Our Zippo Companies
W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company is an American manufacturer of high-quality, handmade knives that are passed down from generation to generation. Case's product range, headquartered in Bradford, Pennsylvania, includes a wide range of product categories, from traditional folding pocket knives and fixed-blade sporting knives to commemorative items and limited-edition collectibles.
History
The company's long history began in 1889 when four brothers; William Russell (W.R.), Jean, John and Andrew Case (also known as "The Case Brothers"), began producing knives. They sold them from a wagon in the New York countryside. W.R.'s son: John Russell (Russ) Case, a former salesman for the Case Brothers brand, founded W.R. Case & Sons at the turn of the century. Russell's father served as his son's advisor and helped stabilize the company's early finances while building a reputation as a reliable supplier of quality cutlery. In 1993, the Zippo Manufacturing Company, manufacturer of the world-famous windproof Zippo® lighters and another family-owned company headquartered in Bradford, founded the W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company to continue the legacy of the Case brand family.
The company's original knife designs and manufacturing methods have been recognized with awards and can be seen in major print publications, during international trade organizations and events, as well as in television programs and major motion pictures. The unique stamp-dating system that has been used since the beginning makes the Case brand one of the most popular collectibles in the world.
Today
The Case Collectors Club is the largest known knife collectors association in the world with 18,000 active members. The 125 pairs of hands required to manufacture a single knife testify to Case's high quality standards. Making a Case knife begins with carefully sculpted handles made from a wide range of genuine materials such as Brazilian cattle bone, deer antler, buffalo horn, mother-of-pearl, exotic woods and stones. Brass, nickel and silver components accentuate every shape and are united in knives that are not only beautiful, but also withstand the test of time and use.
Case knives are largely sold through an authorized dealer network of hardware stores and home stores, cutlery stores, fashion and accessory stores, catalog dealers and other retailers.
For more information about W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company, visit caseknives.com
We invite you to visit the Zippo/Case Museum in Bradford, Pennsylvania, where fans and collectors from around the world come together to learn more about the rich history of Case knives and Zippo lighters.
The Zippo Manufacturing Company acquired Ronson assets in February 2010. Ronson has produced lighters since 1913 and offers a wide range of pocket and flashlight lighters, as well as flame accessories.
History
The Ronson Corporation and later the Ronson Consumer Products Company were founded by the Aronson Family. Originally, Louis V. Aronson was the owner and operator of Art Metal Works in Newark, NJ, which he opened in 1886. Art Metal Works made a variety of decorative metalwork, including bookends, paperweights, desk sets, lamps, miniatures and other metal handicrafts. At the request of customers, Aronson began researching the flame market and started making lighters in the early 1900s.
In the year 1910, Aronson acquired a patent for a spark-generating ignition system called "Pist-o-liter" and in 1913 he produced a pocket lighter called "Wonderlite". In 1928, Ronson acquired a patent for the revolutionary, easy-to-use "Banjo" lighter that allowed both ignition and extinguishing with a single press. Mr. Aronson decided to focus on producing lighters and sold the Art Metal Works company. In recent decades, the Ronson Corporation and several subsidiaries also developed several types of pocket, multi-functional and flashlight lighters under the RONSON brand, as well as
lighter fluid and butane fuel under the RONSONOL brand. The company also produced a variety of accessories, including flint for lighters and many other consumer products in the beginning. In the 1960s, the Ronson Corporation sold its international operations
and the company ceased its operations and major sales in North America.
In the year 2010, the Zippo Manufacturing Company, Bradford, PA, acquired certain assets from Ronson, including the RONSON and RONSONOL brands, as well as the related products. Zippo acquired neither the company, nor any data or obligations of the company.
Today
The RONSON and RONSONOL brands are part of the Zippo Manufacturing Company brand family. The product lines of the brands continue to consist of lighters, fuel and related accessories, which are marketed and sold in stores and online in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
History
Founded in 1978, Northern Lights has illuminated the world for over 40 years and beautifies homes with the warmth of candlelight. Our strong roots in the "art of candle making" have resulted in an excellent reputation as a leading designer of luxury candles and handmade accessories. Our hand-poured candles are made in the US with wonderful scents and essential oils. Our wax blends contain soy wax and other waxes of natural origin. Our wicks are made of natural cotton. Our bowls come from responsible sources and are designed to be reused. This combination of quality products gives our handmade candles their clean burn, their excellent scent and contributes to their long-lasting value.
Today
Zippo acquired Northern Lights in January 2019. The company and its employees are now based in Wellsville, NY.
For Zippo, the expansion of the Zippo brand family represents a diversified product line, new sales channels, decisive know-how and expertise in a fast-growing, trendy category.
This acquisition was very beneficial for the founders of Northern Lights, Andy and Tina Glanzman, as Zippo and Northern Lights share the same cultures, values and positions. Both Zippo and Northern Lights are proud American manufacturers based in small, strong communities in the United States with a long-standing reputation for reliable, beautifully designed products.
Zippo will use its existing international channels to begin the globalization of the Northern Lights brand and product range, with the potential for further expansion.