PAT 2517191 PAT. PEND.
PAT 2517191 PAT. PEND.
PAT 2517191
PAT 2517191
PAT 2517191
PAT 2517191
PAT 2517191
PAT 2517191
PAT 2517191
PAT 2517191
PAT 2517191
PAT 2517191
PAT 2517191
Base Stamps 1955 to 1965
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1955 | .... .... PAT 2517191 PAT. PEND. |
Four dots either side, Pat 2517191 to Left, Pat Pending to Right |
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1956 | ... .... PAT 2517191 PAT. PEND. |
Four dots Right, three dots Left, Pat 2517191 to Left, Pat Pending to Right |
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1957 | .... .... PAT 2517191 |
Four dots either side, Pat 2517191 to Left, Pat Pending has been removed |
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1958 ? | .... ... PAT 2517191 |
Possibly a 1958 model as one dot has been removed from the left. This may have been early 1958 before the Pat number was centred. |
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1958 | .... .... PAT 2517191 |
Four dots either side, Pat 2517191 Has been centralised |
| 1959 | .... ... PAT 2517191 |
Four dots Right, three dots Left, Pat 2517191 - This stamp is rumoured to exist | |
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1959 | ... .... PAT 2517191 |
Three dots Right, Four dots Left, Pat2517191 |
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1960 | ... ... PAT 2517191 |
Three dots either side, Pat 2517191 |
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1961 | ... .. PAT 2517191 |
Three dots Right, Two dots Left, Pat2517191 |
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1962 | .. .. PAT 2517191 |
Two dots either side, Pat 2517191 |
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1963 | .. . PAT 2517191 |
Two dots Right, One dot Left, Pat2517191 |
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1964 | . . PAT 2517191 |
One dot either side, Pat 2517191 |
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1965 | .
PAT 2517191 |
One dot Right, Pat2517191 |
1955 to 1965 Inserts
The first insert used in this era is the 1953 insert from the previous page, which continued to be used until around 1956. In 1957 the "PAT PEND" was removed. This insert was used until mid 1958.
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| 1953 Insert. Used until around 1956/7 | 1957 Insert |
In 1955 the hinge was altered. Prior to this date all five barrels were evenly spaced. In 1955 the barrels were adjusted so that barrel 2 and 4 were slightly larger than barrels 1, 3 and 5. Hinges with equal barrels are generally classed as being manufactured up to the end of 1955, whilst unequal barrels are generally classed as 1956 and later.
The early cam-springs were of the "Humped" type used to around 1957. This was replaced by the narrow cam spring which was used until around 1970.
Around the middle of 1958 the patent number on the insert was moved to the centre, then towards the end of the year, additional wording (For best results use Zippo Flints and Fluid) was added.
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| Early 1958 Insert | Late 1958 Insert |
In late 1959 the text on the insert was turned 90° although the wording remained the same.
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| Late 1959 Insert. Used until 1963 | 1961 Insert. Used until 1967 |
| The imprint on these two inserts is identical. The only difference is the flint wheel rivet, details of which are below | |
There are a number of detail differences in the 1961 insert details of which can be found here
Around 1961 Zippo replaced the hollow flint wheel rivet with a solid rivet. Hollow rivets continued to be used until around 1963.
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The hollow Rivet was used up to 1963, but the solid rivet was introduced in 1961. Between these dates either rivet could have been fitted. |
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Some lighters made in this era have a red felt pad at the bottom of the insert. These are mainly from 1963-1964, but have been found in lighters both earlier and later
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Various shades of Red Felt have been documented, but it may have been that the fuel discoloured the felt over time. |
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