Item 200007

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Cigarette Lighter

The body of the lighter was the reservoir for lighter fluid, a reasonably stable petroleum fuel. Rotating the rough wheel on the top by a thumb flip, sent a spark from the flint tube below the wheel onto the wick which was drawing fuel from the reservoir. The spark ignited the wick which burned long enough to light a cigarette or a pipe.

Smoking was very common during the fifties and earlier, both in homes and in public areas. This included in airplanes, restaurants and even in hospital staff rooms where doctors and nurses were infamously well practiced in the habit. It was common to see TV hosts seated with a lighted cigarette resting in the ashtray, or punctuating an insightful sentence with a knowing draw on a cigarette.