Dunhill WWII Service Lighter (pics)

[danielplainview]

I found this at an estate sale months ago. I thought it was a neat little piece of history. I finally got around to making it operational. I just added a flint, wick, and fluid.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Did Zippo parts and fuel work, or were they specific to the lighter? Love old lighters BTW.

 

[danielplainview]

Zippo flint and wick. Perfect fit.

 

[Chasing Embers]

:clap: Awesome save! Could all trench lighters be fit with Zippo parts?

 

[ssjones]

Wow, that is a piece of history!

 

[papipeguy]

That is really neat. So, the wadding was still usable after 75 years? That's remarkable. Have fun with it.

 

[danielplainview]

@ pipeguy
I thought the same thing. Yes it's the original wadding.
I like the patina. I don't plan on cleaning it up.

 

[warren]

I love it! I wonder who made it for Dunhill? Zippo?

 

[oldsalt]

You have to wonder where that lighter traveled and what it saw. North Africa? Normandy? Arnhem? Very cool.

 

[okiebrad]

That is very cool indeed.

 

[swhipple]

That is a great old lighter. I've sworn off any lighter that isn't a Bic but I'd be willing to use a lighter like that.

 

[beefeater33]

What a great piece of history! I would love to hear the stories it could tell! Nice find......... ::

 

[jefff]

That is so cool.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Super good find and save! Is the case steel? Other parts nickel?

 

[randelli]

Sorry to ask a silly question; but how do you light it? I see the tank, flint, and wheel. It looks like the cover would get in the way of turning the wheel?

 

[warren]

Open the cap and you've turned the wheel sparking the flint. If my memory hasn't failed me.

 

[gmjabsky]

Coooooool! It's fantastic to have a working historic artifact in a throwaway world.

 

[shutterbugg]

Awesome bit of history. Almost tempted to pick one up, there's a ton of them on fleabay all the time. Apparently it has a wind screen, wonder how it would work outdoors held sideways over a pipe.

 

[eduardovieira]

This is history :clap: :puffpipe:

 

[daveinlax]

I've seen guys with army surplus cases selling the boxed pipe/lighter sets at shows. I'd guess that by WWII cigarettes were more popular than pipes. 8O