Since its inception Zippo Lighters have been almost exclusively manufactured in the United States, with the exception of those manufactured in Niagara, Canada (an operation that has since been shut down). Blaisdell founded Zippo Manufacturing Company in 1932, and produced the first Zippo lighter in early 1933, being inspired by an Austrian cigarette lighter of similar design made by IMCO.

Zippo lighters became popular in the United States military, especially during World War II—when, as the company's web site says, Zippo "ceased production of lighters for consumer markets and dedicated all manufacturing to the US military".

Zippo Click provides an opportunity for serious and casual collectors alike to share their interest in Zippo lighters.

For many, collecting Zippo lighters has become a hobby, and for some, it has even become a business.

In light of the ever-growing international interest in the Zippo windproof lighter, we are pleased to present this guide as an introduction to the novice lighter collector. It is not meant to be a complete guide to Zippo lighter identification or collecting. The collectibles market is extremely volatile and any given piece is worth only whatever someone else wants to pay to begin or complete a collection.

Collecting Zippo lighters is about fun, about history, about people.

During 1934 the 1/4 inch shorter units continue to be produced with the 3 barrel hinge plates still on the outside of the case.

See: Some of these lighters, such as the Slide Sleeve lighter, are of exceptionally good quality; the Slede Sleeve, for example, is built like a Sherman tank and quire heavy - much heavier than the original lighters it was modeled on.

The 15,000 square-foot center houses northern Pennsylvania's most visited museum, the world famous Zippo Repair Clinic, and a retail store containing the most complete line of Zippo and Case products in the world. The Zippo/Case Visitors Center is located at 1932 Zippo Drive in Bradford, PA, just off the U. When it's not on tour, visitors can see the Zippo Car, an American icon on wheels, at the Zippo/Case Visitors Center.

The current Zippo Car, a replica of the 1947 original, was made in 1997 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the ippo product mobile. If painted or enameled, the colors are not chipped or scratched. In 2002, Zippo Manufacturing Company was granted trademark protection for the shape of the world famous Zippo windproof lighter. Zippo is taking aggressive measures to confront this problem.

Period Zippos were made of brass, but Zippo used a black crackle finished steel during the war years because of metal shortages.

While the Zippo Manufacturing Company never had an official contract with the military, soldiers and armed forces personnel insisted that base exchange (BX) and post exchange (PX) stores carry this sought-after lighter.