Historical dating note
Early examples retain PAT.2517191; later examples omit it.
Historical year lookup
Zippo 1967
Historical Zippo references associated with 1967: 8 case/bottom stamp entries, 4 insert entries, and 2 photographed examples. Date codes, materials and insert construction should be assessed together, especially for transitional years.
Historical context and cautions
Historical dating note
Terry Lyons photographic reference: a Bradford regular-size case shows the 1967 vertical bars pattern (4 left, 3 right), with associated insert front/back and chimney-top photographs. The insert may have been replaced; determine case and insert dates separately.
Historical dating note
Terry Lyons photographs a red felt pad on his 1967 insert. This is specimen-specific evidence; felt pads are removable and red felt does not by itself date an insert.
Slim manufacturing note
From August 1967 the patent number is omitted. A canned bottom appears from late 1967, with two canned-bottom versions documented.
Canadian production note
In 1967 “Patented 1950” is removed from both Canadian case and insert. Canadian patent CA 469785, issued 28 November 1950, reached the end of its 17-year term in November 1967.
Bottom stamps and cases
1967 · A
Case / bottom stamp · 1967
1967 · B
Case / bottom stamp · 1967
Zippo · 1967
Case / bottom stamp · 1967
1967 · Slim · variant 1
Case / bottom stamp · 1967
1967 · Slim · variant 2
Case / bottom stamp · 1967
1967 · Slim · variant 3
Case / bottom stamp · 1967
1963–86 · Canada
Case / bottom stamp · 1963–1986
1951–67 · Canada · Patented 1950 variant B
Case / bottom stamp · 1951–1967
Insert references and construction
1961 67
Insert reference · 1961–1967
1967 68
Insert reference · 1967–1968
Zippo · 1967
Insert reference · 1967
1963–75 · Canada insert
Insert reference · 1963–1975
Construction features documented for 1967
Typical US regular-production chronology from independent collector research by Hardi Döhler. The ranges overlap, and Canada, Slim, Replica, Sterling, Japan-market and special editions may differ. These are supporting observations, not a definitive date determination.
Case shapes
- Postwar recessed-bottom profile 1947–2026 · broad · Source: Hardi Döhler
The familiar recessed-bottom case profile develops in the postwar years; this alone cannot distinguish later decades.
Present-day cases, replicas and special lines can depart from the usual form.
Case metals and finishes
- Brass as common regular-case substrate 1954–2026 · broad · Source: Hardi Döhler
Chrome-plated brass becomes typical again in the mid-1950s; special materials and later editions are exceptions.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Hinge development
- Five-barrel hinge with unequal widths 1956–2005 · broad · Source: Hardi Döhler
Later five-barrel hinges generally have an uneven barrel-width pattern. This broad clue cannot determine a precise year.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Patent and bottom-stamp wording
- PAT. 2517191 with dating marks 1957–1967 · approximate · Source: Hardi Döhler
The second patent number is frequently found on period bottom stamps alongside date marks; placement varies.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
- Patent-number removal 1967–1968 · transitional · Source: Hardi Döhler
Patent numbers disappear from standard US regular-case bottom stamps around the late-1967 transition.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Insert materials
- Chrome-plated sheet-steel insert 1953–2026 · broad · Source: Hardi Döhler
Chrome-plated steel construction with a seam is typical of later regular inserts, but special and premium variants differ.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Insert lettering
- Vertical insert lettering 1959–1999 · broad · Source: Hardi Döhler
Vertical inscription layouts are common across later twentieth-century inserts; compare typography and code patterns.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Chimney construction
- Open-sided 16-hole chimney 1947–2026 · broad · Source: Hardi Döhler
Sixteen holes and an open wheel-side chimney wall become typical from the late 1940s onward.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Cam springs
- Narrow straight cam spring 1958–1970 · transitional · Source: Hardi Döhler
The straighter, narrower leaf spring becomes typical in the late 1950s and remains in use into the 1970 transition.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Flint-wheel cuts
- Cross-cut flint-wheel teeth 1946–2026 · broad · Source: Hardi Döhler
Cross-cut flint-wheel pattern becomes typical after the war, with possible overlap and replacements.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Flint-wheel rivets
- Solid flint-wheel rivet 1964–2026 · broad · Source: Hardi Döhler
Solid rivets become typical from the mid-1960s onward.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Felt pads
- Unprinted light-coloured felt pad 1947–1992 · broad · Source: Hardi Döhler
A plain pale rectangular felt pad is documented across many decades; replacement pads limit its dating precision.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
- Optional red felt 1959–1968 · exception · Source: Hardi Döhler
Red felt is documented as a less-common variant, not as a mandatory feature of every example in this interval.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Wicks and packing
- Pre-copper-wire wick construction 1933–1980 · broad · Source: Hardi Döhler
Older wick styles can differ from the later copper-wire-interwoven wick; repairs commonly replace wicks.
Some historic wick materials may contain asbestos; avoid disturbing uncertain old material.
Known period variants
- 1967 early - patent present — Early 1967 retains PAT.2517191. Known period: 1967. Evidence: primary. Sources: Glen's Zippo Page, Moonlight Zippo.
1967 early - patent present · Historical reference illustration · Source: Glen's Zippo Page, Moonlight Zippo - 1967 late - patent removed — Later 1967 omits the patent number. Known period: 1967. Evidence: primary. Sources: Glen's Zippo Page, Moonlight Zippo.
1967 late - patent removed · Historical reference illustration · Source: Glen's Zippo Page, Moonlight Zippo
Insert construction evidence
- 16-hole chimney — Introduced during 1946; not useful as a precise clue on later inserts. Known period: 1946–9999. Evidence: secondary. Sources: Glen's Zippo Page.
16-hole chimney · Historical reference illustration · Source: Glen's Zippo Page - Narrow cam spring — Used to around 1970; narrow springs have been found in 1971 lighters. Known period: 1957–1971. Evidence: supporting. Sources: Glen's Zippo Page.
Narrow cam spring · Historical reference illustration · Source: Glen's Zippo Page - Solid flint-wheel rivet — Introduced around 1961; overlaps hollow rivets for several years. Known period: 1961–9999. Evidence: supporting. Sources: Glen's Zippo Page.
Solid flint-wheel rivet · Historical reference illustration · Source: Glen's Zippo Page - Insert text rotated 90 degrees — Text turned 90° in late 1959; related style continues into the 1960s. Known period: 1959–1967. Evidence: secondary. Sources: Glen's Zippo Page.
Similar years
Interpretation: References may cover multiple years. A documented insert date is not proof of its case production date, and special Replica stamps require separate interpretation.