Vintage Lighter Obsession

[Humblepipe]

I have posted here and there about my recent vintage lighter obsession. Here are the keepers (below). I now have the ability to restore the old Ronson butane lighters (complicated), Nimrods (pretty easy), and Beattie Jet Lighters (somewhere in between). I purchased way too many, but in the process found some favorites that I use regularly;

Nimrod Commander:



Beattie Jet Lighter:



Ronson Varaflame:



1960s-70s Soviet Union Made Lighters (imported from Ukraine):

 

[didimauw]

Those are pretty cool! I've thought about diving into the vintage lighter world a time or two. When you do work on them, do you also replace seals and stuff? I'm curious how long the fluid stays in those old workhorses!

 

[mikethompson]

How dare you make me search for vintage lighters now.

 

[peteguy]

Which is your favorite?

 

[Humblepipe]

Those are pretty cool! I've thought about diving into the vintage lighter world a time or two. When you do work on them, do you also replace seals and stuff? I'm curious how long the fluid stays in those old workhorses!

Yes... I replace seals, valves. That is specifically related to the Ronson butane lighters. The Ronson butane lighters I have (and I did fully restore them) hold fluid for a very long time. The Beattie Jet and the Nimrod lighters are fluid (non-butane) and so evaporation is an issue over time, but they do fine IMHO. The Soviet lighters are quirky... the least practical, but I still love them.

 

[didimauw]

Yes... I replace seals, valves. That is specifically related to the Ronson butane lighters. The Ronson butane lighters I have (and I did fully restore them) hold fluid for a very long time. The Beattie Jet and the Nimrod lighters are fluid (non-butane) and so evaporation is an issue over time, but they do fine IMHO. The Soviet lighters are quirky... the least practical, but I still love them.

You'll have to keep adding to this thread when you get more!

 

[Humblepipe]

You'll have to keep adding to this thread when you get more!

I think I am done LOL... spent a lot of money on 30-40 something lighters. The struggle is real!

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Do you have the butane nozzle adapters for the varaflames?

 

[Humblepipe]

Do you have the butane nozzle adapters for the varaflames?

For refueling?

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

For refueling?

Yes, don’t they take a funky looking butane nozzle?

 

[bayareabriar]

These look great!

 

[Humblepipe]

Yes, don’t they take a funky looking butane nozzle?

No issues when I use this....

 

[Tate]

Looks awesome bro!

 

[kcghost]

Very nice work, bud!!

 

[Chasing Embers]

That's a good looking lineup. A Beattie, a Nimrod, and a Bowers all NOS purchases are my most used lighters. The Beattie easily outclasses every lighter I've ever owned.

 

[SBC]

I've always liked the look of the Beatties.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Histoireduneflamme (Jad Fardoun) is a user on Instagram/FB/TikTok based in France with a VERY impressive collection of lighters. His videos are great. Highly recommend checking him out if you like classic lighters.

 

[Humblepipe]

That's a good looking lineup. A Beattie, a Nimrod, and a Bowers all NOS purchases are my most used lighters. The Beattie easily outclasses every lighter I've ever owned.

View attachment 262958

The Beattie is also my favorite... the engineering of the Beattie is mind-blowing, given it is mid-Century (or even a bit earlier). However, if I don't keep the wick very short it's pretty much a flamethrower LOL.

 

[Humblepipe]

Histoireduneflamme (Jad Fardoun) is a user on Instagram/FB/TikTok based in France with a VERY impressive collection of lighters. His videos are great. Highly recommend checking him out if you like classic lighters.

Just checked out his FB page... NOT good for my 'LAD' hahaha

 

[condorlover1]

Box of Swans does me fine or a Trench Lighter which I seem to have mislaid at this moment!