!950's Lead Crystal & Chrome Butane Table Lighter w/Lattice & Starburst Pattern

Description

Up for your consideration is an exquisite 1950's style cut lead crystal and chrome cigar/cigarette table lighter made in the country of Japan a continent in the North pacific ocean. After the American occupation of Japan after WWII Japan established itself as a Democracy, and began to manufacture goods for export to establish a working economy for their country. As time went on they became one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world.
Imported Japanese table lighters came into vogue to provide ornament to the American coffee table, end table or game table during this time period. The table lighter, in this listing, has a decorative chrome ring on top of its patterned cut lead crystal base where a flint and butane lighter fluid assembly fits firmly into the decorative ring on top of its cut crystal base by pushing the lighter assembly into it to make it a cigar/cigarette table lighter. When fully assembled and filled with butane lighter fluid this marvelous lighter is a working cigar/cigarette lighter for a coffee table, end table, game table or wherever you would want to display it so your social guests at a party can light their cigars/cigarettes. During the 1950's butane lighters gained in popularity as butane guaranteed a more even flame than other cigar/cigarette lighter fluids of the time period.
Fortunately, most Americans do not smoke much anymore, and table lighters went out of fashion as time went by, and today they have become highly sought after collector's items for their patterned lead crystal affects, and their decorative chrome accents like the cigar/cigarette lighter in this listing. After WWII, and America no longer occupied Japan, and soldiers returned to America to their wives and children, people in America began to socialize in their homes once again by hosting pot lucks, dinner parties, and board games. Before and after dinner or a card game men & women would light up a cigar or cigarette or two, and share an evening of entertaining in their homes.
The table lighter, in this listing, has a beautiful cut glass lattice pattern cut into the lead crystal it is made from around the top of the lighter from the outside edge of the decorative chrome ring, on top, to the outside edge or shoulders of the glass table lighter, and below the outside glass edge or shoulders is a cut crystal starburst pattern rising up from the base of the lighter that encircles the outside of the entire lighter.
The decorative chrome ring on top holds the flint and butane lighter assembly in it. This lighter takes a standard size flint, found at most cigarette stores, and underneath the flint and butane assembly is a tiny hole to insert the flint, and then a small screw, when tightened, holds it in place. Dead-center in the middle of this flint and butane assembly is a small insertion hole to fill this lighter with butane fuel. Included in the sale is a new flint, and butane fuel can be found at most cigarette stores, and simply follow the directions on the outside of the can to fill your lighter with fuel.
The cigar/cigarette lighter, in this listing, only holds a small amount of butane fuel in its tiny chamber only enough to light about ten cigars/cigarettes during a party, pot luck dinner, dinner party, or board game. While not in use the butane fuel inside the lighters tiny chamber will evaporate, and needs to be refilled again. However, this is a collector's item, and most collector's do not use these cigar/cigarette lighters for lighting up cigars/cigarettes. They have greater collector's value because they are working lighters, and are rarely ever filled with butane fluid and used as a lighter at a party. So, if you are a collector of table lighters this one may be 'the-missing-link' in your collection or, if you are a beginning collector this fine example of a table lighter is a nice place to start your collection of them.
The table lighter measures, with the flint & butane inserted into it, 4 1/2" tall X 3 1/2" wide X 1 1/2" in diameter across the chrome ring opening on top X 1 1/2" in diameter underneath it, and it is in excellent condition for its age as it dates nearly 72 years old making this a vintage lighter on its way to becoming an antique one as vintage items are 60 years or older, and antique items are 100 years old or older. When the flint and butane assembly is removed from on top the inside of this lighter is hollow. There is a maker's mark on one side of the flint and butane lighter assembly that reads: "JAPAN" that is pictured in my final picture, and on the etched thumb lever used to light this gem, on top, is the word: "GAS," that stands for butane fluid.
Good luck! Any questions? Email me right away! Please see my other treasures on my EBAY site by clicking on "SELLER'S OTHER ITEMS." Don't hesitate to make a 'reasonable' offer as my pricing is flexible.