In 1949 zippo introduced the
town and country lighters. These zippo's were engraved at four one thousands
of an inch deep after which they were airbrushed with up to 14 colours.
After airbrushing the lighters were electro-baked to preserve the finish.
Originally there were eight different illustrations available but companies
could also have their own logos aplied to a zippo. Though the town and
country zippo's were discontinued in 1960 zippo made a special commemerative
lighter in 1969 using the same proces and 16 colour. This moon landing
zippo is one of the most sought after lighters zippo has ever produced.
1950
Full leather zippo's were introduced in 1950. These leather crafted zippo's were wrapped in leather all around the case and decorated with gold foil. Because the bottom of the lighters wasn't readable anymore zippo put the zippo logo in gold foil on the bottom of each leather lighter. The full leather wrap zippo's were available in different types of leather and different colours and came in a special box. Full leather wraps were discontinued in 1957.
1951
Because of the war in Korea zippo switched back to making it's lighters out of steel. Instead of painting the lighters like in the second world war zippo's were chromed. These zippo's can be recognized by holding a magnet close to it. If the magnet attracts the lighter the zippo is made from steel instead of brass. Also some of these older lighters can show signs of rust from unther the chrome.
1952
Zippo introduces the leather wrap lighters. These lighters were available in the same colours as the full leather wraps but only had leather wrapped around the middle part of their top- and lower cases. The bottom stamp of these lighters was visible and because of this the date of these lighters can easily be determined. In 1960 the leather wrap zippo's were discontinued.
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