Description
I don't know a whole lot about it. Its been hard to find out any information.I know it's an automatic petrol cigar lighter with a mechanical snap up levered mechanism.Manufactured in the late20's to early 30's.The mechanism was first invented by an Austrian, but not patented in the us.Steele and Johnson of Waterbury Conn. copied this design.George Eldred patent date of Sept 17,1912 which you cant quite make out is on the thumb lever.In the base it has Steele & Johnson MFG.CO. Waterbury,Conn. ESSENJAY PRODUCTS New York Office, 280 Madison Ave.Other than that, that's all I could find out.It doesn't light ,but it does spark.
Re: 1920's-1930's Capitol Lighter with ashtray base
I have one very similar to this! Did you ever find out the value?
Re: 1920's-1930's Capitol Lighter with ashtray base
Is yours for sale? And it all depends on the condition. They are worth anywhere from $50 for poor quality to around $200 for mint condition. If you are looking to sell, let me know. Hope this info helps! =)
Re: 1920's-1930's Capitol Lighter with ashtray base
With this ashtray attached, the lighter is not from the 20's-30's. Its actually from the late 1800's. The patent was not approved until 1912. The easiest way to tell is on the trigger-like piece used to light it. Yours, I would venture, is worth around $150 giver or take $25. Beautiful piece. This estimate is assuming that the lighter is in working order.
Re: 1920's-1930's Capitol Lighter with ashtray base
If it has a patent date on it it won't date before that date and could almost 20 years after the patent date, patents ran about 17 years back then. If more than one date appears it dates from the latest patent mark at the earliest.