DUNHILL London 1926 Lift Arm Deco Pipe-Tamper B-Size Pocket Lighter In .925 Sterling Silver
Pipe-Tamper pocket lighter designed by Alfred Dunhill
This is a very rare and unusual antique pocket lighter designed and retailed by Alfred Dunhill. It was manufactured in London, England, in 1926. Masterfully crafted by W&G (Wise & Greenwood), this exceptional example is made in solid .925/.999 sterling silver with a polished finish and decorated throughout with an elegant engine-turned barley guilloché pattern.
The lighter incorporates Dunhill’s traditional straight lift-arm ignition mechanism together with an ingenious additional function: a round pipe-tobacco tamper integrated into the design. This unusual combination makes the piece both highly practical and particularly desirable to collectors of early Dunhill mechanical accessories and smoking paraphernalia.
The sophisticated Art Deco design is enhanced by the crisp barley engine turning, which gives the sterling silver case a rich geometric texture while retaining the elegant simplicity characteristic of Dunhill’s early mechanical objects. The lighter is in excellent condition, with a beautifully preserved exterior and no significant damage. The mechanism is fully functional and operates properly.
Particularly noteworthy is its rarity in solid sterling silver. The majority of the limited production of this model was manufactured in plain plated brass, making sterling silver examples considerably scarcer and much more desirable to collectors. Only very few examples in sterling silver are known, making the present piece an exceptional survivor. A rare, ingenious, and highly collectible example from the early Art Deco period, combining Dunhill’s celebrated mechanical ingenuity with the refined craftsmanship of Wise & Greenwood. An unusual and iconic piece, and a superb addition to any serious Alfred Dunhill collection.
Wise & Greenwood
They were London-based silversmiths, engineers, and specialist lighter makers who played an important role in the development of the modern petrol pocket lighter during the 1920s. The firm was associated with Frederick Charles Wise and Willey Greenwood, whose pioneering work led to the development of the revolutionary lift-arm lighter mechanism. Their invention placed the flint wheel horizontally in relation to the lighter body and incorporated a pivoted lift arm, allowing the lighter to be ignited and operated conveniently with one hand. The mechanism was particularly innovative for its time and became one of the defining technical developments in early 20th-century pocket-lighter design. The inspiration for the mechanism is traditionally associated with Greenwood's loss of an arm during the First World War. The invention was conceived to make it possible to operate a lighter using only one hand, a practical innovation that had an important influence on subsequent lighter design. Wise & Greenwood subsequently became closely associated with Alfred Dunhill Ltd. Their lift-arm mechanism formed the technical foundation of the celebrated Dunhill “Unique” lighter, which began to be marketed by Dunhill in the early 1920s. Examples were produced through the Wise & Greenwood workshops in London as well as through other manufacturing partners, while Dunhill marketed the design internationally. The importance of Wise & Greenwood is documented not only through surviving lighters but also through their patent work. A 1925 patent by Frederick Charles Wise and Willey Greenwood, subsequently assigned to Alfred Dunhill, describes improvements to the flint lighter including the pivoted lift arm, protected spring mechanism, integrated flint storage, and a construction specifically designed for efficient one-handed operation. Their name continued to appear on high-quality Dunhill lighters during the later 1920s. Surviving examples bearing the W&G maker's mark demonstrate their role as specialist manufacturers of precious-metal and mechanically sophisticated lighters for Alfred Dunhill. Wise & Greenwood therefore occupy an important place in the history of the petrol lighter: their mechanical innovations helped transform the lighter from a simple ignition device into a sophisticated, compact, one-handed gentleman's accessory and established the technical foundation for one of Alfred Dunhill's most iconic lighter families, the “Unique.”
Country: London England.
Period: Art-Deco, 1926.
Model: B-Size Pocket lighter, featuring a pipe-tamper.
Features: Double wheel, straight lift-arm and round pipe-tamper.
Materials: Barley engine-turned design in .925 sterling silver.
Manufacturer: Wise & Greenwood
Weight: 64.6 Grams, (41.42 Dwt).
Measurements: H. 57 mm by L. 43 mm by D. 14 mm (2.25 x 1.70 x 0.55 Inches).
Rarity: Extremely rare in sterling and only a few known.
Hallmarks: Stamped with British marks, the peasant lion for the city of London, the maker's mark W&G for Wise & Greenwood, the rectangular stamped-mark for the assay and warranty of the .925/.999 silver, the gothic-letter code L for the assay year of 1926 and signed in full as follows, "W&G DUNHILL UNIQUE LIGHTER PAT NO 43752".
Alfred Dunhill
He inherited his father’s London saddlery in 1893. Following the increase in motor car ownership, Alfred developed the business to include motoring accessories, which he called ‘Dunhill’s Motorities’. This included goggles, timepieces, picnic sets, and leather coats, and it wasn’t long before the brand became associated with men’s general motoring attire. They opened two shops in Mayfair and had a catalogue of over 1300 items. Between the 1904 and 1905, Dunhill introduced their ‘Windshield Pipe’, to help drivers combat the effect of wind and travel on their ability to smoke. This marked both the end of the ‘motorities’ focus and their entry into the world of smoking ephemera, and they shortly opened their first tobacconist in 1907 on Duke Street. The proximity to several esteemed Private Members Clubs around the Mayfair, St James’ area ensured that the venture was a success. (From Nicholas Wells With Thanks).
Literature: Blei-Bottoni, The Dunhill Petrol Lighter "A Unique Story", Unique SRL 2004 first edition. Page-94 illustration 086 this model Illustrated.
Note: This Dunhill pipe-tamper lighter is empty of any flammable, gas or butane substances and is ready to be ship by any carrier. This lighter just need a new flint and proper lighter fluid. Was tested and is in working condition.
Condition: The overall condition of this Dunhill pipe-tamper lighter is excellent. Beside the little normal wear there is no damage to the silver and is in working-display condition. All parts are secured in the settings. This piece was carefully inspected to guarantee the condition & authenticity.
INVENTORY REF: D100626MECR/1.915
