Description

Vintage Brass Prince Gardner Lighter. pre owned in good vintage condition.Value R350.

Rare Vintage Brass Prince Gardner Lighter

A striking mid-century Prince Gardner lighter, believed to date from around the 1950s–1960s. This unusual collectible features a rich red leather-wrapped body embellished with decorative studs, complemented by an aged brass-tone lighter mechanism. The natural patina and signs of age add to its authentic vintage character.

A wonderful conversation piece for the collector of vintage lighters, tobacciana or gentleman’s accessories. Pre-owned and presented in good vintage condition. The lighter is supplied without fuel; the flint mechanism is in working order.

Prince Gardner was an American company based in St. Louis, Missouri, best known for leather goods and personal accessories such as wallets and key cases. U.S. patent records confirm the company was operating from St. Louis during the mid-20th century.

Prince Gardner also sold cigarette lighters as fashion/accessory pieces. A particularly nice piece of evidence is a 1961 advertisement that lists a Prince Gardner cigarette lighter alongside matching leather accessories. Similar surviving Prince Gardner petrol lighters are generally dated to around the 1950s–1960s, with examples marked as made in Japan.

For your particular lighter, I would describe it cautiously as a mid-century Prince Gardner petrol/flint lighter, probably circa 1950s–1960s. The red covering, brass/gold-tone fittings and small decorative studs make it considerably more interesting visually than a plain brass example. Your Hospice listing also notes that this particular piece is red leather-wrapped and studded, with the flint mechanism working but no fuel supplied.