The list is short. James Dean. Rock 'n' Roll. Levis. The Corvette. And Zippo lighters. &break;&break;Like Elvis and blue suede shoes, Zippo has helped define the meaning of cool. Introduced in 1932 by George G Blaisdell, the little lighter with the familiar "click" and the lifetime guarantee has been in movies, foxholes and the pockets of millions. Through the years it has become an American icon. And for many, a priceless collector's item.

Zippo doesn't want to be an ordinary hippo. He wants to be super! "Everyone has a super power," says his best friend Roxi. "You just have to work out what yours is." Being good at swimming and splashing in mud aren't really superpowers though. Perhaps Zippo can fly like Roxi. But who's ever heard of a flying hippopotamus? Especially one with such a big bottom. Maybe there's a power in that . . . From award-winning author Kes Gray and exciting new illustrating talent Nikki Dyson. This fantastically funny superhero will be flying into children's imaginations and inspiring them to celebrate all that is super about themselves.

This book showcases the engravings made by U.S. soldiers on their lighters during the height of the conflict, from 1965 to 1973. Sherry Buchanan tells the fascinating story of how the Zippo became a talisman and companion for American GIs during their tours of duty. We see how Zippo lighters were used during the war, and we discover how they served as a canvas for both personal and political expression during the Age of Aquarius engraved with etchings and slogans steeped in all the rock lyrics, sound bites, combat slang, and antiwar mottos of the time.

Like Elvis, James Dean and Levis 501 jeans, Zippo lighters defined the meaning of cool for several generations. For readers familiar with the signature "click," the world's most dependable lighter is more than a tool for smoking. It has become one of the hottest collectibles in the world today. &break;&break;This pocket-size guide to the most dependable little lighter includes: &break;&break;Vintage Zippo advertisements sure to bring back memories of days gone by &break;&break;Current market prices and identification codes to help collectors inventory their collection &break;&break;More than 400 color photos that illustrate the character of each lighter &break;&break;This new addition to the wildly popular Warman's family of field guides is sure to be a hit with all generations of Zippo fans.

A sequential history of Zippo lighter series, cases, inserts, fluid cans, flint packages, and sundries richly illustrated in color with the most highly prized Zippo lighters and information based on original Zippo salesman's catalogs, advertising brochures and a study of thousands of Zippo lighters. Prices provided with each picture and a complete price guide at the back.

This history of Zippo Manufacturing of Bradford, Pennsylvania, describes the development of the Zippo lighter. It also provides a directory of lighters, with model identification for collectors and includes examples of the most collectable Zippos.

Throughout the 1930s the Zippo Company in Pennsylvania prospered on the growing success of its stylish, charismatic little cigarette lighter. The lighter was made mostly of brass, but with the Second World War that metal was declared a ‘strategic material’ in the U.S. where huge amounts of it were needed for shell and cartridge casings. Zippo replaced the brass with steel, which can corrode, and wartime Zippos were given a new baked-on black ‘crackle’ finish to protect them. That non-reflective characteristic helped save the lives of many American soldiers in combat zones. The demand of the Armed Forces for the lighter led to the company to earmark its entire production for military. The big wartime market for the Zippo resulted in a rise of imitations. After the war, through subsequent conflicts in Korea, Vietnam and elsewhere, thousands of such phoneys appeared in boot sales and swap meets across the world. Movie stars added sophistication and glamor when someone lit up a cigarette with a Zippo and the distinctive ‘clink-clop’ sound the lighter made when opened and closed was unmatchable. Legend has it that the great star Bette Davis was once asked by an interviewer if she smoked after sex. Her supposed response: “To tell you the truth, I’ve never looked.” In later years- and a dark medical reality- the cigarette began losing its allure, but in wartime the soldier, sailor, marine and airman was frequently nervous in the service and found solace and a brief time-out-of-war in the relaxation of a quick smoke. Zippo was ready in such moments. Today many examples survive with a special history and caché. When Zippo Went to War is illustrated with more than 140 unpublished photos those unique little lighters of old. Like the remarkable Zippo itself, the book works well and sheds some new light on its subject.