four.cycle
Well-known member
Louis Vincent Aronson (b. 1869 d. 1940) - Art Metal Works - Ronson
The genius of Louis Vincent Aronson cannot be overstated. A child prodigy, he graduated from public school at age 12, technical school at 15 [1], was issued his first patent at age 24 (patent 497621), and went on to create the Ronson Company, makers of what we know today as the cigarette lighter.
Detailed information about Mr. Aronson's personal life and achievements are at Wikipedia:
en.wikipedia.org
For most people, the name "Ronson" evokes the cigarette lighter, but Mr. Aronson's first venture into manufacturing was the creation of the "Art Metal Works", a company that made cast and plated lamps, bookends, statues, and hood ornaments - collectively referred to during that era as "novelties".
Detailed information about the Art Metal Works company on Wikipedia:
en.wikipedia.org
It is not clear exactly what year "Art Metal Works" was founded. The "Ronson" company was established in 1897 (and incorporated in 1898) and Aronson was advertising and marketing his products under the "Ronson" brand name as early as 1909, and was advertising as the "Ronson Specialty Company" as early as 1910. The "Art Metal Works" company was in operation until at least 1934. The Zippo company acquired the Ronson company in 2010, although they continue to market and sell products under the "Ronson" and "Ronsonol" brand names.
Detailed information about the Ronson Corporation on Wikipedia:
en.wikipedia.org
One of Mr. Aronson's early inventions was a device that evolved into the modern cigarette lighter and helped to make the name "Ronson" a household word. Aronson was issued US Patent 966153 on August 2, 1910, for a "Lighting Appliance". The "Pist-O-Liter", as it was known, was the first practical hand-held device which created a spark - not a fire.
The "Pist-O-Liter" was not a true "lighter" as we would think of it today, but rather a device that created a spark, which was all that was necessary to ignite the acetylene lamps which were standard equipment on automobiles of the era, or the gas stoves which were then becoming more popular in American kitchens. (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_stove)
The "Pist-O-Liter" was relentlessly promoted by Aronson through various trade journals and publications:
Ronson Specialty Co. "Pist-O-Liter" patent 966153 Aug 10 1910 L.V. Aronson
Notes:
[1] The Wikipedia article states Aronson graduated from technical school at age 16. Per Arthur Oliver's book "The story of a life: A Tribute to Louis V. Aronson" (Colyer, 1929) "he graduated in 1885, at the tender age of 15, he was “qualified as an expert metallurgist, draftsman and designer”.
The genius of Louis Vincent Aronson cannot be overstated. A child prodigy, he graduated from public school at age 12, technical school at 15 [1], was issued his first patent at age 24 (patent 497621), and went on to create the Ronson Company, makers of what we know today as the cigarette lighter.
Detailed information about Mr. Aronson's personal life and achievements are at Wikipedia:
Louis Vincent Aronson - Wikipedia
For most people, the name "Ronson" evokes the cigarette lighter, but Mr. Aronson's first venture into manufacturing was the creation of the "Art Metal Works", a company that made cast and plated lamps, bookends, statues, and hood ornaments - collectively referred to during that era as "novelties".
Detailed information about the Art Metal Works company on Wikipedia:
Ronson (company) - Wikipedia
It is not clear exactly what year "Art Metal Works" was founded. The "Ronson" company was established in 1897 (and incorporated in 1898) and Aronson was advertising and marketing his products under the "Ronson" brand name as early as 1909, and was advertising as the "Ronson Specialty Company" as early as 1910. The "Art Metal Works" company was in operation until at least 1934. The Zippo company acquired the Ronson company in 2010, although they continue to market and sell products under the "Ronson" and "Ronsonol" brand names.
Detailed information about the Ronson Corporation on Wikipedia:
Ronson (company) - Wikipedia
One of Mr. Aronson's early inventions was a device that evolved into the modern cigarette lighter and helped to make the name "Ronson" a household word. Aronson was issued US Patent 966153 on August 2, 1910, for a "Lighting Appliance". The "Pist-O-Liter", as it was known, was the first practical hand-held device which created a spark - not a fire.
The "Pist-O-Liter" was not a true "lighter" as we would think of it today, but rather a device that created a spark, which was all that was necessary to ignite the acetylene lamps which were standard equipment on automobiles of the era, or the gas stoves which were then becoming more popular in American kitchens. (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_stove)
The "Pist-O-Liter" was relentlessly promoted by Aronson through various trade journals and publications:
Ronson Specialty Co. "Pist-O-Liter" patent 966153 Aug 10 1910 L.V. Aronson
Notes:
[1] The Wikipedia article states Aronson graduated from technical school at age 16. Per Arthur Oliver's book "The story of a life: A Tribute to Louis V. Aronson" (Colyer, 1929) "he graduated in 1885, at the tender age of 15, he was “qualified as an expert metallurgist, draftsman and designer”.
Last edited:
