IMPORTANT: SOLD AS IS / UNTESTED STATUS
PLEASE NOTE: This antique pre-war mechanical squeeze lighter is being sold strictly AS IS and UNTESTED. It has not been fueled with petrol or mechanically verified for spark. It exhibits an authentic, heavily darkened vintage pocket patina, oxidation highlights, surface scuffs, and internal carbon soot from century-old use. Please evaluate your bids solely on the detailed description text and product images provided.
Item Description
Up for auction or buy-it-now is a highly collectible masterpiece of Art Deco engineering: an original vintage 1930s–1940s Regens semi-automatic squeeze pocket lighter. Proudly manufactured in the United States, these unique lighters were highly popular with service members during the WWII era due to their windproof design and innovative removable fuel tank assembly.
Decorative Casing: Features a spectacular, fully wrapped high-relief embossed floral filigree scrollwork pattern with a textured, pebble-grain background canvas. The narrow front spine is crisp-stamped with the iconic vertical "REGENS" brand logo.
Removable Fuel Tank: Squeezing the side mechanism flips open the windshield hood and strikes the wheel. The internal brass fuel canister slide block can be completely pulled out from the bottom sleeve—a brilliant original feature intended to let smokers light pipes or campfires directly with the open flame container.
Base Plate Markings: The bottom of the brass tank block is struck with the original patent registry text lines reading: "MADE IN U.S.A. / PAT. NO. 1,896,140" (dating to the original 1933 Regens mechanical utility patent).
Condition Details
Exterior Shell: Housed in an honest, heavily pocket-worn antique state. The metal finish shows a gorgeous dark gunmetal/nickel tone with deep natural oxidation highlights in the valleys of the scrollwork. There are zero crushed panels or structural cracks.
Mechanics & Internals: The spring-loaded side squeeze trigger mechanism functions smoothly. The original brass bottom filler screw plug remains perfectly intact and flush. The interior chimney well, wind-guard ventilation holes, and flint gear assembly display normal carbon blacking, vintage flint dust, and soot from previous use.
Functionality: Sold completely untested and as-is for premium tobacciana collections, trench art displays, mechanical curiosity collections, or restoration.
Item Specifics & Details
Brand: Regens Lighter Corporation
Mechanism: Semi-Automatic Squeeze-Trigger / Removable Tank
Era: 1930s - 1940s (Pre-War / WWII Era)
Design Pattern: All-Over Embossed Floral Filigree Scrolls
Patent Number: U.S. Pat. No. 1,896,140 (Issued 1933)
Material Base: Nickel-Plated base metals with a Brass Inner Tank
Inclusions: Includes internal fuel block insert and factory bottom screw
Country of Manufacture: Made in U.S.A.
Packaging: Lighter only (No box or paperwork included)
This historic American-made piece will be wrapped securely in thick defensive bubble padding layers and shipped inside a rigid box with tracking to guarantee a completely safe arrival.