RONSON 1926 Art Deco Rare Banjo Automatic Lighter In Silver Plate Near Mint
Banjo petrol lighter designed by Louis V, Aronson for Ronson.
This is an extremely rare and virtually in near mint condition with no traces of wear or usage, Banjo petrol pocket lighter designed by Louis V, Aronson for The Ronson Lighter Company. This Banjo automatic lighter is an American icon and was created during the art deco period in 1926. Crafted in solid steel and brass parts, with a .925/.999 sterling silver overlay plating. The body is decorated with engine turned patterns and in one side only, with a diagonal 45 degree plain rectangle for engraving.
Designer: Louis Vincent Aronson.
Company: Ronson.
Year: 1926.
Material: Sterling silver plate over brass.
Weight: 53.95 Grams, (34.58 Dwt).
Measurements: 62 mm by 58 mm by 13 mm (2.44 x 2.28 x 0.51 Inches).
Hallmarks Stamped with the maker's mark, the patent and signed, "RONSON LIGHTER THE ART METAL WORKS NEWARK N.Y". Text engraved on the snuffer, "RONSON LIGHTER P.T.D. DEC 31 1918 OTHERS PAT PDG.".
The Ronson Lighter Company
The company started as The Art Metal Works in 1897 and was incorporated on July 20, 1898, by Max Hecht, Louis Vincent Aronson and Leopold Herzig, in Newark, New Jersey. Louis V. Aronson was a huge creative driving force for the company; and, with a few business adjustments, including the addition of Alexander Harris (1910–11) as Business Manager, the company soon became World Famous. In the 1910s The Art Metal Works were producing very good quality Hood Ornaments and gained a reputation as a dependable supplier of same. All accounts state that Louis Aronson was a gifted man, who at 16 years old set up a money-making shop in his parent's home - before receiving a U.S. patent for a commercially valuable metal-plating process he developed when he was 24 years old, and he sold half the rights while retaining the Right to Use. "His experiments, which he has been conducting since his early youth, resulted in 1893 in the discovery of a process for electrically producing tinplate. Much money was expended upon improving the process... and has been of great practical value to the whole industry. Retaining its rights, he sold half the patent rights, and later used part of the proceeds to open the Art Metal Works in Newark, N.J. Soon the company was producing a variety of high-quality Lamps, Book ends, Art Statues and other decorative items, prized today for their detail in the collector marketplace.
Patent: Utility Patent US June 12, 1928, number 1,673,727. Original and first filed on October 16, 1926
Literature: Urban K. Cummings, Ronson, the World's Greatest Lighter : Wick Lighters 1913-1966 Bird Dog Books, California. 1992. Figure-13 Page 65. For this model illustrated.
Note: Six different engine turned patterns variants has been produced for this model.
Note: This lighter is empty of any flammable, gas or butane substances and is ready to be ship by any carrier.
Collateral: This lighter is accompanied by the original designer's presentation fitted red box.
Condition: The overall condition of this Banjo lighter is exceptional, in near mint condition with no damage at any parts. This piece has been carefully inspected to guarantee the condition and the authenticity.
INVENTORY REF: D081824HEOT/1.687
