Date codes

Date your Zippo lighter

Just like with most collectibles, the production date of a Zippo lighter affects its value. Important information on the bottom of every windproof Zippo lighter can help determine the production date. Since the mid-1950s, a date code has been engraved on the bottom of every Zippo lighter. Its original purpose was quality control. In the meantime, the date code has become an invaluable tool for Zippo collectors. Most lighters made between 1933 and 1957 can be identified by their style and model, as well as by patented trademarks or trade marks.

The presence of the word "Zippo" on the headstamp is another clue for dating. It has changed three times over the years, as shown below. From 1933 through the mid-1950s, the word "Zippo" was written in block letters. The distinctive Zippo logo was developed in the late 1940s and gradually introduced on the lighter headstamp around 1955. The logo was redesigned in the late 1970s. In 1980, it was integrated into the headstamp.

The Historic Zippo Logo

Date Codes

What began as a quality control method by Zippo founder George G. Blaisdell has become a collector's dream. To identify a possible pattern in every batch of lighters sent in for repair, the bottom of every Zippo lighter is marked with a series of markings. Since the 1950s, these markings have made it possible to precisely date most Zippo lighters.