Learning to judge the relative value of these lighters can be a rewarding endeavor. American soldiers engravings and stories 1965 1973, edited by sherry buchanan is published by asia ink. Authentic vietnam war zenith lighter quang tri 6970. Zippo click provides an opportunity for serious and casual collectors alike to share their interest in zippo lighters. Zippo limited production of the vietnam collectors set to 5,000. The book is organized with pictures of zippo lighters from the war. When the marines he accompanied reached the village, they ordered the civilians there to evacuate their homesgrass huts whose thatched roofs they set ablaze with zippo lighters. A new book reveals the most illuminating artifacts of the vietnam war. This book showcases for the first time the personalized zippo engravings by american soldiers made during the vietnam war 1964a1973.
Vietnamera zippos engraved with soldiers personalities. The most well entertainingly and imformatively written military collectors book i ever read and the author is a cool dude. In a reallife version of the psychedelic war portrayed in francis ford coppolas apocalypse now, sherry buchanan tells the fascinating story of how the humble zippo became a talisman and companion for. We are the unwilling, led by the unqualified, doing the unnecessary for the ungrateful from an engraving on a vietnam era zippo lighter in 1965, journalist morley safer followed the united states marines on a search and destroy mission into cam ne. Much has already been said about the vietnam war, but the messages engraved on zippo lighters by american soldiers stationed there speak with such clarity that they deserve to be heard. See more ideas about zippo lighter, vietnam war and vietnam. The viet nam zippo r by jim fiorella, 9780764305948, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The lighters from this category are very easy to detect because the zippo logo on the bottom and on the insert is engraved instead of stamped. In sergeant terror, a zippo connected the characters of karl malden and richard widmark as well as in pork chop hill, actor gregory peck simply had to depend on his zippo for moral support. Their standard wick lighter has sported thousands of decorations, featuring military insignias, company advertising, artistic designs and commemorative issues. Drawn from the collection of american artist bradford edwards and other private collections, the chromeplated brass bears witness to the uncensored feelings of young men at war. Bradford edwards is an american artist and collector of vietnam zippos. One way that gis sent to vietnam expressed their dissatisfaction with their crappy situation was through etchings on their zippo lighters.
Vietnam war zippo lighter collection by i love vietnam. For many, collecting zippo lighters has become a hobby, and for some, it has even become a business. A zippo lighter is a reusable metal lighter manufactured by american zippo manufacturing company of bradford, pennsylvania, united states of america. This facebook page is dedicated to the preserving of zippo and miscellaneous lighters used during americas involvement in the vietnam war.
The collection has been compiled individually by american artist bradford edwards over several years in. Vintage vietnam zippo lighters fake zippo lighter vietnam zippo. All this, he said, in the interest of going deeper and deeper in pursuit of. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Authentic vietnam war zippo lighter chu lai 6869 this marine will go to heaven. A glossy book of his work is being prepared for publication next year titled vietnam zippo asia ink, london. Veterans of the vietnam war in our area are being presented with these nostalgic lighters on veterans day in memory of their proud service. But as this stunning book attests, the zippo was far more than an instrument of death and destruction. Zippo introduced its own lighter collectors club, zippo click, in 2002, logging over 8000 members in the first three years. Blaisdell pushed the first insert into the first case of what would be the first zippo lighter in 1933, more than 550 million zippo lighters have been sold. Mar 26, 2018 the bunker itself is nearly identical to the previous one from the outside and the lighter is located in the back room next to a television. He would be astonished today to discover that millions of zippo fans around the world are collecting, buying, selling, swapping and talking zippo.
This remarkable collection of 282 zippo lighters from the vietnam war were complied by bradford edwards during the 1990s long before the current demand for mementos from the conflict created the swirling blackmarket in fake zippos that now. Edwards, who used many of the lighters to illustrate the 2010 book vietnam zippos. The vietnam zippo cigarette lighters, 19331975 by jim fiorella 1998, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. For the american soldiers who wielded them, they were a vital form of social protest as well. American soldiers engravings and stories 19651973 with sherry buchanan, university of chicago press, said. Zippo lighters are durable, refillable and built for a lifetime of use. Operation junction city was conducted in february 1967 when some 845 sky soldiers from the 173d airborne brigade jumped into history by making the first united states combat parachute assault in the war against the enemy in south vietnam and the first such. Military was an early customer of zippo and became zippo manufacturing co.
See more ideas about zippo lighter, zippo, vietnam war. Vietnams zippos bradford edwards the new york times. The poignant engravings often reveal a biting gallows humor. The collection has been compiled individually by american artist bradford edwards over several years in the 1990s, onsite in vietnam. Nov 29, 20 a lot of 282 customengraved zippo lighters belonging to u. The searchable database consists of detailed reports in an evergrowing database of items in this category. It is an interesting trip through the war culture of the time from the guys who fought it.
About zippo lighters the zippo name, the brand, the look and feel is famous and rightly so throughout the entire world. Welcome to the iguide zippo lighter price guide is proud to host the online zippo lighter price guide. This stunning awardwinning book showcases for the first time the personalized zippo. After the war, ability to personalize the zippo led to its adoption for use as commemoratives and souvenirs by us as well as foreign military divisions and units. Vietnam zippo lighter collection lot of 282 vietnam warera zippo lighters featuring personalized and anonymous engravings chosen by u. Vietnam war vintage cigarette cigarettes lighter lighters case 1966 1976 set 96. In 1998 the zippo company produced the vietnam collectors set, lighters adorned with miniature images of the vietnam veterans memorial in black matte. Authentic vietnam war zippo lighter an khe 6869 we are the unwilling led by.
Zippo lighters from the vietnam war cherrieswriter. The most common vietnam lighters material is metal. Jim fiorella more than 900 photographs with detailed text about the vietnam war, its zippo lighters, tips on collecting, and their current values are included in this book. Warren, whose price guide books have been the authority on collectibles values since 1985. While the austere zippo lighter was ubiquitous among gis during wwii, it became. Every guise of vietnam zippo made is depicted in clear photographs, lists of us ships in nam, how to spot fakes, history and background without boring you to death. Jul 10, 2012 edwards, who used many of the lighters to illustrate the 2010 book vietnam zippos. A lot of 282 customengraved zippo lighters belonging to u.
The bunker itself is nearly identical to the previous one from the outside and the lighter is located in the back room next to a television. By special arrangement, a limited number of these authentic zippo lighters have been engraved just as the 1960s original models were for our museum. As bradfords collection shows in vietnam zipposa color, 180page, 25by23 centimeter and richly illustrated book the remarks on their lighters reflected their opinions of the army, the missions they were ordered to carry out and eventually their opposition to the usvietnamese war in which they found themselves. The words vietnam, 19651972 are etched on the lid even though the names on the wall are from 19591975. These engraved zippo lighters from the vietnam war have become such popular collectors items that a number of books have been written about them. This book contains scores of images of these zippos with great commentary. Get the best deals on vietnam zippo when you shop the largest online selection at. A booming market in fake zippos purporting to be genuine items used by us servicemen exploded in vietnam in the decades following the war.
The zippo lighter isnt only connected to ww2, youll find it stars in movies linked with the korean war and the vietnam war. Thousands of different styles and designs have been made in the eight decades since their introduction including military versions for specific regiments. When the marines he accompanied reached the village, they ordered the civilians there to evacuate their homesgrass huts whose. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Zippo vietnam war, battle of hue vietnam 1968 satin chrome lighter. Dec 07, 2006 a glossy book of his work is being prepared for publication next year titled vietnam zippo asia ink, london. Nov 06, 20 this remarkable collection of 282 zippo lighters from the vietnam war were complied by bradford edwards during the 1990s long before the current demand for mementos from the conflict created the swirling blackmarket in fake zippos that now dominate market stalls from hanoi down to ho chi minh. Equally internationally renowned is the unmistakable zippo sound. Vietnam war zippo lighter collection lot of 282 vietnam war era zippo lighters featuring personalized and anonymous engravings chosen by u. How to value a collectible zippo lighter our pastimes.