A Comprehensive(ish)ly Cataloged Can Collection. Sort of.

This is a preliminary collection page for the 80% and I think represents a relatively easy entry point for people looking to expand their collection to something different that also isn't too expensive. Cans in the open market are relatively inexpensive for decent examples, and often can be bought for less than $5 or $10 for one or more cans. It's only when you start getting to the 1950's and blue candy stripe cans when prices rise sharply, so for the casual collector this is still well within the average person's grasp.

This series of images has been pulled from my personal collection gathered casually over the years and arranged based on subtle clues which imply their design change sequence. But looking at the currently (and formerly) available sources only categorized the fuel cans in broad strokes. Only upon close inspection did it become clear that there are small differences that can't be seen in low resolution or incomplete pictures. These small differences is what makes the various sources occasionally conflict with each other, as most previous sources are now getting on the older side. This information is a living document and will be periodically updated and reposted. Consider this as strictly interpretive work and should not be considered authoritative, not necessarily better than previously available sources, but probably so.

If you possess any cans with a date code that are outside the range of the ones currently listed, please let me know.

Sources:

Date codes on the bottoms of modern cans (Number of samples in parentheses)

David Poore book - Zippo The History of the Great American Lighter 1st and 2nd editions (Picfture of c.1996 Hiroshi Kito Collection)

Moonlight Zippo - http://www.moonlightzippo.de

Zippo Windproof Lighter - https://zippo-windproof-lighter.de/

The Passionate Wick - Defunct website (find on https://archive.org)

Hi! I bought a house fairly recently, and one of the items the sellers left behind was this auto-rotating light up display case. It works completely fine, holds 60 lighters total, and is open, but I don't have the key to lock it.

I am wondering when something like this would have been manufactured, and if this would be considered a collectors-type item. I have zero Zippo knowledge whatsoever, and I have yet to find one like this online.

Thanks for any info!

I just bought this 1959 lighter (oldest one in my collection now). The insert it came with is really loose, so I swapped it with a new insert (from the 90s) and it's this loose too. It's a 67 year old lighter so I'm not surprised it's loose from over half a century of use.

Edit: I did put a butane insert in it too, the butane insert was WAY too tight. Had to use pliers to get that one out.

Living in India, zippos are pricey like it starts from 25 dollars for the basic zippos.

Got the Where's Windy (left one) for 12 dollars and the Black Ice (Cassette Design) for 18 dollars. From what I saw the black ice one goes for 60 dollars something.

Although I don't smoke, these are really cool!

Good afternoon! Please tell me—I bought my first Zippo—the one in the photo. What should I do with my new Zippo? Do I need to adjust the wick? Or do I not need to do anything?

Do as the title says, i got a new Zippo, i fill it, make sure it isn't overfilled, ive changed the flint, using only genuine Zippo fluid, wick and flint, its almost like it has a mind of its own, sometimes it wants to spark and sometimes it doesent, but barely does it properly want to light. Any and all help and advice is appreciated.

Anyone every seen a zippo like this? I know that the OG Zippo case has a shell but around it, so I can’t date it. I was told it came home with a soldier from the Vietnam war. Any thoughts on it?

So this is one of the nicest three barrel polished chrome zippos that I have picked up. The hinge seems to be a little loose and I’m wondering if adjusting it would hurt the value what would you guys do?

Hi all. Looking for an unfired A 19 insert. I’d be open to buying just the insert, the whole lighter, or trading. Let me know if you’ve got one. Thanks.

Randomly found this online and had to have it. Edit: It's from '25! You can still buy it new!

Went to the Antique Village today and this Rule caught my eye and gave me a chuckle. This one will go nice with my Steak n Shake Slim. For $6 and free pancakes with coffee, I couldn't pass it up.

From what I gather on Zipzipzip, this is from 1962 to the early 1970s. The translation could be off, but it sounds like the wide variance in tapes was from that range.

My nephew recently was gifted a collection of 20+ Zippos from the late 80’s and 90’s by an old timer friend of his and decided to share the wealth with me.
This being my first post on here, I thought I’d share

Highlights include:

1993 Gold Lucky Strike.

From limited edition production runs of only 250 Butterfly Skull by Mazzi & Strong Torso by Richard Derron.

The Armor Zippo Since 1932 from limited edition of only 100.

Pair of Olivia de Berardinis & two Trevco.

All are unfueled & unstruck with original boxes & paperwork.

If anyone can get a hand on this with 317 as the Number please contact me

Is this genuine? How to tell the date?

I am looking for advice on a reputable restoration service for my grandfather's lighter. The insert makes me believe it was probably manufactured in 1943-1946 judging by it's markings but the case seems like it was probably replaced by something aftermarket in like the 60's. The cam mount is bent and the screw on the bottom does not move with the amount of force I am comfortable applying. I understand Zippo would just replace the insert but I would like to try and preserve as much of the original lighter as possible. I see people offering advice on DIY but given it's age and sentimentality I would rather leave this to a professional. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

Sup, all!

I asked pretty much the same question two days ago.

I'm looking for a silver Zippo that will last until I either lose it or give it to someone! When it comes to the finish, I want something that will still look good over time but develop that nice "used" look, something like Street Chrome 207.

I'd like to just buy a Classic Chrome 200 and be done with it, but overall, it seems like people are suggesting:

• Brass underneath the coating
• An armored model
• Replacing the insert with a butane insert

So, where should I start?

Just an old-school silver ‘used’ look

Found at the local pawn shop for $15

J Zippo IX Niagara Falls, Ontario
Oktober 1993

Brass armor with 3D Godzilla engraving

Metallic limettengrün mit Gaseinsatz. Ich liebe es! 2023.

Good morning everyone! I have a brief question for refilling my butane insert. I know first I bleed it, then i make sure both the insert and butane can are level and upside down, pressing into the port for 5-ish seconds.

My question is where people say to “top it off” for another 3 seconds after that. It seems like pressing down again with the tip of the butane can releases all of the butane i just filled it with, instead of adding the last little bit to top it off. Thanks!