Zippo ~ Guaranteed Forever

We've entered an age when most people don't smoke, and most of those that do use disposable butane lighters. Bic seems to be the biggest brand in disposables these days, but the first one I ever saw was a French made Cricket back in 1964. The woman I was about to marry had just returned from a year at the University of Geneva. She had a Cricket, along with an ample supply of ultra strong Gitanne cigarettes.

We finally found a place in Boston that had Cricket lighters. They were $1.98 apiece, a lot of money in 1964. A brand new Zippo was only $2.98 at the time, and you could refill it with fluid or replace the flint yourself. It's also a wind proof lighter. It'll light in a fairly strong breeze and stay lit.

The best thing about a Zippo is the guarantee, though. Lifetime! When the hinge breaks, and it will eventually, you mail the lighter back to Zippo. They'll replace the hinge, as well as the entire slide-in section with the wheel, wick, flint, etc., and you're good to go for another five or ten years. They even pay the return postage. Wouldn't it be great to buy a car or a computer with that kind of guarantee?