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.
Some of the photos of lighters in the history pages are compliments of John Flores.
Please visit his site to see more photos of his collection. (Not for sale). John Flores Lighter Collection.
Have more information on vintage IMCO Lighters? Please share and I'll add it to the site. 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.
Some of the photos of lighters in the history pages are compliments of John Flores.
Please visit his site to see more photos of his collection. (Not for sale). John Flores Lighter Collection.
Have more information on vintage IMCO Lighters? Please share and I'll add it to the site. 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 resistent feature, these lighters became a popular product for the military, then for the smoker and the outdoorsman.
Today, IMCO's new lighters, especially their "collectable series" lighters, are sought after by collectors all over the world. The company has made and sold over 500,000,000 cigarette lighters since day one.
The modern IMCO company has branched out into three basic "trench" lighter designs, with many more designs based on those lighters. IMCO also sells 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 and to see other styles of lighters not offered here.
Today, IMCO's new lighters, especially their "collectable series" lighters, are sought after by collectors all over the world. The company has made and sold over 500,000,000 cigarette lighters since day one.
The modern IMCO company has branched out into three basic "trench" lighter designs, with many more designs based on those lighters. IMCO also sells 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 and to see other styles of lighters not offered here.
