I found my oldest ever Zippo lighter

[giant056]

It's a four barrel internal hinge that was made from 1938-1944, I put a newer insert in it so that I can use it. I kept the original insert but it's pretty much toast. The knife is an Imperial and I put it back in apple cider vinegar to remove more rust from the iron part of it. I made these finds in Kleinstuck preserve, I know for sure that Pulltabsteve remembers me posting about this woods.

35359
35360
35361

[Digger Don]

Great Find
So Zippos really do last forever

[wisconsin digger]

Is it true that Zippo will replace lighters that don't work. I found two myself but I can't believe they would replace something that was corroded in the ground for many yaers. Nice find. Wisconsin Digger

[giant056]

Is it true that Zippo will replace lighters that don't work. I found two myself but I can't believe they would replace something that was corroded in the ground for many yaers. Nice find. Wisconsin Digger

The guy that owns the smoke shop where I buy my tobacco said that if I do send one of the dug zippos in to make sure I put the all origianal item in when sent, he say's they guaranteed for life and that he's sure they would repair it, I have a slimline zippo I think I'm going to try it with just for the heck of it. :grin:

[Tony Two-Cent]

Very cool find! It's nice that it's possible to date Zippo lighters by the markings on the bottom. I've only found one.

[giant056]

Since I made this post I've read up more on zippos and this particular one was made in either 1938 or 1939. On the really older zippos there are different manufacturing process during certain years that you can use to determine approximately when the lighters were made.

http://zippocollectors.com/zippo.html

[coinnut]

Wow, I never knew that Zippo was that old of a company. Nice looking lighter and a great find.

[jbolf6]

Sweet find!