Ronson's Lighters
Encyclopedia
Ronson Consumer Products Corporation was formerly based in Somerset, New Jersey
, USA. It was a producer of lighters and lighter accessories once known for its stylish and dependable cigarette lighter line, and the advertising slogan, "You're a winner - with a Ronson!"
The Ronson brand is now owned by Zippo
Manufacturing Company, Bradford, Pennsylvania
.
, a gifted man who at 16 years old received a U.S. patent for a commercially valuable metal plating process he developed. "His experiments, which he has been conducting since his early youth, resulted in 1893 in the discovery of a process for electrically producing tinplate. Much money was expended upon improving the process... and has been of great practical value to the whole industry." Retaining its rights, he sold the patent and used its proceeds to open the Art Metal Works in New York City. The following year he moved his factory to Newark, New Jersey
. Soon the company was producing a variety of high quality lamps, book ends, statues and other decorative items, prized today for their detail in the collector marketplace.
Aronson had established himself as a safety-match development pioneer with his inventions of the Non-Toxic Match and the All-Weather Match in the 1890s. "Another discovery of Mr. Aronson was the wind-match, for which he applied for a patent December 29, 1896. His inventive genius had found a chemical combination which insured combustion in the highest wind, a boon to the tourist as well as to the explorer and the hunter. The patent was granted October 26, 1897, and a testimony to its merits is shown by the following letter written by the former scientific chemist to the Royal Society of Great Britain in response to an inquiry of some capitalists as to the chemical and commercial importance of the match: "In regard to the match patent by Louis V. Aronson, which patent is dated October 26, 1897, the number of which is 592,227, I beg to state that during the progress of this invention and application for patent, I carefully examined, as chemist, the various steps described therein, and have carefully considered it both commercially and chemically. My conclusions are that the process of manufacture is a simple one, the product a superior one, and the patent a broad and complete one, and can, therefore, recommend it fully and well to you. If properly placed on the market, I feel convinced that it will make a great success, as the article certainly fills a long-felt want and has not any of the objectionable features of the wind-matches heretofore placed on the market.
"(Signed) MARTIN E. WALSTEIN."
In the investigations conducted for the purpose of improving this Windmatch, Aronson discovered the method for making a non-phosphorus match. This had been the goal of endeavor for chemical investigators in the industrial world for a long time, the necessity for that ingredient being the cause of that dreaded disease known in the match-making industry as "phossy jaw
." The Belgian government had offered a prize of 50,000 francs, or $10,000, in a competition open to the whole world. This offer had stirred up scientists and chemists to redouble their efforts to produce such a match, and many came very near to eliminating this poisonous phosphorus from the match. The prize was, however, awarded to Mr. Aronson, he being adjudged the only one to produce an absolutely non-phosphorus match, and to have complied entirely with the conditions of the contest. This triumph for American production is hoped will in time secure a generous reward to the discoverer, since negotiations are in progress with some of the largest manufacturers in the world for the rights for its production and sale."
When, in time, technological advances were developed to allow for the manufacture of a safe flint material in 1906, Aronson's ambition for an automatic pocket lighter soon became a reality.
Under the leadership of Louis Aronson, the Art Metal Works began designing prototypes, and patented several generations of Igniting-Apparatus until finally arriving at the Banjo Lighter. Ronson received an exclusive patent, in 1926, for a new automatic style of lighter that worked with one hand and Ronson marketed it under the slogan "A flip - and it's lit! Release - and it's out!"
Ronson's new lighters were an overnight success worldwide and soon the company offered a variety of lighters for all tastes.
As with the Art Metal Works output, many well-built and stylish early Ronson lighters demand high prices in the collectibles marketplace.
During World War II, Ronson plants were switched to 24-hour ammunition production, though Zippo
lighters were available to U.S. GIs.
American-made Sherman tanks were nicknamed "Ronsons" by German tank crews for their propensity to catch fire when hit by German tank shells.
In the early 1980s, high costs and the advent of cheap disposable lighters forced closure of its production facility at Leatherhead
in England. Now, a European branch at Long Buckby
in Northamptonshire in the UK sells a range of stylish and exclusive butane lighters consistent with the firm's legacy, along with the usual disposible and refillable lighters and requisites.
Ronson appliances in Australia, eventually sold by a corporate entity divorced from the original lighter manufacturer, have also gone under.
Today Ronson remains a strong brand in the U.S. and Canada. Ronson pocket lighters are available in both disposable and refillable versions. Several models of multi-purpose lighters and a touch-utility lighter are also marketed. Ronsonol lighter fluid and Multi-fill butane fuel have a sizable market share in North American markets.
The Ronson brand is sold in the U.K. by a separate company.
Somerset, New Jersey
Somerset is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located at the easternmost section within Franklin Township, in Somerset County, New Jersey. At the 2000 United States Census, the CDP population was 23,040...
, USA. It was a producer of lighters and lighter accessories once known for its stylish and dependable cigarette lighter line, and the advertising slogan, "You're a winner - with a Ronson!"
The Ronson brand is now owned by Zippo
Zippo
A Zippo lighter is a refillable, metal lighter manufactured by Zippo Manufacturing Company of Bradford, Pennsylvania, U.S. Thousands of different styles and designs have been made in the seven decades since their introduction including military ones for specific regiments.-Establishment:George G...
Manufacturing Company, Bradford, Pennsylvania
Bradford, Pennsylvania
Bradford is a small city located in rural McKean County, Pennsylvania, in the United States 78 miles south of Buffalo, New York. Settled in 1823, Bradford was chartered as a city in 1879 and emerged as a wild oil boomtown in the Pennsylvanian oil rush in the late 19th century...
.
Art Metal Works
The Ronson lighter company started as The Art Metal Works in 1886 by Louis V. AronsonLouis V. Aronson
Louis Vincent Aronson , inventor and businessman, founded the Art Metal Works, which evolved to manufacture Ronson lighters.-Biography:...
, a gifted man who at 16 years old received a U.S. patent for a commercially valuable metal plating process he developed. "His experiments, which he has been conducting since his early youth, resulted in 1893 in the discovery of a process for electrically producing tinplate. Much money was expended upon improving the process... and has been of great practical value to the whole industry." Retaining its rights, he sold the patent and used its proceeds to open the Art Metal Works in New York City. The following year he moved his factory to Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. Soon the company was producing a variety of high quality lamps, book ends, statues and other decorative items, prized today for their detail in the collector marketplace.
Aronson had established himself as a safety-match development pioneer with his inventions of the Non-Toxic Match and the All-Weather Match in the 1890s. "Another discovery of Mr. Aronson was the wind-match, for which he applied for a patent December 29, 1896. His inventive genius had found a chemical combination which insured combustion in the highest wind, a boon to the tourist as well as to the explorer and the hunter. The patent was granted October 26, 1897, and a testimony to its merits is shown by the following letter written by the former scientific chemist to the Royal Society of Great Britain in response to an inquiry of some capitalists as to the chemical and commercial importance of the match: "In regard to the match patent by Louis V. Aronson, which patent is dated October 26, 1897, the number of which is 592,227, I beg to state that during the progress of this invention and application for patent, I carefully examined, as chemist, the various steps described therein, and have carefully considered it both commercially and chemically. My conclusions are that the process of manufacture is a simple one, the product a superior one, and the patent a broad and complete one, and can, therefore, recommend it fully and well to you. If properly placed on the market, I feel convinced that it will make a great success, as the article certainly fills a long-felt want and has not any of the objectionable features of the wind-matches heretofore placed on the market.
"(Signed) MARTIN E. WALSTEIN."
In the investigations conducted for the purpose of improving this Windmatch, Aronson discovered the method for making a non-phosphorus match. This had been the goal of endeavor for chemical investigators in the industrial world for a long time, the necessity for that ingredient being the cause of that dreaded disease known in the match-making industry as "phossy jaw
Phossy jaw
Phossy jaw, formally phosphorus necrosis of the jaw, is an occupational disease of those who work with white phosphorus, also known as yellow phosphorus, without proper safeguards. It was most commonly seen in workers in the match industry in the 19th and early 20th century...
." The Belgian government had offered a prize of 50,000 francs, or $10,000, in a competition open to the whole world. This offer had stirred up scientists and chemists to redouble their efforts to produce such a match, and many came very near to eliminating this poisonous phosphorus from the match. The prize was, however, awarded to Mr. Aronson, he being adjudged the only one to produce an absolutely non-phosphorus match, and to have complied entirely with the conditions of the contest. This triumph for American production is hoped will in time secure a generous reward to the discoverer, since negotiations are in progress with some of the largest manufacturers in the world for the rights for its production and sale."
When, in time, technological advances were developed to allow for the manufacture of a safe flint material in 1906, Aronson's ambition for an automatic pocket lighter soon became a reality.
Under the leadership of Louis Aronson, the Art Metal Works began designing prototypes, and patented several generations of Igniting-Apparatus until finally arriving at the Banjo Lighter. Ronson received an exclusive patent, in 1926, for a new automatic style of lighter that worked with one hand and Ronson marketed it under the slogan "A flip - and it's lit! Release - and it's out!"
Ronson's new lighters were an overnight success worldwide and soon the company offered a variety of lighters for all tastes.
Ronson Lighter Company
In 1913, Louis Aronson applied for a patent for a Liter (lighter), which was approved, along with others in years to come. In 1926 he released a new "automatic operation" Banjo lighter, which offered both ignition and extinguishment in a single push. It was a great success, demand shortly exceeding supply, spurring Aronson to patent it and design other products around the invention, which were marketed under the Ronson brand name.As with the Art Metal Works output, many well-built and stylish early Ronson lighters demand high prices in the collectibles marketplace.
During World War II, Ronson plants were switched to 24-hour ammunition production, though Zippo
Zippo
A Zippo lighter is a refillable, metal lighter manufactured by Zippo Manufacturing Company of Bradford, Pennsylvania, U.S. Thousands of different styles and designs have been made in the seven decades since their introduction including military ones for specific regiments.-Establishment:George G...
lighters were available to U.S. GIs.
American-made Sherman tanks were nicknamed "Ronsons" by German tank crews for their propensity to catch fire when hit by German tank shells.
Ronson Consumer Products Corporation
After the war, Ronson turned to producing lighters, then branched out into domestic goods such as electric shavers and cooking appliances. The company expanded to include England and Australia.In the early 1980s, high costs and the advent of cheap disposable lighters forced closure of its production facility at Leatherhead
Leatherhead
Leatherhead is a town in the County of Surrey, England, on the River Mole, part of Mole Valley district. It is thought to be of Saxon origin...
in England. Now, a European branch at Long Buckby
Long Buckby
Long Buckby is a village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England, midway between Northampton and Rugby. In the 2001 census the parish of Long Buckby had a population of exactly 4,000....
in Northamptonshire in the UK sells a range of stylish and exclusive butane lighters consistent with the firm's legacy, along with the usual disposible and refillable lighters and requisites.
Ronson appliances in Australia, eventually sold by a corporate entity divorced from the original lighter manufacturer, have also gone under.
Today
In February 2010, Zippo acquired certain assets of Ronson (lighters and lighter fluid products) in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. As a Zippo brand, Ronson is based at Zippo headquarters in Bradford, PA. The acquisition did not include the Ronson Aviation subsidiary.Today Ronson remains a strong brand in the U.S. and Canada. Ronson pocket lighters are available in both disposable and refillable versions. Several models of multi-purpose lighters and a touch-utility lighter are also marketed. Ronsonol lighter fluid and Multi-fill butane fuel have a sizable market share in North American markets.
The Ronson brand is sold in the U.K. by a separate company.