I started collecting vintage cigarette lighters about 7 years ago.

Like most vintage lighter collectors I've met, I was attracted to the art deco design.

I bought a couple of reference books, started searching ebay on a regular basis, and checked other web sites devoted to vintage lighters.

I was surprised at the variations (both rare and common) of vintage pocket and table lighters manufactured in the U.S. and Europe in the 1930s and 1940s.