Employee Test Model Zippos — LighterGallery.com

EMPLOYEE TEST MODEL ZIPPOS

This is a gallery of one-of-a kind test model Zippo lighters engraved by Zippo employee artists perfecting and personalizing their art on Zippo cases. The earliest decorated Zippos used applied metalliques with paint or were single color line-drawn. World War II led to a temporary slowing in the evolution of the art form since from 1940 through 1945 Zippo production was dedicated mainly to supporting the US military with black crackle Zippos, not the easiest canvas for an artist to work with. After the end of the war in 1945 the demands on employee artists at Zippo's production plant in Bradford PA grew. In 1946, evolution led to line-drawn Zippos with multiple colors and more use of attached badges. In 1949 the first hand-painted Town and Country models were produced, leather-covered Zippos were introduced in 1950, and with the passage of time silk screening and other methods of production brought changes. Zippo's employees needed to practice their art before production and those Zippos are referred to as test models. They are not prototypes intended for production. Many of the test models were line-drawn using multiple colors, some with messages for co-workers, family and friends. The resulting designs, sometimes very familiar to Zippo collectors, and the quaint employee-related personal messages make these one-of-a kind Zippos quite special.

1936 Zippo lighter with a total of eleven advertiser metalliques have been attached and painted. The logo and emblems are Rum Carioka Booster, Heinz 57, AAA, H for Hilton hotels, Texaco, Amoco, Gulf, Champion, Hygeria, Whitjax, and Kodak. Zippos with single advertiser metalliques are rare, let alone one with eleven.

1935 model Zippo with a repaired outside hinge. It has a small American flag and an engraved Town & Country sloop on one side, and a fisherman graphic on the other.  This rare lighter also appears in David Poore's "Zippo The Great American … — 1935 model Zippo with a repaired outside hinge. It has a small American flag and an engraved Town & Country sloop on one side, and a fisherman graphic on the other. This rare lighter also appears in David Poore's "Zippo The Great American Lighter" and is described as a salesman's sample. Since both the sloop and fisherman designs did not appear until the mid to late 1940's, seeing them engraved on a 1935 model Zippo is most unusual

1938 Zippo with the name of Dorothy Crispin and a polar bear engraved on the front and the head of a cocker spaniel dog on the reverse. This rare lighter also appears in David Poore's "Zippo The Great American Lighter" — 1938 Zippo with the name of Dorothy Crispin and a polar bear engraved on the front and the head of a cocker spaniel dog on the reverse. This rare lighter also appears in David Poore's "Zippo The Great American Lighter"

1940-41 Employee engraved Zippo with the graphic of a duck apparently engraving.  Done by or for Dot and Ray — 1940-41 Employee engraved Zippo with the graphic of a duck apparently engraving. Done by or for Dot and Ray

1942 World War II back crackle Zippo with gold "Bubbles" inlay.  Bubbles is reportedly LaRue Hutton, nice of Dale Hutton, long term Zippo employee.  This lighter appears in David Poore's book "Zippo The Great American Lighter". — 1942 World War II back crackle Zippo with gold "Bubbles" inlay. Bubbles is reportedly LaRue Hutton, nice of Dale Hutton, long term Zippo employee. This lighter appears in David Poore's book "Zippo The Great American Lighter".

1947 test model Zippo with "Bob" engraved in yellow.  It is by or for Bob Holzinger, Zippo Mfg.Co's plant manager — 1947 test model Zippo with "Bob" engraved in yellow. It is by or for Bob Holzinger, Zippo Mfg.Co's plant manager

1946-47 Zippo by Dale Hutton with a line-drawn moose with top hat and cigar

1946 Zippo with the classic drunkard or reveler design with "Dale" on the lid for Dale Hutton, long-time foreman of the Zippo engraving department. The line drawing on the reverse depicts a winking owl with her chicks which is the old logo of Pennzoil

1946 Zippo with the name of Zippo employee George Schaming and two unidentified logos on the front, and a graphic of Betty Lou Fox that was married to George in Bradford in 1947

1946-47 high-polish Zippo with the classic Drunkard/Reveler on the front and the National Screw robot on the reverse.  This is a Dale Hutton Zippo — 1946-47 high-polish Zippo with the classic Drunkard/Reveler on the front and the National Screw robot on the reverse. This is a Dale Hutton Zippo

1946-49 Zippo with a rose for Rose Clark. The Zippo was engraved by Jack Clark, Zippo artist, for his wife Rose.  The Greek initials Phi Beta Psi are those of a charitable sorority of which Rose was probably a member — 1946-49 Zippo with a rose for Rose Clark. The Zippo was engraved by Jack Clark, Zippo artist, for his wife Rose. The Greek initials Phi Beta Psi are those of a charitable sorority of which Rose was probably a member

1946-47 test-model Zippo with the bucking bronco design and "Harry" (?) on the front.  The reverse has a tiny engraving of the likeness of Oliver of Oliver Hardy. He was an American comic actor and one half of Laurel and Hardy, the double act t… — 1946-47 test-model Zippo with the bucking bronco design and "Harry" (?) on the front. The reverse has a tiny engraving of the likeness of Oliver of Oliver Hardy. He was an American comic actor and one half of Laurel and Hardy, the double act that began in the era of silent films and lasted 25 years, from 1927 to 1951

1948-49 Employee engraved Zippo with a rose, a tomato on a figure, a donkey, the name "Gen" on the obverse, legs in stockings and a Sports Series hunter on the reverse

1946-47 Employee engraved Zippo the letters "FEE" on the lid and engravings of a dog, swan and and a cocker spaniel on the front.  The back has engravings of a young indian, a deer's head with antlers, a chicken and the head of  running ho… — 1946-47 Employee engraved Zippo the letters "FEE" on the lid and engravings of a dog, swan and and a cocker spaniel on the front. The back has engravings of a young indian, a deer's head with antlers, a chicken and the head of running horse.

This 1946-47 has test engravings with images that are rare and highly sought after.  On the front there is Woody Woodpecker on the lid and a sun, a sleeping Mexican with a cactus, and the classicReveller/drunkard image.  On the reverse is … — This 1946-47 has test engravings with images that are rare and highly sought after. On the front there is Woody Woodpecker on the lid and a sun, a sleeping Mexican with a cactus, and the classicReveller/drunkard image. On the reverse is a skunk and the image of a kitten which appears in later rare Town & Country models.

1949 Zippo with a Town & Country trout on the front, cherries engraved on the back.  Personalized for L George Bott, this lighter appears in David Poore's book "Zippo The Great American Lighter" — 1949 Zippo with a Town & Country trout on the front, cherries engraved on the back. Personalized for L George Bott, this lighter appears in David Poore's book "Zippo The Great American Lighter"

1951 Zippo with the Sports Series skier on the lid and a dog chained to a dog house on the case

1949-50 Zippo with a Cities Service logo upside down on one side and a lady in lingerie on the other

1948 employee engraved Zippo with the classic lily pond design on the obverse as well as the name "George".  The reverse has the name "Mary Lou" on the lid (presumably Mary Lou Fox married to Geroge Schaming, Zippo employee) and graphics of a h… — 1948 employee engraved Zippo with the classic lily pond design on the obverse as well as the name "George". The reverse has the name "Mary Lou" on the lid (presumably Mary Lou Fox married to Geroge Schaming, Zippo employee) and graphics of a house, sun, flying birds, automobile and lamp post, the latter which can be found on Zippo's Reveler designs.

1951 Zippo with a Sports Series fisherman graphic on the front case.  The reverse has a graphic of a black man and a fire which reads "Lawsy how it do burn".  By today's standards the graphic would be considered very politically incorrect. — 1951 Zippo with a Sports Series fisherman graphic on the front case. The reverse has a graphic of a black man and a fire which reads "Lawsy how it do burn". By today's standards the graphic would be considered very politically incorrect.

1950 employee-engraved Zippo with a line-drawn locomotive and initials "KLM" on the front, a Sports Series fisherman on the back

1949-50 Zippo test model with a bowler and lady's head on the front, "Don"and a beagle's head on the reverse.  This rare lighter also appears in David Poore's "Zippo The Great American Lighter" — 1949-50 Zippo test model with a bowler and lady's head on the front, "Don"and a beagle's head on the reverse. This rare lighter also appears in David Poore's "Zippo The Great American Lighter"

1949-50 test model Zippo with a cowboy on a bucking bronco, a TV man (?) and the name "Katheryn McAndrew" engraved on the front, Rocky the Elf and a tiny chair on the back. Notice the font size on some of the numbers vary

1950-51 Zippo for Ruth with eight line-drawn dogs, the heads of a Great Dane,  a Cocker Spaniel, a Cockapoo (?) and a French Bulldog on the front, and a Greyhound, Golden Retriever, Malamute and black Poodle on the back — 1950-51 Zippo for Ruth with eight line-drawn dogs, the heads of a Great Dane, a Cocker Spaniel, a Cockapoo (?) and a French Bulldog on the front, and a Greyhound, Golden Retriever, Malamute and black Poodle on the back

1949-50 Zippo with the engraving of the Zippo Car on the front, and the name of Bill Edwards on the back. The Zippo Car was ahighly modified 1947 Chrysler New York Saratoga used by Zippo Mfg. Co in the later 1940's to promote Zippo.  The unique… — 1949-50 Zippo with the engraving of the Zippo Car on the front, and the name of Bill Edwards on the back. The Zippo Car was ahighly modified 1947 Chrysler New York Saratoga used by Zippo Mfg. Co in the later 1940's to promote Zippo. The unique ridges on the front part of the lid may have been a test by Bill Edwards who was a superintendent at Zippo at that time

Funny 1946-49 Zippo with a line-drawn female fisherman nude but for wading boots.  The design is somewhat similar to the fisherman with pipe design — Funny 1946-49 Zippo with a line-drawn female fisherman nude but for wading boots. The design is somewhat similar to the fisherman with pipe design

1951 employee engraved Zippo with a cartoonish bull and the word "shirt" engraved on the front and a small black rearing horse on the reverse

Very unusual 1952 Zippo for Isabel Fuoco, a Zippo employee, with miniaturized signatures of Zippo employees in many colors engraved on both sides.

1952-53 Zippo with a dog chained to a dog house and the initials "TJC" engraved on the front and a Town & Country pheasant on the back

1952-53 Zippo which has been personalized, with a Great Dane in an oval and "Kitty" on the front, "Jean Glander" and "Gary" on the reverse, both sides with other small test engravings

1953 test model Zippo with New Years dancing babies and "Tony" engraved on the front, a shot pouring liquor bottle and a bald eagle on the back

1957 Zippo for Aletha Miline with a Indian boy pointing and a royal crown on the front, an engraved but not painted Town & Country leaping deer on the back.

Well worn 1953 Zippo with a lady bowler and bowling pins along with the names Ida, Mary, Snooky and Dot engraved on the front, a kitten with a yellow ribbon on the back.

1958 Zippo with baby carrying stork announcing the birth of Jeffrey Wm.Holsinger with his birthdate, weight and height.  Bob Holsinger was a foreman at Zippo — 1958 Zippo with baby carrying stork announcing the birth of Jeffrey Wm.Holsinger with his birthdate, weight and height. Bob Holsinger was a foreman at Zippo

This Zippo is dated 1968.  The engraving on the case is the familiar Moonlanding design commemorating the Apollo 11 landing on July 20, 1969 while the 1776 and stars engraved on the lid are designs found on Zippos celebrating the Bicentennial c… — This Zippo is dated 1968. The engraving on the case is the familiar Moonlanding design commemorating the Apollo 11 landing on July 20, 1969 while the 1776 and stars engraved on the lid are designs found on Zippos celebrating the Bicentennial celebration in 1976.

1959 Zippo with multiple Town & Country engravings, including a bee and its beehive, a candy cane and more

1958 high-polish Zippo with tiny engraving on lid that reads "God grant me the SERENITYto accept the things I cannot change, COURAGE to change the things I can, and WISDOM to know the difference".  "Hutton" for Dale Hutton, a Zippo em… — 1958 high-polish Zippo with tiny engraving on lid that reads "God grant me the SERENITY
to accept the things I cannot change, COURAGE to change the things I can, and WISDOM to know the difference". "Hutton" for Dale Hutton, a Zippo employee, is engraved in black on the lower right hand corner of the case

1964 Zippo with a Sports Series pheasant hunter on the front and a line-drawn shooter and "Ruby Abbott", a Zippo employee's name, engraved on the back.   This unusual lighter also appears in David Poore's "Zippo The Great American Lighter" — 1964 Zippo with a Sports Series pheasant hunter on the front and a line-drawn shooter and "Ruby Abbott", a Zippo employee's name, engraved on the back. This unusual lighter also appears in David Poore's "Zippo The Great American Lighter"

1976 Zippo for Bob Holsinger, plant manager at Zippo and the nicest boss from his girls for Christmas 1977

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  … — 1948 Zippo with the caricature of Leonard Mackowski, an artist who worked at Zippo’s post war art department. It was given to Leonard as a parting gift from George Blaisdell when he left Zippo in 1948. The reverse has 36 signatures by Zippo employees, including from George Blaisdell, Lester Flickinger, Bob Galey and Jack Clark. Nine colors were used on the reverse; orange, light blue, dark blue, green, yellow, white, red, black and brown.
Leonard was in the Zippo art department in its infancy of line drawings, company logos and prototypes of the Town and Country designs. As a commercial artist he did the artwork for the famous childrens’ toy “Wooly Willie”, drew many of the Kendall ads for the Kendall Oil Company, did city map drawings for Bradford PA and also taught art