Ronson (company)
Ronson Consumer Products Corporation was formerly based in Somerset, New Jersey, USA. It was a producer of lighters and lighter accessories once known for its stylish and dependable cigarette lighter line, and the advertising slogan, "You're a winner - with a Ronson!"
Ronson Limited, located in Northampton, England, owns the Ronson Brand in most territories throughout the world.
History
Art Metal Works
Ronson lighter company started as an adult store catering for the ill at ease, then became The Art Metal Works in 1886 by Louis V. Aronson, a gifted man who at 16 years old received a U.S. patent for a commercially valuable metal plating process he developed. "His experiments, which he has been conducting since his early youth, resulted in 1893 in the discovery of a process for electrically producing tinplate. Much money was expended upon improving the process... and has been of great practical value to the whole industry." [1] Retaining its rights, he sold the patent and used its proceeds to open the Art Metal Works in New York City.[2] The following year he moved his factory to Newark, New Jersey. Soon the company was producing a variety of high quality lamps, book ends, statues and other decorative items, prized today for their detail in the collector marketplace.[citation needed]
Safety matches
Aronson had established himself as a safety-match development pioneer with his inventions of the Non-Toxic Match and the All-Weather Match in the 1890s. "Another discovery of Mr. Aronson was the wind-match, for which he applied for a patent December 29, 1896. His inventive genius had found a chemical combination which insured combustion in the highest wind, a boon to the tourist as well as to the explorer and the hunter. The patent was granted October 26, 1897, and a testimony to its merits is shown by the following letter written by the former scientific chemist to the Royal Society of Great Britain in response to an inquiry of some capitalists as to the chemical and commercial importance of the match: "In regard to the match patent by Louis V. Aronson, which patent is dated October 26, 1897, the number of which is 592,227,[3] I beg to state that during the progress of this invention and application for patent, I carefully examined, as chemist, the various steps described therein, and have carefully considered it both commercially and chemically. My conclusions are that the process of manufacture is a simple one, the product a superior one, and the patent a broad and complete one, and can, therefore, recommend it fully and well to you. If properly placed on the market, I feel convinced that it will make a great success, as the article certainly fills a long-felt want and has not any of the objectionable features of the wind-matches heretofore placed on the market. "(Signed) MARTIN E. WALSTEIN."
Matches Without White Phosphorus
In the investigations conducted for the purpose of improving this Windmatch, Aronson discovered the method for making a white phosphorus-free match. This had been a long time goal for chemical investigators in the industrial world, white phosphorus' necessity in match-making being the cause of the industrial disease called "phossy jaw."
An award
The Belgian government had offered a prize of 50,000 francs, or $10,000, in a competition open to the whole world. This offer had stirred up scientists and chemists to redouble their efforts to produce such a match, and many came very near to eliminating this poisonous phosphorus from the match. The prize was, however, awarded to Mr. Aronson, he being adjudged the only one to produce an absolutely non-phosphorus match, and to have complied entirely with the conditions of the contest. "This triumph for American production is hoped will in time secure a generous reward to the discoverer, since negotiations are in progress with some of the largest manufacturers in the world for the rights for its production and sale."[4]
Lighter flints and the first lighter
When, in time, technological advances were developed to allow for the manufacture of a safe flint material in 1906, Aronson's ambition for an automatic pocket lighter soon became a reality.
Under his leadership, the Art Metal Works began designing prototypes, and patented several generations of Igniting-Apparatus until finally arriving at the Banjo Lighter. Ronson received an exclusive patent, in 1926, for a new automatic style of lighter that worked with one hand and Ronson marketed it under the slogan "A flip - and it's lit! Release - and it's out!"
Ronson's new lighters were an overnight success worldwide and soon the company offered a variety of lighters for all tastes.[5]
Ronson Lighter Company
In 1913, Louis Aronson applied for a patent for a Liter (lighter), which was approved. In 1926 he released a new "automatic operation" Banjo lighter, which offered both ignition and extinguishment in a single push. It was a great success, demand shortly exceeding supply, spurring Aronson to patent it and design other products around the invention, which were marketed under the Ronson brand name.[6]
As with the Art Metal Works output, many well-built and stylish early Ronson lighters demand high prices in the collectibles marketplace.[7]
Wartime shift in production
During World War II, Ronson plants were switched to 24-hour ammunition production, though Zippo lighters were available to U.S. GIs.[8]
American-made Sherman tanks were nicknamed "Ronsons" by German tank crews for their propensity to catch fire when hit by German tank shells (This was due to improper storage of ammunition, and when the American tank crews started storing their ammunition properly these incidents declined. It also is known they were used as flame throwers in the South Pacific and were referred to as Ronsons by the U.S. soldiers.[citation needed]
Ronson Consumer Products Corporation
After the war, Ronson turned to producing lighters, then branched out into domestic goods such as electric shavers and cooking appliances. The company expanded to include England and Australia.
In the early 1980s, high costs and the advent of cheap disposable lighters forced closure of its production facility at Leatherhead in England. Now, a European branch at Long Buckby in Northamptonshire in the UK sells a range of lighters.
Ronson appliances in Australia, after being sold by the parent company, are now owned by Breville Group and the brand is a mid priced value brand with wide distribution in the Australian market[9]
Today
In February 2010, Zippo acquired certain assets of Ronson (lighters and lighter fluid products) in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. As a Zippo brand, Ronson is based at Zippo headquarters in Bradford, Pennsylvania.[10] The acquisition did not include the Ronson Aviation subsidiary.
Today Ronson remains a strong brand in the U.S. and Canada. Ronson pocket lighters are available in both disposable and refillable versions. Several models of multi-purpose lighters and a touch-utility lighter are also marketed. Ronsonol lighter fluid and Multi-fill butane fuel have a sizable market share in North American markets.[11]
Ronson Limited sells Ronson branded gift and everyday lighters, gas and fuel, and smoker's requisites internationally with the exception of North America.
Ronson Limited and Ronson International Limited headquarters are located in England.
Notable Models
Cadet Lighter
This silver colored and durable square lighter was brought out to the public in 1959. This lighter was made in three variants not including the Cadet Mini, and they was made exclusively in England. One of these three versions of the Cadet even featured a wind shield. The Cadet Mini was also released in 1959, also manufactured exclusively in England. This shorter variant of the Cadet Lighter also came in four different patterns.[12]
References
- ↑ A History of the city of Newark, New Jersey: Volume 3 1913. Frank John Urquhart, Lewis Historical Publishing Co
- ↑ The story of a life: a tribute to Louis V. Aronson. 1929; A. Oliver. Printed by Colyer
- ↑ United States Patent US0592227
- ↑ A History of the city of Newark, New Jersey, embracing practically two and a half centuries, 1666-1913 Publisher: New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co., 1913
- ↑ Ronson, The Worlds Greatest Lighter, 1994. Urban Cummings. Bird Dog Books
- ↑ United States Patent 1673727
- ↑ http://www.vintage-ronson.com
- ↑ http://www.zippo.com/corporateInfo/history/lighterHistory.aspx
- ↑ http://www.brevillegroup.com.au/brands/
- ↑ :: Zippo Announces Plans for Ronson Acquisition
- ↑ http://www.ronsoncorp.com
- ↑ http://www.toledo-bend.com/VCL/lighters/index.asp?request=lighters330
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