'Zippo' That Saved a Soldier's Life Becomes Synonymous with Lighters [Hidden Industry Story]

Lighter Brand Loved Worldwide
600 Million Units Sold Last Year...The Iconic Oil Lighter
Favored by Soldiers in WWII, Vietnam War, Korean War
Durability and Reliability Highlighted...Key to Its Great Popularity

The 'Zippo Lighter,' produced since the 1930s, is currently loved by people worldwide. / Photo by Zippo official website capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The 'Zippo lighter,' known for its distinctive metal case and ignition method using the principle of a flint, has already gained immense popularity worldwide. The word "Zippo" has become synonymous with oil lighters that use fuel oil. How did Zippo, which started in a small lighter factory in the United States in the early 20th century, come to dominate the lighter industry?

◆Inspired by European Lighters, Invented 'Zippo'

The founder of Zippo is George Blaisdell, an inventor from Pennsylvania, USA. Born in 1895 in Bradford, a small town in Pennsylvania, Blaisdell grew up under the guidance of his father, who ran a factory. Blaisdell's father sent him to a military academy, but feeling disenchanted with the strict military culture of the school, Blaisdell dropped out at an early age and decided to work in the factory.

Blaisdell became interested in lighters after meeting an Austrian businessman in 1932. This businessman carried a European-style lighter with a hinged lid, which piqued Blaisdell's strong interest and led him to focus on designing his own lighter.

After extensive research, Blaisdell completed a new design that connected the lighter’s case and lid with a hinge, allowing it to open and close. He named it "Zippo," a coined term inspired by his fondness for the pronunciation of the word "zipper," adapted to suit the new product.

◆Saved Lives of US Soldiers During the Vietnam War... A Symbol of Trust

Starting from a small factory in Bradford, Zippo gained sensational popularity immediately after its release. However, the turning point that elevated Zippo to a global lighter manufacturer was World War II, which swept across the US and Europe from 1938 to 1945.

At that time, Zippo developed a special lighter for US Army infantrymen fighting on the European front. Instead of using brass, which became scarce due to war requisitions, the case was made from ordinary metal and painted black to prevent light reflection. This military Zippo lighter protected soldiers’ body heat with its unique durability and reliability. It also played a significant role in spreading Zippo lighters beyond the North American continent to Europe and other regions.

A Zippo lighter case carried by a US soldier who participated in the Vietnam War. It is engraved with the phrase, "I will go to heaven when I die because I have lived in hell until now." / Photo by Internet homepage capture

Since then, Zippo lighters have been greatly loved by soldiers. Especially during the Vietnam War, which began in 1955, the story of a soldier whose life was saved thanks to a Zippo lighter elevated Zippo to the ranks of world-class lighter manufacturers.

Sergeant Andrez, who fought in the Vietnam War, was shot by enemy fire and collapsed, but survived because the Zippo lighter in his chest pocket took the bullet instead. Even more astonishing was that the Zippo, despite being hit by a bullet, continued to function without any issues.

A Zippo promotional video depicting the story of Sergeant Andrez, who saved his life during the Vietnam War thanks to a Zippo lighter that took a bullet instead. / Photo by Zippo YouTube capture

This story became a symbol of the sturdiness and reliability of Zippo lighters and greatly boosted Zippo’s popularity. Zippo proudly features Sergeant Andrez’s story in detail on its official website. In 2011, they even produced and released a short promotional video about Sergeant Andrez’s story.

During the Korean War as well, US soldiers landed on the Korean Peninsula carrying Zippo lighters without fail. The graffiti and inscriptions soldiers engraved on the cases at that time are still talked about today in the 21st century.

◆Over 90 Years of Early Success... Produced 600 Millionth Product Last Year

Inspired by the hinged-lid lighters from Austria, Zippo was designed and exported worldwide throughout the 20th century, loved by soldiers. Thanks to its flawless operation even in the extreme conditions of battlefields, it established a solid reputation as a trustworthy product among consumers.

According to data released by Zippo, the company produced over 600 million lighters for the first time in history in June last year. This means that in just about eight years since producing the 500 millionth lighter in 2012, they sold over 100 million more units.

Zippo emphasizes 'innovation' and 'reliability' as the reasons for its successful business over its long history of more than 90 years.

On its official website, Zippo states, "The production of the 600 millionth lighter demonstrates decades of pioneering innovation. Zippo was at the forefront of the American industrial revolution and will continue to be so."

It also stresses, "Our unlimited quality guarantee is a symbol of our company. We promise all consumers that 'Zippo will always work, and if it doesn’t, we will fix it for free'."