Zippo Lighters Introduced..1932,Source Wikipeadia and the net

Zippo Manufacturing Comp

Type	Private
Genre	Lighter manufacturer
Founded	1932
Founder(s)	George G. Blaisdell
Headquarters	Bradford, Pennsylvania, U.S
Website	zippo.com

Zippo's flint-wheel Ignition at work

A lit 1968 slim model Zippo

An open full-size Navy Zippo

Brass-based case design with matched insert coloring

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.

Usage

Besides having gained popularity as “windproof” lighters, Zippo lighters are able to stay lit in harsh weather, due to the design of the windscreen and adequate rate of fuel delivery. As such, until recently they were highly popular with backpackers and within the military. Professional backpackers (operating in the wilderness) have however now turned away from the regular Zippo lighter in favor of torch butane lighter which have windproof technology, heavy-duty matches, and ferrocerium rods. Many high-altitude and cold weather backpackers still prefer Zippo lighters because butane lighters are less reliable in cold weather.

A consequence of the windproofing is that it is hard to extinguish a Zippo by blowing out the flame. However, if the flame is blown from the top down, it will be easily extinguished. The proper way to extinguish the lighter is to close the top half, which starves the flame of oxygen, but unlike other lighters, this does not cut the fuel. One of the recognizable features of Zippo is the fact that it burns with a wick. Opening the top lid produces an easily recognizable clicking sound for which Zippo lighters are known, and a different, but similar click can be heard when the lighter is closed. This noise is produced by the cam, a little lever that keeps the lid closed or opened securely, which is intended to keep the lid closed when not in use.

About zippo lighters
One night in 1933 above a garage in Bradford, Pennsylvania, George Blaisdell 
pushed the first insert into the first case of what would be the first Zippo 
lighter. That was nearly 400 million Zippo lighters ago. Mr. Blaisdell would 
be amazed to know that today there are thousands of Zippo lighter collectors 
all over the world, communicating through newsletters and faxes, email 
and web pages, as well as getting together at shows, conventions, and 
the biennial Zippo/Case International Swap Meet.