders. Today, all of these items can be imprinted with company logos or trademarks.

Zippo has expanded its sales operations nationally and internationally through a wide network of sales representatives. In more than 100 countries throughout the world, Zippo is synonymous with American made quality and craftsmanship.

Zippo windproof lighters enjoy a widespread and enviable reputation as valuable collectibles. The company produces the Zippo Lighter Collectors' Guide containing illustrations of the lighters and descriptions of the series, as well as an explanation of the date code found on the bottom of every Zippo lighter. Clubs for lighter collectors have been organized in England, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Japan and the United States.