{"product_id":"gerlach-barklow-co-capitol-industrial-1912-desk-petrol-lighter-in-bronze","title":"GERLACH BARKLOW \u0026 CO. Capitol Industrial 1912 Desk Petrol Lighter In Bronze","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eIndustrial Capitol desk petrol-lighter designed by\u003ci\u003e Gerlach Barklow Company.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThis is a rare and highly collectible \u003cb\u003eAmerican mechanical table lighter\u003c\/b\u003e, manufactured for \u003cb\u003eGerlach-Barklow Co. of Joliet, Illinois\u003c\/b\u003e, one of the largest American calendar and advertising companies of the early 20th century. Unlike the standard examples marked “Capitol Lighter,” this unusual advertising version is distinctly marked “G.B. Co. Joliet ILL.”, identifying it as a special production made for Gerlach-Barklow. The lighter belongs to the celebrated Capitol Lighter family, originally manufactured in the United States between approximately 1927 and 1931 by the Steele \u0026amp; Johnson Manufacturing Co. of Waterbury, Connecticut. It is renowned among collectors for its extraordinary exposed mechanical construction, with an articulated system of levers, springs, gears, and a flint wheel that operates in a manner reminiscent of a miniature industrial machine. The ingenious mechanism is activated by pressing the side lever, which simultaneously operates the lifting arm and rotates the flint wheel to produce the spark. The body was typically manufactured in brass or bronze, with a cylindrical or bottle-shaped form mounted upon a circular base. Standard examples are distinguished by a top plate depicting the United States Capitol dome and bearing the inscription “CAPITOL LIGHTER.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThe mechanism itself has an interesting European origin. Its underlying design was invented and patented in Austria by Josef Kluss in 1925, before being adapted and manufactured for the American market. Some examples also bear the date “Sept. 12, 1912” on the lever, associated with an earlier American patent by George S. Eldred that was subsequently incorporated into the commercialization of the friction mechanism.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThe Gerlach-Barklow Co. advertising version is particularly desirable because of its unusual corporate marking and rarity compared with conventionally marked Capitol lighters. It represents a fascinating combination of American advertising history, mechanical ingenuity, and early 20th-century industrial design.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eA superb and highly collectible example of an American mechanical advertising lighter, particularly appealing to collectors of vintage lighters, advertising memorabilia, mechanical objects, and early American industrial design.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eCountry\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e: Joliet, Illinois, United States.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePeriod\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e: Art-deco, 1912.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWeight\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e: 85.6 Grams, (0.086 Kg.).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eMaterials\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e: Steel, iron and patinated brass.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eModel\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e: Industrial desk petrol lighter.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eMeasurements\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e: H. 114 mm by L. 75 mm by D. 30 mm, (4.5 x 2.95 x 1.18 Inches).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHallmarks\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e: Stamped with the maker's mark and signed as follow, \"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eG.B.Co JOLIET, ILL.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\".\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eNote\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e: This \u003cb\u003eGerlach Barklow Company Capitol \u003c\/b\u003etable lighter is totally 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThe overall condition of this \u003cb\u003eGerlach Barklow Company Capitol \u003c\/b\u003etable lighter is excellent. Beside the wear at the enamel there is no damage to any part. All parts are secured in the setting and in working condition. This lighter was carefully inspected to guarantee the condition \u0026amp; authenticity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eINVENTORY REF: D080826STEK\/.0036\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Treasure Fine Jewelry","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42542823637074,"sku":"D080826StEK\/.0036","price":1298.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0061\/4442\/6057\/files\/IMG_3792-2.jpg?v=1788986047","url":"https:\/\/treasurefinejewelry.com\/products\/gerlach-barklow-co-capitol-industrial-1912-desk-petrol-lighter-in-bronze","provider":"Treasure Fine Jewelry","version":"1.0","type":"link"}