The Legend of the LighterOne of the foundations of civilization as we know it is the ability to make and transport fire. Ever since our cave-dwelling ancestors rubbed sticks and stones together, humankind has pursued a quest for an efficient and reliable fire-making device - a quest that has inspired some of the most innovative inventions in history. The Legend of the Lighter traces this fascinating journey from the fire steels of the ancient world to the tinderboxes of the seventeenth century up to the modern cigarette lighter, which is featured here in an astonishing variety of designs. Drawn from the unparalleled collection of the Dutch Lighter Museum Foundation, the numerous unique, distinctive, and whimsical lighters reproduced here chart the voyage of the lighter from an important scientific discovery to a treasured collector's item. Along the way, we learn about the history of the pipe, the popularization of smoking, and the growth of today's global marketplace, as well as other significant events and wondrous inventions that have played a role in the history of the lighter. |
Common terms and phrases
aluminum and brass Anodized aluminum Austria Bakelite battery spark Brass with chromium Brass with gold Britain burner pocket lighter butane button century chromium plating cotton wool disposable lighter electric Feudor fire steel flame Flaminaire flint striker flint wheel pocket flint wheel table France fuel fusee gas and battery gas and flint gas with piezo gasoline and flint gasoline and semi-rotating gasoline lighter gasoline pocket lighter Germany gold plating ignition pocket lighter Japan Japanese lighter Karl Wieden Lacquered metal alloy lamp leather edging light lighter by Ronson lighter industry lighter manufacturers lighter with flint methanol Nationale Netherlands patented phosphorus piezo ignition piezo ignition pocket Plastic and brass plating and enamel plating and lacquer plating and leather plating and plastic pocket pipe lighter produced Rowenta semi-rotating flint wheel smoking Steel with chromium Switzerland tank tinderbox tobacco United wheel pocket lighter wheel pocket pipe wheel table lighter wick Zippo