There are too many using the words KITSCH, FUNKY, RETRO, ART DECO, and VINTAGE when the item is none of these. I asked a seller recently what the meaning of one word was and she admitted that she didn't know, but it encouraged buyers to bid.

 In my view there is much misrepresentation of lighters from sellers who know nothing, they do not even know the model names, let alone the mechanics of such items.

As a gas lighter engineer I can see only 5 knowledgable sellers on the whole of eBay. So with that I'm happy to advise anyone as an ex Ronson Engineer with problems, but even my experience doesn't stop a flood of problematic lighters arriving at my door. Corroded flints in tubes, lighters covered in tar, unrepairable leaks.and hardly any attempts to clean them..

Money that I make from my repairs helps to save lesser-known  wildcats that are murdered for fur coats, so you can see how mad I get when lighters never match their description.

It may also be news to sellers that you can never clean silver, gold or brass plated lighters with metal polish. All polishes carry an abrasive agent that destroys the protective laquer Ronson's used to stop plate tarnishing. Your item may gleam in the picture, but it will result in a very sad buyer when his/her lighter turns black in a short time.

Please email me with any queries you may have.

Art King