Rope Lighters, modern & antique, pics

[oregon]

I won a vintage Rope Lighter, mfg in Michigan back in the day, at the popular auction site today, item #230148891669. I'll post some pics when it gets here. UPDATE: pics at post #20

Here is a link to a new Rope Lighter offered by a Japanese vendor:

http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl....net/zoom/7286

It works by shooting sparks into a cotton rope. The sparks create an ember. Blow on the ember to create a flame. No lighter fluid used.

Definitely old school.

IMCO created the fueled lighter during WWI (IMCO still produces new lighters using flint, fluid and wick). When did the rope lighters come on the scene? I wonder how old they are.

oregon

[matrixshaman]

hey oregon - fascinating! I see some others there that go by 'trench lighters'. Similar to or same as rope lighters. Also saw one that is a lot like the capsule lighters you sell but it's vintage 1930's probably - an old Austrian one (item # 270121041988 if we are talking the same place ). If you are into something really unusual for a fire starter have you seen the wood fire starter pistons? Not exactly a cigarette lighter - more of a survival method of making fire that is fairly fast - see this for more info: http://wildwoodsurvival.com/survival...rb2/index.html

[oregon]

(item # 270121041988 if we are talking the same place ).http://wildwoodsurvival.com/survival...rb2/index.html

We are talking about the same place. The Lipstick lighter is spot on the same as the capsule lighters (without the threaded closure and gasket). Everything is the product of step evolution: rope lighter - fueled lighter - encapsulated lighter - ??? you tell me what is next.

Our Japanese friends have told me that their Windmill made Rope Lighter will be selling again sometime this week: item #320080178114. However, the price in on the translated site http://www.google.com/translate?u=ht...hl=en&ie=ASCII is only $15, if I converted yen to dollars properly, (before shipping) while the auction site price is closer to $25. I wish that my Japanese was better. I want one, not sure how useful it would be in the field, but I still want one. I cannot find another current manufacturer of the Rope Lighter. You should consider doing a group buy for these.

The Fire Piston is a hoot. It looks tricky to build properly. I watched the video of it in action and that one was most impressive. Does anyone mfg a good one for sale I wonder?

oregon

[B@rt]

Nice one!
I know they still sell them in Spain and Marocco, but I haven't seen one in years...

I'd love to get this one, but I'll need to figure out how to order.

[oregon]

Nice one!
I know they still sell them in Spain and Marocco, but I haven't seen one in years...

I'd love to get this one, but I'll need to figure out how to order.

I used the link below to send a message to the Japanese vendor about the Rope Lighter. You could use it to send a message about the Terminator's bell rope in the pics above.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...0%3D%26fvi%3D1

The seller has stuff on the popular auction site. They responded to my inquiry. I bet that they would respond to your email. You might want to put the above picture into your request to the vendor. Get two would you please. I need one. Great gadget appeal in this lighter. Looks like a plumbing fixture. About $25, before shipping, if the site is current and I have converted properly.

All the best,

oregon

[B@rt]

Hey, thanks.

Email sent for 2.

[oregon]

Email sent for 2.

Yes!!! You are all right.

oregon

[matrixshaman]

The Fire Piston is a hoot. It looks tricky to build properly. I watched the video of it in action and that one was most impressive. Does anyone mfg a good one for sale I wonder?

oregon

I've wanted to buy one but it's half way down a long want list . I've seen several on eBay and at least one seller has 100% feedback - they appear to be quality crafted so that's probably where I'll get one eventually as the ones I've seen on web sites tend to be 40-100% more.

[cutlerylover]

Yeah I ahve seen those rope lighters before, very neat! On that popular auction site they can be had cheap, just gotta watch for when they have a few on at the same time...

[oregon]

I've seen several on eBay and at least one seller has 100% feedback.

Of course they are on the bay. Thank you for the push in the right direction.

oregon

[oregon]

Yeah I ahve seen those rope lighters before, very neat! On that popular auction site they can be had cheap, just gotta watch for when they have a few on at the same time...

I will keep my eyeballs pealed for bargain Rope Lighters on the bay.

The Japanese site got back to me on the Rope Lighters (each one comes with two 30cm ropes): $23 + shipping of $6 to $12 depending on desired speed and insurance needs. They said that they can ship after July 9th. And, the one Bart favors (Duke 2) is $30 and it will be available at the same time. For both: $65 shipped EMS including insurance. I'm thinking about it.

oregon

[oregon]

Hey, thanks.

Email sent for 2.

Email inbound. I heard from our Japanese friends. They can do after July 9th.

oregon

[B@rt]

Yup, got one too.

Your shipping is cheaper... It will be cheaper (and quicker) if you order yourself.

[bubbacatfish]

Oregon, I've seen the rope lighters before, while they're cool looking & I love the idea of no lighter fluid I can't see carrying around a foot-long piece of rope.

Bart, where did you find that lighter? I just googled around & came up with nothing, do you have a link or a name you could share please?

[oregon]

Oregon, I've seen the rope lighters before, while they're cool looking & I love the idea of no lighter fluid I can't see carrying around a foot-long piece of rope.

Definitely a historic curio for lighter fans. My order is in.

Bart, where did you find that lighter? I just googled around & came up with nothing, do you have a link or a name you could share please?

Here you go, scroll down. http://www.google.com/translate?u=ht...hl=en&ie=ASCII I have one of these and one of the rope lighters ordered. Shipping July 9th from Japan thanks to Noriko.

You can key into "Easy Collectibles" on the popular auction site or http://www.easy-easy.com or email directly info@easy-easy.com.

All the best,

oregon

[bubbacatfish]

Thanks Oregon.

[oregon]

Thanks Oregon.

You are welcome bubba.

My order has shipped already! Our Japanese friends are as fast as chain blue lightning. Here is the message I received early this morning from Noriko (bold added by me, oregon):

"Hi Stephen,

Thank you for your quick payment!!
Lighters arrived here today.
I shipped to you by EMS today.

1 Rope lighters w/2 extra ropes $23.00
2 extra ropes $5.00
1 Duke 2 lighter $30.00

Your EMS tracking(item) number is EI311475875JP
http://tracking.post.japanpost.jp/service/jsp/refi/
DP311-00100.jsp?locale=en

You will receive it within 3-5 days.

We do appreciate your business and look forward to serving you
again in the future.

Thank you,
Noriko
--------------------------------
EASY COLLECTIBLES FROM JAPAN
Ichiro & Noriko Matsui
8-28 Motohama-cho, Nagahama-shi,
Shiga-ken, 526-0059 JAPAN
http://www.easy-easy.com "

[WhatMACHI]

Wow that looks interesting. Its great to find things from an older era that work just as well as the new stuff coming out now.

[oregon]

Wow that looks interesting. Its great to find things from an older era that work just as well as the new stuff coming out now.

What you said + 1.

I am not entirely happy with butane fueled lighters. Too finicky IMHO. I wouldn't bet my life on one. Old school for me. Don't change your boat in midstream.

Search key word "trench lighter" on the popular auction site and Google. You sometimes see Rope Lighters and other tried and true fire tools.

oregon

[oregon]

The stamped inscription on the Rope Lighter reads:

BOWERS
ARMY & NAVY
LIGHTER
USA
KALAMAZOO, MICH

Link to some Bowers Mfg. history:http://bowers-mfg.com/history.html

Flints load like chambering a round. The brass knob on the spring-loaded flint plunger is pulled back and held while you drop in a flint. Let the plunger fly and the flint is contacting the striker wheel. The spring is quite strong and its business end hold a tiny plunger (looks just like a miniature valve from an engine) which contacts the flint. Without a flint in the lighter this plunger does not contact the striker wheel.

There must be a technique used to start the rope burning. I have made several small embers in the rope but they go out pretty fast when I blow on them. My technique is to roll the striker wheel across my palm to generate a stream of sparks. Another approach is to push the striker wheel along my levis and this gives a longer stream of sparks. Who has the technique down pat?

Hard to get an ember for me. Perhaps restricting yourself to only using a Rope Lighter to light your tobacco would be one way to quit smoking.

What is the hole in the center for? Keyring perhaps. Is it missing something. Maybe a cap for the burnt end so you can extinguish the ember and keep your pocket clean and fire free.

oregon

[B@rt]

The ropelighters I have had did have a small iron rod like from a paperclip with a hook that hooks in the rope on one end and a bead on the other. To extinguish just pull on the rope so the bead seals the tube, and presto.

[knot]

I have this lighter. Never used. The name (KBK) on there was my grandfather's export business.




I wonder why all the screws on the bottom




***edit- whoa! Mine's in a lot better shape than this and they want $80! http://www.arteauto.com/browseproduc...e-lighter.HTML



Theirs has a red "jewel" this one is blue

[oregon]

The ropelighters I have had did have a small iron rod like from a paperclip with a hook that hooks in the rope on one end and a bead on the other. To extinguish just pull on the rope so the bead seals the tube, and presto.

Now you tell me. Do you have any extra bead/hooks you can sell me?

Thanks for the explanation Bart. Much appreciated.

All the best,

oregon

[oregon]

New production Rope Lighter by Windmill Japan:









I got an ember burning quickly with this Rope Lighter. It has a big friction wheel, with very aggressive teeth, which throws alot of sparks. The rope keeper, looks like a piece of jewelry, gives you a grip to present the rope for lighting and snuffs the rope when you put it away. The lighter comes with 1 rope in place, 2 extra ropes and I bot 2 extra extra ropes.

The roper works so much better than the antique shown above it is a pleasure to use. The idea is flames give away your position so soldiers were issued rope lighters to enable smoking without making the soldier a lit target.

Flints are held against the striker wheel by the long powerful spring. The spring is kept in place by the end screw and it has room for a spare flint. I know because one fell out after I took the above pic when I put it back together.

Functional right out of the box. Thank you Ichiro Matsui at info@easy-easy.com.

oregon

[cutlerylover]

Could someone post a picture of the rope lighter lit?

[oregon]

Could someone post a picture of the rope lighter lit?

Post #24 first pic shows the rope lit. The ember is orange colored and is difficult to capture with the camera.

The Japanese vendor has a nice lit pic http://cgi.ebay.com/FIRE-ROPE-LIGHTE...QQcmdZViewItem

I'll try to get one in the dark.





oregon

[oregon]

This dual lighter, flint with rope and fueled-wick, covers several bases. Covert when necessary with the rope lighter and full flame with the fueled wick side.

The crest says: MINISTERS OF FINANCES circling around the small eagle in the center of the metal crest.

It is missing the rope keeper. The gasket for the fuel door is leather.

Anyone know the manufacturer of this dual function lighter?

oregon

[cutlerylover]

Thank you very much...yeah I missed that in post #24...but after lookign at it again I see...Thanks!

[oregon]

http://www.johnfloresgraphics.com/hobbies2.html

A good collection, with pics, thanks to John Flores.

Its difficult to find much out about the old time lighters. Pictures speak volumes sometimes.

oregon

[oregon]

I see..

News Flash: To begin a new rope with a rope lighter you should char the top of the rope with a flame!

I tried this and the rope lights easy easy now. I have the top of the rope near, 1/4 inch or closer, the bottom of the striker wheel and let fly. This lights the top of the rope and not the side like I was doing above.

This from instructions found on Floures site for the Wind-King rope lighter:

"DIRECTIONS : The WIND-KING lighter needs no fuel-
it is the wick that burns! All you have to do is to char the top of
a new wick once by applying a match to it.
After that, all that is necessary is to raise the wick within
range of the spark wheel-about 1/4 of an inch-and turn
the spark wheel. Presto! It ignites. To extinguish, pull the
wick down thus cutting off the air, and the wick ceases to burn."

The above was found at the bottom right of this page: http://www.johnfloresgraphics.com/CLimco.html

Learn something new every day.

I have sent this tip to our Japanese friends who are selling the modern Windmill rope lighters on the popular auction site. Perhaps they will find it useful information for their listing or to include with their rope lighters.

Two lighter collector resources (just found these so I can't vouch for them at this time): http://webpages.charter.net/buylighter/index.htm & http://www.otls.com/

oregon