How did you get started?

[bigbaddad]

I started way back in the early 70's when some of my grandmothers old students came back from Vietnam.Many of them gave me their lighters .I had already became the owner of my own fathers Ronson typhoon he carried during the Cuban Missle era and that had always meant a lot to me.The Nam lighters never really got me to think much about collecting until I won a Zippo at a local amusment park.man did that ever start the ball rolling.Next thing I knew I was flat out asking guys for their Nam zippos and other military ones and they were giving them to me.Went in the Navy and boy it was like being in a candy store.Zippo's,Zippo's and More Zippo's.I have had my collection as high as 3000 and as low as 2-3.My Nam lighters were never messed with and were always kept in a safe place.Being married a few times can really mess with a guys collection.The rest of my collection was always changing and still is.In the last 6-7 months my collection got up to 1200 and is now down to just a little over 500.Boy aint this stuff fun!Jeff aka bigbaddad

[combatfetus]

Started a year ago.

I saw my older brothers zippo and wanted to find out more about it. (I had seen ZT a while before then). I ended finding LT.com and got hooked.

Only got 5 though

[zipposr4me]

My fascination with the ZiPPO started many many years ago (before there was an ark) My Dad always carried a ZiPPO and I always thought the "click" sounded cool. I began a collection of ZiPPOs a few years ago. While my collection is no where close to rivaling those of BBD, the Shellman, (we need to find him and get him in here) or Robins', I'm still proud of it. I haven't had the opportunity to add a ZiPPO to it in quite some time. But, now that I am back in the working class...it wont be long.

~to the web guru's~ any way we can have a spot to upload pics of our collections?

[freddythefox]

i started when i was in the navy.bought my first zippo hms london in 91,collected as many as i could from my travels,traded my brother his ships zippo collection for a russian charge chiefs uniform.i still get hold of the odd one when i visit the outlaws in plymouth,the rest i have aquired from ebay and you guys and gals.thanks for the arizonas jan recieved them this morning.

[Blue]

bought my first at age 14....while I was down in Florida. Then not another til I was eighteen, then I bought a few between the ages of 18 and 25, but really started collecting after that. What really turned me on to them was the solid titanium. I took one look at that and was hooked for life. Made me look into all the different finishes/designs and was amazed at the capacity for such a small thing to contain so much history and art and usefulness!!

[freddythefox]

i never knew they did a titanium zippo then again i knew very little until i joined the zc and now the lounge.i always thought zippos were better than any other lighter in looks,plus you can smoke outside when its dead windy,but now ive discoversd so much its even better.think youve created a zippo monster jeff.

[loweden]

I basically started when I was in the navy since a zippo is almost a uniform requirement!
I believe it was 92' when I got my first one. While in the service despite moving a lot I acquired one from time to time but kept it small and portable. After12 yrs I got medically discharged and my wife encouraged me to build a display case for them...she regrets that now! LOL. Well after about 30 display cases for me and others I am up to over 200 since she also introduced me to EBay..another move she regrets,lol.

[capo]

I remember just always looking at zippo's in outdoor magazines and such when I was a little kid, and my grandfather talking of his from the war. Then I introduced myself to ebay and bought a satin chrome. Shortly after I discovered the late zippotricks.com. I've been around for 4 or 5 years now, and have met some of you at the '04 meet down in Bradford.
Though I discovered it all through tricking, I'm not much of a trickster.

[arthurdent]

I've had one for as long as I can remember but never knew of the history of Zippo or how big the collecting fraternity was. Sometime about 4 years ago I started to learn more of Zippo through the net and started collecting.

[bigbaddad]

Freddy I may have dealt you the drug but,You clicked you own zip.For my part it was a victimless crime. 8-)Jeff aka bigbaddad

[freddythefox]

glad you did jeff i have so much more knowledge now,and knowledge is power.just looking forward to meeting you in person net year.i will buy the first round buddy.

[Spanish Flea]

Let's see i found my first zippo in a Police Inpound yard me and a friend broke in to. It was a salesman sample, "The Little Persuader" i think its a '74. Well i loved it took care of it, bought it a friend. Let's see that was about 15 years ago. Back then i got zippos mostly to collect, like the D-day series, and some of the Varga girls. etc. Then i got out of it. Then about 5 years ago. I dug up my zippos. Did a search on the net, and found ZT.com I sandbaged on that site for a while, and got mad at how some of the people were telling others how to fix there zippo. So being the handy one, i steped in. And what i said made since to people. And that's how i got back into zippos. But now i really collect used zippos.

Spanish Flea

[The Saint]

Started at 14, my first zippo was a slim given to me by my father, still have it, after that I started to buy lighters and had a small collection of 20 pieces, than I quitted other thing had priorities, when I signed up for the militairy I started to buy lighters ar px's where ever I went. My collection grew over the years, but food is still my main priority above lighters

[tm1]

Just started this summer but I have always had a fascination for Zippo lighters since I was a kid. I was too young to be responsible for something that gives off flame so I never bought one until this summer. I finally had some money and got one and I knew it was something I would like for awhile. 2 months later I now have 10 and it's still growing slowly but surely.

[~> Ace of Hearts <~]

I was reding MAXIM on the john and saw an article on how to do the
"Squeeze and Flip." Facinated, and lighterless, I bought a Rippo.. I
figured I'd start there til I deemed myself worthy of a pricey Zippo..
well that broke and I bought a CHEAP grey matte at Wal-mart and
found LT.com. Then I did a search looking for a lightet that "suited" me
and found the "Four Aces" Camel that displays all four card suits..
Well being a poker fanatic..perfect fit.. won it on Ebay.. and well..
accidently won another grey matte by accident.. and here we are on
the lounge.. Kicking it an Clickin it..