A good cigarette lighter is an important accessory for every smoker. The Windproof Lighter is one type of Cigar lighter that -as the name implies- is meant to ignite even on the outside.  Have you ever tried to light a cigarrette many times only to end up frustrated by futil attempts? Well you can say good bye to that frustration now!

However, before knowing more about these types of lighters, let us understand what exactly a cigarette lighter is and know about its evolution.

What is a cigarette lighter?

It is a metal or plastic container containing fluid like liquid butane or naphtha compressed under pressure and having a means for ignition to light the cigarette.

The lighter was first invented in the year 1816 and it was called 'Dobereiner's Lamp', named after its inventor 'Johann Wolfgang Dobereiner'. The first lighter used hydrogen as the fuel and platinum to ignite fire. Usage of platinum, a costly metal was its major drawback and its big size did not go down well with lighter users.

Until year 1908, when the flint lighters were invented, smokers used matchsticks to light cigarettes. Flint lighters, which used butane as fuel, were of small size, fitted easily in pocket, and became widely popular among cigarette smokers. Flint lighters were relatively cheaper than ‘Debereiner’s Lamp' which used platinum as a catalyst.

The development of Windproof lighters gained momentum during the First World War and until 1920's, the lighters were considered a luxury among the blue-collar workers. However, in 1930's, 'George G. Blaisdell', brought about a revolution in lighters, he noticed that there was a lot of space for improvement and he worked on the design of the case making it convenient to use. George took further steps in amendment of lighters, he modified the fuel chamber making it more efficient and he designed a Hood to the top of the lighter to make the flame windproof. Thus, it marked the birth of first windproof lighter.

A Windproof lighter, which was the brainchild of George G Blaisdell who founded the Zippo Company, started manufacturing Cigar lighters in 1932. George's Zippo lighter manufacturing company soon became a world famous manufacturer of lighters and it turned out to be synonymous with Windproof lighters. With its unique and trendy design is now the king of lighters.

Post 1930's, there was a significant outbreak in lighters innovation. Naphtha, a by-product of petroleum, which was used earlier as a fuel in lighters, was now replaced by butane.

Presently, with a large number of lighter manufacturers, a wide range of lighters varying in types, designs, sizes, flames and forms are available in the market and depending on the preference, a consumer has many options. Lighter manufacturing is at its creative best with lighters available in some of the most bizarre shapes like guitar, motorcycle, coffee machine, tennis racket amongst many others.

Now, there are only a few elite lighter manufacturing companies. ‘Zippo lighters’ is one amongst them, and owning a lighter manufactured by these companies, is a matter of pride in itself. For people, having hobby of collecting lighters, it is mandatory to have at least one of Zippo Windproof lighters. Just owning a Zippo lighter is considered classy, and it makes a strong fashion statement. For Internet surfers, coming across auction of Zippo lighters is a regular site.