THE INDESTRUCTIBLE ZIPPO LIGHTER
Celebrates a 71 Year History on September 3, 2003 with the Production of its 400 Millionth Milestone Lighter
| FEED DATE/TIME: | Wednesday September 3, 2003 1:00 - 1:15 PM ET Telstar 5 Transponder 12 C-Band Downlink Freq: 3940 H |
| FEED DATE/TIME: |
Thursday September 4, 2003 |
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BACKGROUND
George G. Blaisdell, founder of Zippo Manufacturing Company, really liked the sound of the word "zipper." Actually, he liked it so much that he decided to name his first manufactured lighter in 1932 the "Zippo." Several decades later, Blaisdell's company is still creating an extensive array of Zippo lighters featuring millions of different designs, logos and artwork. Zippo lighters are marketed as an advertising premium item in high demand, endorsing brands from Coca-Cola to Harley Davidson.
So just how much is a Zippo lighter worth? The highest reported price paid for a Zippo lighter was $18,000 for a1933 model in mint condition. But it's not unusual for older or limited-run Zippo lighters to fetch in the hundreds or thousands of dollars. The Zippo lighter has been featured in over 1000 movies and TV shows, most recently X-Men 2 and Charlie's Angels 2, Full Throttle. Its widespread use in World War II made it the windproof lighter of choice. The lighters served as a testament to American ingenuity and resolve, and many American GIs carried Zippo lighters into battle.
On Wednesday, September 3, 2003 Zippo will officially celebrate its rich history by producing and placing its 400 millionth milestone lighter in the company's museum. In addition to its internationally recognized brand, Zippo is also renowned for its unique guarantee - "It works, or we fix it for free" - that George Blaisdell created in 1932. The Zippo Repair Clinic works to remedy any and all problems, even those that are the result of human error. Zippo maintains a collection of returned lighters that were beyond repair, including one that accidentally ran through a garbage disposal. Although this lighter couldn't be fixed, Zippo held true to its pledge and provided the customer with a brand new lighter.
SOUNDBITES
- George Duke, Chairman of the Board and third-generation owner, and grandson of company founder George G. Blaisdell
- Greg Booth, President and CEO of Zippo Manufacturing Company
B-ROLL INCLUDES
***Production of 400 millionth and press conference footage ***Various footage of inside/outside of factory and lighter production process ***Shots of Zippo/Case Visitors Center and Repair Clinic ***Footage of the town of Bradford, Pennsylvania
VIDEO PROVIDED BY: Zippo
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