What started as an uneventful week picked up steam quickly as I acquired a couple new lighters; one I’d never owned previously and the other via a selling platform I had never participated in before. Taking stock in my accumulated ashtrays also has me wondering if I’m a legitimate collector now.
Deal Or No Deal Is A Blast!
While I’ve been a spectator in a couple Deal Or No Deal(DOND) Facebook selling groups for quite some time and even written an article recently covering what I perceive to be the proper etiquette folks should abide by in such groups, until this past week I had
never sold or even made a purchase in a DOND group. I had seen plenty of action and witnessed many deals made where the buyer had an advantage over other avenues or markets but had never even pulled the trigger to make an offer of my own let alone be told, “Deal!” or gone back to the drawing board after a, “No Deal!”
There are multiple reasons for this, not the least of which was the consideration of reselling anything I might buy in a DOND group. There are folks in those groups out to make money for sure but the over-riding mood(especially in the vintage lighter DOND group) is one of camaraderie and cooperation. I wasn’t in the group very long before I had the realization that I didn’t think I could be comfortable reselling anything I had bought there.
Not to judge or say there’s anything wrong with anyone else doing exactly that, I just wouldn’t be comfortable with it myself, so decided to limit my participation to my collecting interests only. I also would have no problem
selling in this group as well if the right lot or groups presented themselves as ideal candidates for the platform but I haven’t sold anything there as of yet.
All that is background to say I finally made my first offer which resulted in my first successful Deal on the DOND page. Just as browsing Ebay listings will flesh out your favorite sellers so too will keeping your nose in the DOND group! Some sellers are all about the money and making the most on each deal, while others seem to fly more by the seat of their pants and are happy to put their lighter in the hands of a collector who appreciates the lighter for what it is, sans the formality of an Ebay listing and its accompanying fees.
I feel that such is the case with the 2004 brushed chrome 1941 Replica I snagged late one night last week. I had been wanting an older version of the ’41 replica I already owned because a few yrs back Zippo had changed the bottom stamp which had previously used the old 2032695 patent number to be marked 1941 Replica. This might not seem like such a big deal but owing only to the idiosyncratic collector notions in my mind, I needed to own an older patent number copy to go along with the Replica marked 2021
Zippo that is part of my personal collection and in the rotation of my EDC(Every Day Carry) Zippos and other lighters.
So, thank you to my friend Bill Calkins for a great deal on the newest addition to my Zippo collection. Bill is more than a fair seller, he is a bright and shining star in the cigarette lighter hobby in general and a master Zippo and Ronson lighter collector himself. If you would like to check out his Ebay listings, ekoostik1976 is his seller username. He posts a ton of low start, reasonable shipping price(he’ll combine S&H on multiple purchases too) lighters, is fair and knows what he’s doing and what he’s talking about when it comes to vintage petrol lighters of many kinds! This deal definitely made me feel like I’ve become a real Zippo collector!
My Burgeoning Ashtray Collection
The first several vintage ashtrays I acquired were gifts given to me from my mother as they had belonged to her mother, my grandmother. I can remember three in particular and especially the Holiday Inn glass advertiser that was my go to tray for use during the infancy of DependableFlame.com. I have used two of those three heavily and that was my basic mode of operation for ashtrays I have
come into possession of since.
Once or twice I’ve had to clean one up considerably when it came time to sell because I had taken up using the thing exactly for what it was made. They were setting all over the place and I had need of somewhere to ash, so there you go!
I am an ashtray collector. Have been since before I ever bought a lighter, I just didn’t realize it. Those personal gifts that belonged to my grandmother set that in stone, it just wasn’t until I took an active role in adding to them and realizing how many were accumulating and the kinds of ashtrays that I personally enjoyed that I grasped that segment of the hobby for what it is.
I am always going to tend to use even the ashtrays that I buy simply because I never pay much for them and thoroughly enjoy the local advertisements and different shapes and styles that suit me. I have and will continue to sell some as they are not all to my liking and occasionally bought expressly for that purpose but also marvel at how they are stacking up around me.
Mechanisms You Don’t See Everyday
I also added a vintage Ronson Lytacase combination cigarette case and petrol lighter this past week. Fans of the DependableFlame.com YouTube channel will know what a fanatic I am about the Ronson Debonair pocket lighter. The Debonair I owned a couple yrs ago was
a buzz saw of a lighter. I’ve said that many times.
As much as I love Ronsons, the pocket models can be a little clumsy or awkward operating in the hand. There was no such problem with the Debonair as its base was firm and operation smooth!
So, I was thrilled to get a hold of this nice, used engine-turned example of a Lytacase which had the same basic actuating mechanism as the Debonair, just with a little storage container for short cigarettes attached. The jury is still out on whether this Lytacase will live up to the standard the Debonair set in my mind but I will enjoy attempting to round it into shape and documenting the process and I hope you all get a kick out of following along!
I Do Hope You Will Follow Along!
We are currently publishing two articles a week here at DependableFlame.com. Those will typically be about vintage petrol lighters but may also cover ashtrays, tobacciana and other useful
mechanisms as I like to say.
We also regularly publish instructional vintage petrol lighter repair demonstration videos and show and tell videos(to be embedded in the Ebay listings for the lighters we sell) to the DependableFlame.com YouTube channel.
Please leave any comments or questions you may have at the bottom of this page or any other article on DependableFlame.com. The comments section of this website is the only place I currently answer questions about repairing old petrol lighters.
Until next time…✌️
I find this post very enlightening, especially in terms of buying or selling used items online such as lighters and ashtrays. Selling used clothing, bags, shoes kitchen stuff, etc., that I understand perfectly because these are the things that we use on a daily basis.
Looking at these pictures of your collections made me understand the fascination people have with Facebook’s DOND groups. These are true, collectibles because I don’t think you will find them in just any random store. These lighters and ashtrays are the kinds that my uncles and some of our neighbors had when I was a kid. I don’t see them anymore. What we have today are ordinary lighters that you think twice about dumping once the fluids run out.
By the way, do you also use your collection of lighters on a daily basis or are they just part of your collection and are for display?
Thank you Alice, I really appreciate your comments. I am a firm believer that lighters are a tool which are designed to do a job and we should use them toward that purpose. I also think refillable petrol lighters have way less negative impact on our environment than disposable plastic options. It’s just about not having a disposable, throw away kind of mindset.✌️
Alright, folks! I just stumbled upon a real gem of an article on Dependable Flame, and I gotta say, I’m pretty chuffed about it. It’s all about vintage lighters and ashtrays, and as someone who appreciates a good bit of history, I found it fascinating.
The author recounts their experience acquiring their first Dond lighter, and it’s clear they have a true passion for these little pieces of art. But what really caught my attention was their discussion of collecting ashtrays. I mean, who knew there was so much to appreciate in a simple ashtray? But the author makes a convincing argument that these often-overlooked items can be a real treasure trove of history and design.
I have to admit, I’m not much of a collector myself, but reading this article has me thinking that maybe I’ve been missing out. I mean, imagine owning a piece of history like one of these vintage lighters or ashtrays! It’s like having a little piece of the past right there in your hand.
So, I just wanted to say thanks to the author for sharing their passion and knowledge with us all. It’s always a pleasure to read about people who truly love what they do, and you can definitely feel that enthusiasm coming through in this article. Keep it up!
Than you Bob, I really appreciate your insight and compliments! You have hit the nail on the head regarding the notion of having relics of a bygone time, held in the hand today and used exactly as they were intended. It may take a little more initial work and regular maintenance, fueling, replacing flints, etcetera but the satisfaction with using these old items is certainly worth it. I thank you for stopping by and hope you will keep an eye out for future articles.✌️
Hi Joseph, That was some good reading, it pulled my interest right in, very easy to follow and interesting. I have never heard of DOND on Facebook or anywhere for that matter but it sounds fun.
Zippo lighters have been a thing for as long as I can remember. My dad always had one while we fished on the river. I bought one as a gift for someone last Christmas but I had no idea they were collectors items with stamped numbers on the bottom.
Do you sell many on DOND? Or do you just sell them on your website and You-Tube? I noticed you mentioned feeling funny about making money on an item you bought there for cheaper, I guess I would too, depending on how bad I wanted something on there. Is it an auction like ebay?
I’ve never boughten anything on ebay but came close on the Facebook auctions. Interesting read Joseph, thanks.
Sherry
Thank you Sherry, I appreciate your interaction. The DOND format really can be an exciting format to participate in and I think that’s pay off the reason many sellers enjoy it over Ebay and other formatted selling platforms. I have not sold anything on the DOND page as I have everything set up where at least 10% of each listing goes to HDSA Huntington’s Disease Society Of America through PayPal for Charity administered through our current Ebay listings.
It’s always fascinating to learn about unique and interesting mechanisms that we don’t see every day. The vintage Ronson Lytacase combination cigarette case and petrol lighter sounds like a perfect example of such a mechanism. It’s impressive to see the level of detail and craftsmanship that went into creating these types of items.
It’s also interesting to hear that the Lytacase has a similar actuating mechanism to the Debonair, but with the added benefit of a storage container for short cigarettes. It’s always inspiring to see someone’s passion for a particular mechanism or item, and it’s clear that the author’s love for the Ronson pocket lighter is a true testament to the beauty and ingenuity of mechanical objects.
Thank you Another, I really appreciate your interaction and insight. The Ronson Lytacase is indeed an old relic whose workmanship just can’t be found being produced in the market today. It works perfectly for its intended purpose and allows consumers today to use accouterments of a bygone era. And if course the combination case provides much more versatility than a simple lighter would.✌️
I wasn’t going to comment on your article about vintage lighters etc as I had just left a message before asking a few questions. But when I saw you write about ashtrays I had to jump in.
Some of the ashtrays I have seen here in Vietnam are just as amazing as the lighters, if not more. During the Vietnam war, zippo was king for the army guys and a lot of the troops personalised their lighters. The same holds true for the ashtrays. I have seen some ashtrays that are completely home made. I can only gues when they were out on patrol they couldn’t just drop their “butts” (the Vietnamese would find them) so they built portable ones they could take with them.
A similar question as before, “ is there a market I can trade or sell my ashtrays along with the (mostly) Zippo lighters.
Cheers
Stephen
I appreciate the insight and comment Steve, thanks again! Ashtrays are definitely an underrated segment of the hobby in my estimation and some of my favorite items to collect. For one thing, ashtrays are typically much cheaper than advertising lighters for the same brand. They are also extremely useful add you pointed out when butt can’t just be strewn about. I am glad you enjoyed reading about the ashtrays and I will try to write these sorts of articles more often!✌️
Your blog post on vintage lighters and ashtrays was a fascinating read for me, as someone who is interested in the history and craftsmanship of vintage items. Your personal anecdotes and experiences with collecting lighters and ashtrays added a unique and personal touch to the post, making it an engaging and enjoyable read.
I appreciated your attention-to-detail in describing the design and mechanics of each lighter and ashtray, as well as their historical context. It was interesting to learn about the different materials and styles used in vintage lighters and how they evolved over time.
Thank you Dave, I appreciate you stopping by and reading the article and hope you got as much enjoyment from reading it as I did from writing it. I think there were many elements of manufacturing at the time which were up in the air and required the use of materials much of the time that wouldn’t otherwise have been used. The creator of this lighter certainly seemed to have a mind of their own as there are several elements present that you just don’t see in other lighters.