Moon landing 40th Commemorative.

July 20th 1969. First successful landing of humans onto the lunar moon surface, using a manned spacecraft named Apollo 11. Three Astronauts operated Apollo 11.  Neil Armstrong first set foot onto the moon, followed by Buzz Aldrin. Both of them began collecting materials on the lunar surface while Michael Collins piloted Apollo 11 by himself in orbit, till both Armstrong & Aldrin were done with specimen collection before they return home. All three astronauts returned safely back to earth on July 24th 1969.

This event marked a massive breakthrough in astronomical histories & attempts during early era, having the first man throughout time who successfully set foot onto moon.

To commemorate such significant occasion, Zippo Mfg were producing a highly demanded design model. The early moon landing Commemorative.

Picture from auctionbayonline.com

40 years after the first moon landing, Zippo Mfg produced another commemorative model to celebrate it's anniversary. Hence this special edition's model came around. 

Manufactured exactly 40 years after the moon landing, this special edition commemorative marked the 40th Anniversary.  Being a special edition, the lighter is entirely coated with a customized finish having glitter substances embedded into. Properly positioned under a light, it gives an appearance of the countless stars in space. Besides, the finished surfaces aren't smooth, but unevenly dotted with tiny holes. That probably resembles the holes of moon craters. 

laser engraved on it's facade, bears an image of Apollo 11 on the moon with earth in the background. 

Will Zippo Mfg consider making a 50th Anniversary commemorative of this first moon landing?

Zippo Model- 28554 Changing World

New 2013 design ,this  is the '28554 Changing World' model in production. Laser engraved facade over an iron stone finish, of interestingly eyes catching statement which reads '' In a constantly changing world, We Don't ''.

Zippo mfg is quite likely quoting that the lifetime warranty policies of their windproof lighters, have always been kept unaltered. Besides, their windproof lighter's mechanical designs and manufacturing processes haven't evolved much since the early days.

The Iron Stone finish is a smooth matte coating, of a unique color shuffles that fully resembles an Iron Stone appearance.

Japanese Zippo design- Silver Phoenix.

Japanese has the reputation of putting intricate & exotic artworks on Zippo lighters they're selling, typically commanding price tags of much higher figures depending on what they put onto each. Many series of customized 'Limited Editions' are produced in few quantity & frequently being swapped, to keep their values high.

They don't just stop productions here.

Don't mistake the lighters itself being manufactured in Japan. Lighter's operating components & casings are still made in Bradford P.A, just that Japanese are licensed by Zippo mfg to decorate the surfaces.

This piece isn't a limited edition, but a new product found in the 2013 Japanese catalog.

Featuring an electrodeposition coated, silver colored artwork over a ?lurid finish on 5 sides of the casing. 

Over it's facade bears an image of a phoenix, fully surrounded by more design patterns.  

At the rear there's the exact image, inverted however. 

Sides are also covered with similar patterns.

  

Zippo lighters of the Singapore Military. OCS

Another I've, is one from a commissioned batch of lieutenants who'd just graduated from the Officer Cadet School (OCS) back then. This is a regular high polished chrome lighter, also machined engraved in the same military gift shop. It illustrates the Echo company's formation symbol during their officer cadets training periods as a screaming eagle. Accompanied with bottom wordings i'm unable to accurately interpret. Probably reads: Training Beyond Limits.

Zippo lighters of the Singapore Military. BMTC

Zippo lighters are apparently unpopular among the Singapore military Armed Forces unlike in the US military or of various countries. There are yet, a few bearing names of certain local units & formations. Such example is this ebony finish casing, machine etched in a military gift shop. It bears a logo of the Basic Military Training Center(BMTC), where about every trainees go through their first period of basic military courses.

Zippo model. Retro Flame 24193. Gold Dust finish.

Such no longer in current Zippo sales catalog, is a 24193 Retro Flame model only on Gold Dust finished casings. pimped with a printing of the classic Zippo trademark flame symbol and brand name in it's actual vintage script format. Backed by a worn-out background effect, simulating nostalgic wear & tear.

Here's about the Gold Dust finish. Commonly mistaken as having actual gold or gold powder(dust) coatings, which is however not. Just like the Street Chrome finish, Zippo mfg did additional work to a chromed lighter casing by tumbling it up with abrasive materials like perhaps fine sand or buffs. Hence the badly scratched-up appearance in every directions, presenting as though it'd been rubbed off the streets. 

Same processes performed to make Gold Dust finish, over an unfinished brass casing. That resulted in a dusty appearance on the surfaces & with the gold color of brass, 'Street Brass' got it's elegant name. They wouldn't call it 'Street Brass' would they?

Something Patriotic. 911 Tribute

Today's September 11th in Singapore's time. Hence i wish to pay a humble tribute towards this day with a brushed chrome 'Something Patriotic' pewter emblem lighter. This model is probably still in production. Attached with emblem finely depicting an American Eagle, Liberty Statue's flaming torch & a waving American Flag covering the background.

Manufactured in March 2011 with original orange seal & suggested price label i reattached onto it's box.

Vintage Zippo print Ads.

Lets return to the old era, with these well preserved original Magazine print ads from the 40's to 60's.

                                            1948 ' How to Keep a Flame Burning'

1950. 'Why Zip Zip Zip'

1968 ' Give it a Quick Try. Say... 35 Years'

1955 Christmas Themed. 'And you can tell your Dad it always works'

1968 ' Don't lose your Zippo' 

Employees Edition. Zippo Barbour St Building 50th.

This high polished chrome lighter commemorates the 50th year of Zippo's Barbour Street factory building. Made in 2005 for Zippo employees with gift sets including a huge poster & greeting cards. Mine's without these paperwork. Additional info from this site: http://zippocollect.de/en/zippo/limited_editions/50_years_barbour_st_bldg/

Nascar Racing- Brickyard 400 Inaugural & Indianapolis 500. Limited Edition Set.

A pair of brushed brass lighters each packed in it's own circular tin, both arranged inside a decorative cardboard package. One commemorates the Inaugural 'Brickyard 400' race held during 6 August 1994, along Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In which another lighter commemorates of it's 'Indianapolis 500'.

(Nicknamed 'Brickyard', after Indianapolis Motor Speedway was resurfaced using 

Three Million, Two Hundred Thousands bricks later during 1909.)

BRICKYARD 400. Casing manufactured during: July 1994

INDIANAPOLIS 500. Casing manufactured during: July 1994

 

Nascar-Daytona 500 40th Annual.

Zippo lighter & knife/file set. Commemorates the 40th Annual racing in Daytona speedway at Florida beach, held during 15 February 1998. Daytona speedway is the first racetrack Nascar started with. It's still holding the largest Nascar races & cups.

? white matte finished lighter & knife/file in mint condition, multi-color paint filled with details.