Best Zippo deals?

[bigbaddad]

I have calls into several people but have not heard back from any.I am starting to think it is one of those "no one knows" type Zippo questions and none of the experts want to admit they don't have an answer to the question.It has happened to me a few times with other "RARE"Zippos.Boy I wish they kept better records.BBD
ps did you see the price Poore put on it?$700-$1,000.Not a bad profit on a $20 Zippo

[phdmatt2002]

sorry to interupt but what is the cobra slim yall speak of?

[bigbaddad]

The Cobra Insert was used in 1956 on the first runs of the slim insert.It was a small shield in the chimney right in front of the flint wheel.It's purpose was to direct the spark to the wick better for a more reliable light the first time.Well ,it never really worked very well and it would break off after some use.So they stopped using the cobra on the 57 slim.Instead of trashing them they just reworked the inserts and cut them off.On some 57's you can see where it was ground down.To fix the problem slims have of not lighting the first try the went and moved the wick a little further from the flint wheel to make it spark better.They also tried the cobra on a very limited number of full sized inserts but trashed that idea also for the same reasons.The full size inserts with the cobra were never made for sale but more for testing the idea.Very few of those ever made it out the Zippo door and if you ever find one you could take a year off work.Big buck for one of those.bbd

[arthurdent]

Jeff, albonico as you may recall is the resident slim expert so PM him in case he hasn't been to the forums lately.

[bigbaddad]

I finally got a reply from David Poore on the gold filled slim.He says it's what he calls a true 57.It has all the same markings as the 56 but never had a cobra head insert so there are no marks from it being removed by Zippo.bbd

[freespirit07]

Sweet Jeff, that was kinda what I was expecting him to say (seeing he wrote it in the book) - my only doubt would be on his valuation but you never know there could well be some uber-rich crazy out there willing to pay that price. The box alone is darned rare.

[bigbaddad]

Well, after waiting some time I talked to several people today who were involved and some that are still involved with Zippo and heres what I was told by eveyone I talked to today.Just because it does not have the cobra head does not mean it's not a 56.Only a very small portion of the regular run slim 56's were even made with the cobra head to begin with and production of them did not last very long into 56.A very few of them had the cobra removed before being used in the slims and the rest were produced in 56 with out a cobra at all.The numbers of cobra heads made were so small it was not even documented by zippo.When they saw the gold filled slim I have all of them agree it is a 56 .Most are not even sure if the gold filled slim's were ever even produced with the cobra but, if it had been it was not a very long production run and the rest would have been made with out ever having the cobra attached to the insert.So now, with no disrepect to David Poore I do believe it is a true 56.I may be wrong but going by all I have heard now, I feel safe saying thats what it is.bbd

[freespirit07]

Sweetly done Sherlock!!! It really is a beauty & a half & deserves to live (& stay!) in the BBD Hall of Fame part of your collection - even with your abilities I don't think you'll be falling over another in a hurry.

[bigbaddad]

Thanks Paul,I do have a line on an old full sized gold filled.There is one old guy at my local Vets club who has a bunch of very old Zippos that were his and his fathers before him.I told him about finding the slim(did not mention the value)and he told me about his old gold.seems he has no real attachment to any of them and not having kids he has no one to give them to so,I have dibs on them.He said it will take a while to find them but when he does they are mine.Oh boy I can't wait to see what he has.I gave him a new zippo two years ago and at that time he was using one from the 50's.bbd

[freddythefox]

that sounds interesting Jeff,you may get some beauties.my bezzie oppo shakes has just phoned me from weymouth,which is a shutdown old naval port.hes been to a few antique shops,and may have a few results turning up tomorrow.hes already got me an old coke lighter for £10 which I'm quite looking forward to seeing,might clean that up for ebay.we know how much old coke lighters go for,don't we Jeff.will keep you all upto date on the finds,Ive told him to buy the lot.

[bigbaddad]

Just figured I would give a heads up incase anyone here is interested.I am really thinking of listing the gold filled slim I had been talking about and if I do it will be this weekend.bbd
if anyone wants to make an offer for it let me know before the weekend is over and I list it.

[bigbaddad]

No one is interested in the gold filled slim?bbd

[freddythefox]

not really my cup of tea ta jeff

[bigbaddad]

No problem mate o'mine!I talked with another good friend and think I will wait a bit before I list it.bbd

[dirkdigler]

geesh no wonder I cant find any good deals you guys find them all first! I did find a old man who gave me 4 lighters 1 of them was a mid 50's okinawa lighter I guess bob and the saint call it trench art and a couple old ones and a plain 72! sure wish I could post a pic !