If you are able to work on the Japanese Flamex lighters, we need to talk. I have three "Pocket Pipe" models that other restorers have told me cannot be fixed.
I Like Lighters!
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Thanks! One of the reasons I stopped using my Zippo. =)
I've seen those & other manufacturers' pen-style lighters before, but never picked up any. Realistically it's probably not worth it to pay someone to try & get something like that going. If they don't have or can't get proper parts, then they're wasting time scrapping around for whatever might or might not work. Usually seals, regulators, & non-serviceable sub-assemblies are where you'll hit dead-ends with these types of things. I've heard people complain that those pen-style lighters don't hold a lot of gas, which I could see being a problem in terms of actually running one. You could try diagnosing & repairing them yourself just for fun. If you open them up, post a couple good pics of the guts!
Here's a Universal Score pipe lighter from France: (1950's?)
Cool 30's-50's overall design & text:
This would be another lighter where I'm guessing you'd swap out the tank at the local store. The frame slides out easily, & the tank can then be removed. To change the flint, the L-shaped lever rotates 90deg & then springs out of the flint tube.
To light, you press & hold the button on top, & then strike it.
Cool 30's-50's overall design & text:
This would be another lighter where I'm guessing you'd swap out the tank at the local store. The frame slides out easily, & the tank can then be removed. To change the flint, the L-shaped lever rotates 90deg & then springs out of the flint tube.
To light, you press & hold the button on top, & then strike it.
I love seeing these. I just got my first zippo with the pipe insert for Christmas. So far no complaints...except I feel like I'm always refilling it even when I don't use it. Is that normal?
Thanks! There are a bunch of "tips & tricks" out there for various Zippo issues.
Here's a video of one of my New Methods in action. These are fun to light off!
New Method Video
Thanks! Here's some Airflam catalytic lighter stuff:
The red box is one product, it would contain a giant bottle of methanol, & a couple of lighters or one lighter & a spare combustion chamber sub-assembly. I'm not sure exactly, because all I have is the box.
The smaller boxes are separate products & each contain one lighter & one spare cartridge.
Better view of the Platinum Black & platinum wires of the lighter & the spare cart. These are cool in that they will actually light when you pop the top off, since air will be pulled through the carb-hole, drawing the methanol gas across the platinum, & also adding some outside air. It'll light, & air will continue to be drawn through the carb-hole. The instructions say to shake it after taking the cap off, but mine would usually light simply by removing the cap. I had a beat-up working example, but the frame for the wire, & the paper wick corroded like a battery after fueling & letting it sit for a while. The ones shown here have never been fueled or used.
It fills from the bottom with methanol after removing the bottom cover.
"Made in Germany"
Here's a chrome-plated Ippag Dice:
I'm not usually interested in lift-arm lighters, but this one is pretty neat.
It needed a new rubber seal on the bottom of the lift-arm.
Lots of brass:
The finger on the adjustment wheel is supposed to be behind the shell, I believe. It's easier to use with it in front, so that's how I set it.
These were made in Japan & were made in a variety of finishes & patterns, including some painted to look like casino dice, which are cool. There's also a table lighter version, which is basically the same thing as this, but about 3x taller.
I'm not usually interested in lift-arm lighters, but this one is pretty neat.
It needed a new rubber seal on the bottom of the lift-arm.
Lots of brass:
The finger on the adjustment wheel is supposed to be behind the shell, I believe. It's easier to use with it in front, so that's how I set it.
These were made in Japan & were made in a variety of finishes & patterns, including some painted to look like casino dice, which are cool. There's also a table lighter version, which is basically the same thing as this, but about 3x taller.
I'll get back to posting some more pipe lighters soon, but here's a lighter that showed up in a lot of stuff that I had bought, & it turned out to be a neat little lighter.
S.R.M. Japan "Water Buoy":
It seems to be a small survival lighter geared towards marine-usage. It has a lanyard, & says "waterproof" on the bottom of the case.
It may float if the plastic shell is fully closed, but that's a guess.
Flame-height adjustment wheel is on top, directly under the nozzle.
All-metal inside of the shell, with a tiny butane fuel tank:
Fill port & access to flint tube are on the bottom of the fuel tank:
Works reliably:
S.R.M. Japan "Water Buoy":
It seems to be a small survival lighter geared towards marine-usage. It has a lanyard, & says "waterproof" on the bottom of the case.
It may float if the plastic shell is fully closed, but that's a guess.
Flame-height adjustment wheel is on top, directly under the nozzle.
All-metal inside of the shell, with a tiny butane fuel tank:
Fill port & access to flint tube are on the bottom of the fuel tank:
Works reliably:
Colibri Super Pipette:
I bought a Super-Pipette when I was looking for a replacement pipe lighter a handful of years ago. These are OK, but not fun to work on. The two above work, but I have another one with cracks in the plastic frame, & it leaks. The fill valves & regulators are nearly impossible to work on. They probably could have gone with plastic tanks on these. =)
Colibri Firebird "PiP-Flam" :
I saw a "PiP-Flam" & thought it had a good look. Unfortunately it's disappointing as a daily. I had one which ran for a little while before disintegrating, then I got another one which I could never get running properly, finally I got this one in decent condition with the box, & even in this condition, the mesh between the teeth of the flame adjustment wheel & the teeth of the regulator don't always line up. The wheel will "float" above it sometimes, & "skip". Sometimes the wheel will fall into the housing & you have to dig it out, or take it apart to get to it. Also, the metal portion of the top frame doesn't help it, as the screw holding the metal portion in place will loosen & cause a lot of flex when using the lighter. Eventually the threaded hole for the screw will crack & it's done.
The Pip-Flam & the Super Pipette weren't going to make it as good everyday lighters for me, so I kept looking.
I bought a Super-Pipette when I was looking for a replacement pipe lighter a handful of years ago. These are OK, but not fun to work on. The two above work, but I have another one with cracks in the plastic frame, & it leaks. The fill valves & regulators are nearly impossible to work on. They probably could have gone with plastic tanks on these. =)
Colibri Firebird "PiP-Flam" :
I saw a "PiP-Flam" & thought it had a good look. Unfortunately it's disappointing as a daily. I had one which ran for a little while before disintegrating, then I got another one which I could never get running properly, finally I got this one in decent condition with the box, & even in this condition, the mesh between the teeth of the flame adjustment wheel & the teeth of the regulator don't always line up. The wheel will "float" above it sometimes, & "skip". Sometimes the wheel will fall into the housing & you have to dig it out, or take it apart to get to it. Also, the metal portion of the top frame doesn't help it, as the screw holding the metal portion in place will loosen & cause a lot of flex when using the lighter. Eventually the threaded hole for the screw will crack & it's done.
The Pip-Flam & the Super Pipette weren't going to make it as good everyday lighters for me, so I kept looking.
Some very interesting and obscure lighters here!
I took apart an older lighter I bought on eBay once. It didn't go well.
Mike S.
Mike S.
The Colibri "PiP-Flam" & "Super Pipette" (both made in Japan) weren't ideal for me, so I started running a Colibri Firebird Pipette:
Also made in Japan, you can see some similarities in the parts & construction between this Pipette, & the PiP-Flam & Super Pipette in the post above. I liked running this model of Pipette much more than either of the prior two lighters shown. I ran one as a daily for a long time & still have it, & it still works. It's pretty beaten-up, so here are a couple pics of one in better shape:
You'll also occasionally see these with "Prince" branding. I think I've seen them branded as Ben Wade, Savinelli, maybe some others, but those are more scarce.
Also made in Japan, you can see some similarities in the parts & construction between this Pipette, & the PiP-Flam & Super Pipette in the post above. I liked running this model of Pipette much more than either of the prior two lighters shown. I ran one as a daily for a long time & still have it, & it still works. It's pretty beaten-up, so here are a couple pics of one in better shape:
You'll also occasionally see these with "Prince" branding. I think I've seen them branded as Ben Wade, Savinelli, maybe some others, but those are more scarce.
Thanks!
Sometimes, that's how it goes!
That's a wonderful topic. Nice photos and details, really loved the dice lighter.
They also made a table version, "Colibri Pipette-T" :
This one still works with no issues.
That guy is going to scorch his rim! In practice, these burn really well when the flame is turned down, & the flame is also easy to adjust.
Ippag Dice
This one still works with no issues.
That guy is going to scorch his rim! In practice, these burn really well when the flame is turned down, & the flame is also easy to adjust.
Thanks! It depends on what each one needs. "Hard" parts that wear out can be cannibalized. "Soft" parts like seals & regulator material usually need to be replaced with new parts. Occasionally I make or modify something, but that's only under certain circumstances. I "made" the lift-arm seal for the Ippag with a punch & a rubber sheet. Due to how the punch is made, the shoulders aren't square/ one end is bigger than the other, but it worked for that application.
Thanks! Here's a link to a blue one with the "Dice" paint scheme. (Not mine.)
Ippag Dice
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Lighters 2018
Guest
I like Lighter as well. Doe's anyone know when Flaminaire started manufacturing the F 12 Pipe Lighter?
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Lighters 2018
Guest
"Colibri Firebird Pipette & Pipemate" set :
The handle of the pick is stamped "Japan" on one panel, & "Colibri" with the Colibri emblem on the opposite panel.
The handle of the pick is stamped "Japan" on one panel, & "Colibri" with the Colibri emblem on the opposite panel.
My guess would be perhaps as early as the '70's or '60's.
They both should thread out of the tank, although it can be tough to get a good grip on them if they're frozen in place, particularly the fill-valve body.
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Lighters 2018
Guest
Yah, I didn't know if the fill valve was soldered in or what, Mine seemed really froze in there.... The top Flame adjustment valve seems to be a two piece unit by design. Have you ever been able to take it apart to replace the inner seal... I think it's possibly pressed in together as I see no way to unscrew it to get to the internals. Unfortunately I Just received a Chrome plated F-12 without the Flint spring screw assembly...Happen to have and extra you could part with? I would trade you a lighter for it.
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