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.