Zippo has been around since before most of you and me, but not many people are aware of the rich history the brand boasts. Sure, the company makes 100s of different kinds of lighters, in all shapes and sizes, but there are certain titbits about the iconic Zippo lighters that you don’t know about. Since 1933, the company has been producing the highest quality lighters for a vast consumer base, and there are plenty of exciting and cool facts about the company that will definitely add to your trivia. In this article, we have tried to compile a list of some of the most worth-knowing:
World War II Helped the Company Soar
Even though it’s hard to attribute anything positive to a world war, Zippo did actually benefit a lot from the second greatest global atrocity. The company started selling a lot of lighters to the military, and at the time they were in high demand because you really could do with a light in times of chaos.
UNITED KINGDOM – MARCH 01: 60th Anniversary Of Lighter ‘Zippo’ On March 1st, 1992 – Zippo Advertising Car (Photo by Patrick AVENTURIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
American soldiers were able to buy lighters from ship stores or Army Exchanges, and they thought the legendary rugged design of the lighters to be a good fit with the prevalent combat scene. Ernie Pyle, a famous war reporter, aptly said, “On the battlefield, the Zippo Lighter is indeed the most coveted thing.”