In response to a request for a hub about BIC lighters, I decided to do a little research about them. I'm not a smoker so I really didn't know much about them before conducting this research.

Marcel Bich (pronounced 'beek' in French) and Edouard Buffard began making pencil cases, penholders, fountain pen parts and mechanical lead pencils in Paris in the 40s. The first “BIC” ballpoint pen was introduced in Europe in 1950 and by the mid-50s Bich turned his attention to the United States. It wasn’t until 1969 that Bich started offering promotional products for corporate advertising and gifts.

When BIC introduced the BIC Disposable lighter in 1973 they were fighting some fierce competition with Gillette’s Cricket Lighter. They had previously battled in the pen market with BIC outselling Gillette’s Papermate pens.

Both companies engaged in a television marketing campaign. Gillette introduced a singing Cricket cartoon character and BIC ran with the “Flick my BIC” slogan. This also led to some price wars. BIC once again won out.

In 1976 BIC and Gillette went at it again with the disposable razor. That’s when Gillette introduced the “Good News” disposable razor. Gillette’s solid reputation in the razor market made them too tough to beat.

Bich was a dedicated Yachtsman and tried and failed on several occasions to win the America’s Cup race. He was a private person who did not like to be photographed.

Evidently, there is a white BIC Lighter Curse. The urban myth is that Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain all died at age 27, were left-handed, and all died with a white BIC lighter in their pocket.

That sounds all nice and scary, but there's one little problem. Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin died in 1970, Jim Morrison died in 1971, and Kurt Cobain died in 1994. The BIC Lighter didn't come out until 1973. That means that Kurt is the only one that could have died with a white BIC lighter in his pocket.

Many smokers, particularly marijuana smokers, refuse to use a white BIC lighter. Some are so superstitious about them they don't even want to be in the same room with one.

I'm sure a number of people have given white BIC lighters to people they don't care for as a sort of voodoo gift.