IMCO Lighter History Pages
IMCO Lighters in the Movies IMCO Lighter Cases
IMCO Lighter Austrian 1920's Patents IMCO Lighter Austrian 1930's Patents
IMCO Lighter US 1930's Patents IMCO Lighter US 1960's Patents
IMCO Lighter US 1940's Patents IMCO Lighter US 1970's Patents
IMCO Lighter US 1950's Patents IMCO Lighter US 1980's Patents
Vintage lighters on these history pages are NOT FOR SALE.
Please see IMCO Lighters for new IMCO's for sale and Free US Shipping!
International buyers, please see Thunderhawk Collectables Amazon Store.
Have more information on vintage IMCO Lighters? Please share and I'll add it to the site.
Please click on photos to enlarge and view slide show. Thanks!
IMCO Lighter Austrian 1920's Patents IMCO Lighter Austrian 1930's Patents
IMCO Lighter US 1930's Patents IMCO Lighter US 1960's Patents
IMCO Lighter US 1940's Patents IMCO Lighter US 1970's Patents
IMCO Lighter US 1950's Patents IMCO Lighter US 1980's Patents
Vintage lighters on these history pages are NOT FOR SALE.
Please see IMCO Lighters for new IMCO's for sale and Free US Shipping!
International buyers, please see Thunderhawk Collectables Amazon Store.
Have more information on vintage IMCO Lighters? Please share and I'll add it to the site.
Please click on photos to enlarge and view slide show. Thanks!
A Brief History of IMCO Lighters
This legendary company opened its doors in 1907 as a button factory in Austria, founded by Julius Meister. In 1918, their first trench lighters were made from spent artillery shells used in World War I. Now, they are prized by collectors around the world. Known for its wind resistant feature, these lighters became a popular product for the military, then for the smoker and the outdoorsman.
Unfortunately, as of the end of June 2012, IMCO closed its doors.
IMCO's latest lighters, especially their "collectable series" lighters, are sought after by collectors all over the world. The company made and sold over 500,000,000 cigarette lighters since day one.
The modern IMCO company had branched out into three basic "trench" lighter designs, with many more designs based on those lighters. IMCO also sold pipe lighters and other specialty items. IMCO lighters are very easy to fill with lighter fluid and have an easily replaceable flint. Some of the unique features of this lighter include: lighting without a spark wheel, windscreen, and the ability to remove the lit fuel chamber for lighting cigarettes, pipes, fireplaces, candles, and campfires.
For the lighter history buffs, the first true Ronson lighter was the "Banjou Lighter", made and patented in 1926. The first Zippo lighters were made in 1932 and had patents pending in 1933. This makes IMCO the oldest cigarette lighter company! Yes, Ronson had a lighter in 1913 called the "Wonderlighter", but it was a "Strike" or "Striker" ligher. These were basically a match-like steel post with a metal tip surrounded with cotton, which was dipped in it's container of fluid, then struck on the flint attached to the side of the container. The spark ignited the match.
IMCO is recognized as the first lighter company to truly achieve a more "modern" cigarette lighter! Please visit IMCO's website to read more about the origins of the company. It is still online, but there is no information on how long this will continue.
Unfortunately, as of the end of June 2012, IMCO closed its doors.
IMCO's latest lighters, especially their "collectable series" lighters, are sought after by collectors all over the world. The company made and sold over 500,000,000 cigarette lighters since day one.
The modern IMCO company had branched out into three basic "trench" lighter designs, with many more designs based on those lighters. IMCO also sold pipe lighters and other specialty items. IMCO lighters are very easy to fill with lighter fluid and have an easily replaceable flint. Some of the unique features of this lighter include: lighting without a spark wheel, windscreen, and the ability to remove the lit fuel chamber for lighting cigarettes, pipes, fireplaces, candles, and campfires.
For the lighter history buffs, the first true Ronson lighter was the "Banjou Lighter", made and patented in 1926. The first Zippo lighters were made in 1932 and had patents pending in 1933. This makes IMCO the oldest cigarette lighter company! Yes, Ronson had a lighter in 1913 called the "Wonderlighter", but it was a "Strike" or "Striker" ligher. These were basically a match-like steel post with a metal tip surrounded with cotton, which was dipped in it's container of fluid, then struck on the flint attached to the side of the container. The spark ignited the match.
IMCO is recognized as the first lighter company to truly achieve a more "modern" cigarette lighter! Please visit IMCO's website to read more about the origins of the company. It is still online, but there is no information on how long this will continue.
