1930s Ronson "Touch Tip" lighter - how it works

This is a lighter I recently obtained and fixed up. I thought it was cool how it worked so I describe here the gist of it.

[@cesarc.4230]

This reminds me of a Ronson Touch Tip lighter. Its a tool of a gentleman, an eligant tool for a more civilized age.

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

Read the title dude.

[@francistorchio]

Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade was so cool lighting his hand rolled cigarette with a similar lighter in 'The Maltese Falcon'.

[@domar1]

Bogart uses this a lot in the Maltese Falcon, 1941.

[@GoldLeafPress]

I’m literally watching it right now! Was searching for it since it’s a dope way of lighting a cig.

[@BoraHorzaGobuchul]

Thank you. I was trying to picture it once i encountered it in a novel.

[@sharishattuck5990]

I have this lighter but have no idea how to add fuel, flint and wick! Can you help? Love your videos!

[@tomp6633]

The fuel is just normal liquid lighter fluid (e.g. zippo) and pours into the wand hole, start with a small amount. The flint is replaced by removing the screw on the bottom and there should be a spring behind it that holds the flint against the striker. If you search on amazon or elsewhere for zippo part kits you should be able to find replacement springs, flints, and the small piece of metal that separates the flint from the spring. The spring should have some small amount of force but not too much, if it isn't sparking well you could add another spacer to make the spring stronger. For the wick you could check ebay, that's what I did.

[@IndecisiveStoner]

Hi, idk if you’re still active, but I’ve been considering buying a restored Octette from Ronson Repair. But how long can you leave the wand lit before it starts to burn the wick? Thanks.

[@zachthehunter]

Why doesn't the wick set the lighter fluid on fire when you put it back in the cannisters?

[@tomp6633]

No air can get down into the canister once the wick is in place so the fire goes out

[@JacketsOnFire]

Because fire can’t exist without oxygen

[@JohnManni]

Need help cant find parts for 1930 Touch Tip Lighter need flint and weel Please help

[@kaanpeduk9500]

Maybe one day I’ll get to own of these cool touch tip lighters, they are not cheep tho I’ll tell you that lol

[@wien_jitsu1578]

I work for an antique company and we were in this house buying things the owner was selling and I saw one of these. I asked him how much he wanted for it and he said 20 bucks. I have never gotten my wallet out faster. It is missing the wand and I haven’t bought one yet…

[@wien_jitsu1578]

I have one of these but it’s missing the wand. I can’t find the exact style of the lighter anywhere so I don’t know which wand I should get. Any advice?

[@tomp6633]

Ebay user beka-005 sells some reproduction wands that are decent. I'm not sure how to determine the exact style though if you can't find another picture of the same one. You could email the people at ronsonrepair.com , they might know.

[@supark-b6x]

Good video

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

I saw The Maltese Falcon for the first time not too long ago. I never saw anything quite like that until then. I looked into maybe trying to buy one, they go for THOUSANDS of dollars. Many of them like $5,000. I mean, they're cool but they're not that cool. Lol. But, cool lighter anyway man.

[@hi-dores4111]

Great video

[@IAMLAYSH]

I have a RONSON MARV, do you know anything about it?

[@tomp6633]

Hmm, no I am not familiar with that one

[@jd403]

How do you add fuel to it, and what type would you use?

[@tomp6633]

It is just normal lighter fluid you would use in a zippo, and it pours into the spot the wand goes.

[@eugeniocorsetti8842]

The price?

[@trumpies]

can i buy it

[@pipewriter2092]

Any idea how to replace the wick and what material to use?

[@tomp6633]

I tried getting some normal lighter wick (for zippo, etc.) that is commonly sold and pulling the strands apart and tieing it up around the end. It worked alright but not super well. Later I got a reproduction wand instead which had a new wick built in, which worked better. Some people might sell just the wick part remade.

[@Marusija8]

❤👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@Jonathan_Bryan_Degamo]

How do you install a wick on the wand?

[@tomp6633]

@@Jonathan_Bryan_Degamo From the ones I have seen it just presses onto the bottom like a plug

[@Jonathan_Bryan_Degamo]

@@tomp6633 Thanks, Man! In every case, a beautiful table lighter from Ronson you got!