Cleaning & Maintaining Your BrassZippo lighters, or any other things

This post is a response to blog user- dresspark as well as for everyone. It'll lay out the method i personally find best in keeping the surfaces of brass Zippo lighters & any brass objects from deterioration.
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Brass is a copper and Zinc alloy. It is an oxidative material that produces surface tarnishes called patina, when exposed to moisture or the elements. As patina accumulates, brass surfaces discolors into an unsightly greenish/brownish appearance.

As a matter of fact, Zippo lighters casings are mostly made of brass except for some models being precious metals or copper etc.
Chromed models have their raw brass casings dipped into electromagnetic solutions during the chroming process. Solid brass models, use pretty much the same casings but coated with a protective substance before boxing. Thus their lasting shine.

An annoying find with some brand new casings however. Taking a look inside after removing the  insert, some may have a brown-reddish discoloration down the bottom.  Perhaps after dipping the casings into the chroming solutions during manufacturing, not all solutions are dried complete. Rusts therefore could have formed.

Yet that thankfully doesn't affect the lighter's presentation. Solid brass casings will nonetheless turn dull no matter what, becoming unattractive in apperance. Hence i'll present a preferred method of keeping these 'High Polished Brass' surfaces shiny

Requisites

-Your Brass lighter or any unpolished  objects. 

- Brasso Metal polish (Because it doesn't wear-out surfaces)

- A soft towel/rag or polishing cloth

(Zippo's care manual suggests using Scotch-Brite pads on brushed brass surfaces. Which I dare not)

Shake the container to mix the solution well. Apply some Brasso liquid onto your cloth, then rub in circular motions.

Tarnishes are quickly removed, returning your artifects back to its glory

What about displaying/storing your Brass Zippo longer in it's renewed look? 

Here each collectible lighter is slipped into a polythene sleeve, which is folded and taped at it's opening. This'll greatly minimize exposure to moisture & all the worrying elements!

Last but not least. . . Peal off every orange seals & be sure to remove the flint from your lighter if you decide not to use it for a while, or EVER!

Hope these tips help a little. Keep a mirrored shine always!

Zippo Niagara Falls Canada- Final Production Run.

In August 1949, Zippo mfg opened a manufacturing facility in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Canada. This was the only other place which made Zippo lighters away from home in Bradford Pennsylvania USA, as import taxes into Canada were high; hence manufacturing locally to lower costs.

The facility assembled lighters parts, performed surface finishes, packaging & lifetime warranty's servicing.

Until 2002 as import taxes were no longer costly like before, it became less economical to produce in Canada, therefore Zippo mfg decided the Canadian facility closed during July 2002. Day before closing which believes to be 31 July 2002, a final production run rolled out a limited-edition of 25000 lighters branding the Canadian bottom stamps for the last-time.

This item is the 24218th among 25000 manufactured before the closing. 

Plated in silver to enhance collecting value. This final series commemorates their last by etching the year of the facility's establishment till end. Not to exclude the iconic Maple leaf symbol of Canada. 

Each in complete packaging includes a slip, telling briefly about the plant. 

How the place used to look. 

July 2002, the Niagara Falls bottom stamp was pressed for the last time. 

From then, Zippo mfg moved their manufacturing back home in Bradford while importing American made lighters back into Canada. More profitable to make & export lighters from just 1 place, as long tariffs ain't over the roof again. . .  

Seasons Greetings from Zippy19.

Once again, Zippy19 will like to wish everyone a 

Merry Christmas & a good 2014 ahead!! 

Marvel Comics- 'Ghost Rider'. Limited Edition

Second addition into my Zippo Marvel comics collection. This here, is a 'ghost rider' model in the Limited edition licensed series.

Laser engraved over a high polished chrome finish, lighter & insert were both made in March 2013.















Under license from the same shop in Singapore which made the
Hulk design of that series.

Realtree Camouflage. Model: 451.101 Deer.

Realtree is a company cum brand name, designing & producing 3D realistic camouflage patterns of detailed natural sceneries in the western terrains.

 http://www.realtree.com/

During 1986, Bill Jordan innovated a new camouflage concept by overlapping closed-up details from the woods. Thus Realtree camo pattern came to existence, first printed on hunting wears for hunters to blend themselves closer with their environment.

 Soon Realtree patterns boomed within the outdoors & hunting business, later licensed to print onto merchandises like dresses, pet products, as well as Zippo lighters bearing it's name & design.

To date, Realtree patterns as Zippo finishes remain a popular demand for outdoor-men & women . Annually, Zippo choice catalog will feature different camo patterns & new licensed images.


This Zippo model ' 451.101 DEER'  was part of the Realtree wildlife series released at least a decade ago. It's coated with a Hardwood camouflage pattern, printed-on is the face of a deer.

  Interesting to note, there isn't a bottom stamp marked beneath it. Just a laser etching of the finish, revealing the brass showing Zippo name.




Clue of it's manufacture, is through the original insert from February 2002.

Zippo Lighters in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Search for 'Vietnam Zippo' in Google Image, you might scroll through pictures of genuine Vietnam War Zippo lighters or knockoffs of such.  Might have an assumption that all Zippo lighters sold in Vietnam which resembles the country are only these.

No longer such case in recent times.
Back from from Ho Chi Minh city lately, cradling back home a genuine Zippo which beautifully resembles Vietnam & is one of a few contemporary designs barely noticed by the tourists eyes.

Designed on a high polished chrome, machine etched & paint-filled to form the map, red star & country's name. At the back, etched with tight grid patterns to improve grip & minimize scratch visibility.  

Made in December 2012, whereas the insert from November 2012.

Some sharing of it's origin inside Ho Chi Minh city, where post-war Zippo once proliferated the streets stalls. 

Ho Chi Minh City is scaling in it's economy, while international brands such as Zippo paves in. A handful of official Zippo Retails such as this are scattered around the city, selling lighters from sales cataloq

Prices are most likely fixed. 

Counterfeits can still be found in many souvenir shops & among street peddlers.  

Souvenir booth in Cu Chi Tunnel attraction, selling a variety for fixed prices. 

Street peddler such as this, may afford selling genuine Zippo in small quantity while counterfeits & different lighters are in a larger glass case. Prices for a genuine may remain higher than others despite bargaining. 

This lighter was acquired from a kiosk located at the foot of a staircase, situated in 112 Le Loi Boulevard district 1. (Refer to shop sign)

Genuine Zippo are on display inside the glass case. 

Counterfeit & various lighter/smoking products are arranged on the glass counter, whereas some items hung down a pillar.  

This kiosk was tended by an old lady, who's beyond willing to offer a good bargain when politely requested.

Using a few English words & mostly hand gestures with tourists, she would often quote her genuine Zippo as 'Origin' and lending a calculator to negotiate prices. She was thoughtful to offer counterfeits to suit a budget, reason being Zippo lighters are considered higher-end luxuries not all could afford.

After coming to a deal, the lady did a great gesture polishing grime & dirt off the lighter which i'm buying. A clean plastic sleeve was provided too. 

As i started taking pictures, she invited me to photograph more display cases down the stairs landing.  

More expensive Zippo models such as Zippo blu, Armor, Japanese Models, limited editions, & some mint in box vintages are kept inside.  

Few more jokes were cracked, before i parted. 

Copyright Infringement notice.

Noticed some of my posts are apparently being copied & pasted onto another user's Blog without my knowledge. Similar copies of my original posts are found in this URL:

http://zippo-lighters-collection.blogspot.sg/

All writings & pictures in my blog unless otherwise stated, are of my belongings. Though it's pleasurable expressing such hobby & stories to readers, it'll be courteous of anyone using my material, to seek consent & provide acknowledgement; either by quoting any content that's abstracted from my source.

While further actions are underway, pictures from my efforts will each be added with watermark of Zippy19. 

Cheers!

Zippy19

FAST. FORWARD. > > Zippo Asia Sales Meeting- 2011

'Fast Forward' was the theme for Zippo's 2011 Asia Sales Meeting. Each sales distributor from Asia region sent representatives to attend.Those who turned up were each given a token of a windproof lighter bearing printed graphic & details over an ebony finish. None were sold to the public so far.

This particular piece is a distributor only edition. Employee's edition would each be printed the name of a Zippo mfg employee involved.

2012 Zippo Global Sales Meeting. 80th Anniversary & 500 Millionth combo!

Sales distributors around the world sent representatives during 2012, to attend a Global Sales Meeting held in Bradford P.A. 

Each who turned up, were given a token of this HP chrome lighter- custom produced in about 160 pieces for more than 160 regional distributors worldwide.

Laser etched facade detailing this formal event & sharing the same face, marks Zippo mfg company's 80th Anniversary and production of a 500th Millionth windproof lighter.

Thereby to say, 2 occasions put into a combo lighter. Make it 3 occasions, for this sales meeting too. 

Zippo 500 Millionth Lighter. During the same year.

Good things preferably come in a pair. An occasion occurred during 2012 marked another milestone of Zippo mfg's success, after celebration of their 80th Anniversary. This event fell on 5 June 2012 alongside with Zippo founder George G. Blaisdell's birthday, is the company's production of a legendary 500 Millionth Zippo windproof lighter.

Actual 500 Millionth windproof lighter is on display in Zippo case museum. On that same day, Zippo mfg rolled out replicas in two numbered editions. One's an exact copy of the actual, another's of armor casings in much fewer numbers.

This is an official media's image of the actual 500 Millionth lighter that freshly came out of production line, media & press worldwide witnessing it's manufacture. * Noting the bottom stamp unique from the regular ones. It is a commemorative used on all regular casings (except armor) especially the numbered series, manufactured during that day of 5 July 2012. 

picture from www.multivu.com

Here's one which is an exact replica of the real 500 Millionth. 

This occurs to be the 36234th produced. 

Brief statements behind the box.

Armor editions were made in fewer quantities, commanding higher prices for it's much lavish packaging including a raw brass blank (Piece of brass before shaping for the lighter's case took place)

Picture from  http://eshop.excaliburcity.com

Yet to know the exact numbers produced for these 2 replica series. 

Will we still live to see Zippo's 1st Billionth windproof lighter? 

Early Christmas with Zippo 80th Anniversary - Seasons Greetings special.

I can't wait till next Christmas to reveal this fine & exclusive piece of collection here!

This is a limited-edition; among the limited edition black chrome Armor 80th commemorative. Black chrome tumbled finish- another word for 'street chroming', with laser engraved artwork of a Christmas snowy backdrop than the curves & heading.

This item isn't numbered but originally included a regular steel insert instead of the gold plated one which those numbered limited editions have. Same bottom stamp as the limited edition, and packaged in a regular eco-friendly box which includes a Christmas greeting card.

Produced in about less than a couple hundreds in numbers, it is meant to be a special Christmas gift for Zippo Mfg's close partners & global sales representatives during the year of 2012. To celebrate this festival in such a remarkable year.

80th Anniversary Christmas Special. 

Seasons greetings for employees & corporate partners.

I can only now wish a Merry Christmas, in Advance :D

Zippo 80th Anniversary Commemorative.

During the Year of 1932, George G. Blaisdell innovated his first Zippo lighter by improvising an Austrian's creation of a windproof lighter with detachable lid.

His built a new case, hinged lid, and made his first sale during the early 1933. He decided his first lighter,  be named 'Zippo'. Coming from an idea that striking of the flint-wheel, sounds like pulling a zip so it seems. 'Zipper' is a little crude to hear, he thought 'Zippo' sounded more pleasing. True to that, it sounds catchy indeed!

80 years had passed, since his first creation of a Zippo lighter & founding of Zippo mfg. There must be something to commemorate it isn't there?

Hence Zippo started rolling out a limited edition series in advance(year 2011 till 2012), marking the significant milestone in their businesses through 8 decades. 41932 pieces were produced during this limited edition series. Each piece is an armor case of black chrome finish, partially laser engraved to reveal it's brand name, period of existence as well as some decorative curvy patterns. The insert, isn't brass finished but is gold plated to enhance attractiveness.

Zippo from 2011, also released a regular edition of 80th Commemorative. Printed image transfer on a herringbone finish.

Picture from ebay.com

Few rarer editions were available in various global regions, such as this limited edition distributed around Europe.

Picture from zippolovers.blogspot.com.
Property of: Rui Amaral