IMCO lighters rule!

D

DocArnie

Joined
Jan 27, 2006
Messages
734
I want to show you a very special lighter, that has been made like this in austria for many decades, before the Zippo was invented.

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The flame can be regulated by moving the ring up or down:
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Now here comes the really cool part, you can pull out the fuel tank like this...
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...and use it like a candle!
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Changing the flint is exactly like putting staples in a stapler.
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It's still "made in austria", it's an original and it costs less than 3€.

Makes me wonder why chinese made zippo clones are still being offered everywhere for a higher price than this well thought out austrian masterpiece...
 
is that a Bentley lighter? i have an old Bentley one as well but a different style that is made is Austria very nice
 
CanDo said:
Does the fuel evaporate over time?
Click to expand...

Yes, unfortunately. I haven't tried it out yet, but I've read reviews which say it's dry after two weeks. But carrying some extra fuel isn't a bad idea if you want to rely on a petrol lighter. Should work with alcohol, too.
The good thing is you can change the flint incredibly fast and it takes zippo flints as well as bic flints.
Also, the "candle-mode";) should be very comfortable when making fire in the woods. It can be held in positions that are impossible for a bic (you need to push the button continuously) or a zippo (size) and the rest of the lighter doesn't heat up so bad.
 
chabla said:
is that a Bentley lighter? i have an old Bentley one as well but a different style that is made is Austria very nice
Click to expand...

Haven't heard of bentley lighters. This particular lighter has been sold under the name "IMCO Triplex Super" since it was invented.
 
DocArney,

Neat lighter.

If your reference to "Chinese Zippo clones" is to the so-called "peanut" lighters like this one, they are popular because they are airtight, meaning they do not lose fuel to evaporation, are completely waterproof, and are small enough to put on a keychain or zipper pull.

-- FLIX
 
Actually, I didn't have those in mind. I haven't seen them before, but they look great, too!
I was talking about cheap 1:1 zippo clones for 5€. Their quality is nowhere near a real zippo.

When comparing a real zippo to an imco, I'd say the zippo is tougher, but also more expensive and it doesn't have the features I mentioned, but it has it's own qualities and style.
 
I've seen the Imco, and always thought it was neat. When I was in college, a buddy of mine had one.
Maybe I'll have to pick one up...
 
I have an IMCO and evaporation rate is MUCH BETTER than Zippo. I stored one for over a month, and it fired up first try. They really are awesome. The only downfall is that they EAT flint. They grind away those little suckers like crazy. At least you can put two end to end in the flint space.

Much better than Zippo in my experience.
 
I love my IMCO! Inexpensive and works very well. They also have
a little bit of a cool factor 'cause they don't look like a zippo or zippo clone.
 
I filled mine with fuel on thursday, lighted it up for fun several times until friday. Had it lying around unused the whole weekend until now. I let it burn in "candle mode" for 20 minutes. It's weaker now, but still going.
I'm pretty convinced. I'd even use it as a backup flashlight, when Tom Cruise's alien tripods attack with their EMP-weapons. :D:D
Best 3€ I've ever spent.
 
I may have to try one of those, do they sell them in the U.S.? I'm going to give the peanut lighters a try as well. I've been using a Bic for the last couple of years, as I finally abandonded my Zippo. Lost patience with it running out of fuel unexectidly, burning my leg with the fuel spillover if I filled it too much. About the only thing it did well was light my pipe in the wind. Heck, I can put my hat over my pipe and Bic and get it going. I just finally came to the conclusion the Zippo was outmoded. The memories were better than the reality of the finiky piece of eqiuptment.
 
langston302, thanks for posting the link. I only found those lighter in the US via google for around 15$.
4.75$ is a good price and absolutely worth it. 15$ is a different story, but for under 5$ chances are very high that you won't regret buying it.

I myself will buy some more of them and give them to family and friends.
 
Before you abandon too many of the zippo's, have you tried these?
http://www.countycomm.com/zplus2a.htm
Cost twice what the Austria one does and more than the peanut lighter (which does not evaporate and is sold on that same site) but I suspect it provides a bit more flame.
Nice to have choices.
 
I have one of those from County Comm but haven't used it yet. They're supposed to work with several types of fuels, has anyone tried anything other than standard lighter fluid?
 
stevekt said:
County Comm has a lot of neat toys!
Click to expand...

Yes it does. A good portion of my survival kit, including the IMCO lighter has come from County Comm. They also have the authentic USAF signal mirrors in both compact and full size versions.
 
DocArnie,

I send you a PM about the lighters. I'm from Europe too, could you maybe help me out with the questions I send to you?

Thanks,
CZ
 
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