The Ultimate Zippo — LighterGallery.com

THE ULTIMATE ZIPPO

This unique table lighter is an early prototype Zippo created by Mr. Joe Mechanco and commissioned by Mr. Blaisdell for test market purposes and was never released to production. Mr. Mechanco worked for Mr. Blaisdell in the Rickerson & Pryde building in Bradford with six others as one of the first Zippo employees. He only worked with the tall, outside hinge model lighters. He left Zippo around 1936 to pursue a career with Bell Aerospace in Niagra Falls N.Y. The lighter was put together from parts in the Zippo shop for Mr. Blaisdell. The lighter case and insert and Scotty metallique were standard and the base and flame were prototypes but attached with original flint screws. The condition, rarity, age, uniqueness and eye appeal of this exceptional lighter undoubtedly makes it rate as the "Ultimate Zippo" in this gallery.

The case introduced in 1933 is a "tall" square cornered case, 1/4" taller than the outside hinge cases introduced in 1934. Paired horizontal and vertical lines are engraved on the sides and a red version of the Scotty dog metallique has been added as decoration. The case is two-sided, with the reverse having the identical lines and Scotty dog metallique as the front.The flame is made of bakelite, an early plastic, and it may be one of the first flame added as decoration to a Zippo lighter. By attaching the base and the bakelite flame to the tall pocket model Zippo, it was transformed into a table model.

The insert is taller 1/4" than later models, has 16 chimney holes, a hollow rivet and a horizontally cut wheel. The cam is rounded. The outside hinge is original; has not been repaired

The bakelite flame has been attached to the lid using flint screws. The bottom is covered with green felt.

See 1933 Zippos for images of the very earliest Zippo lighters