The Viet Nam Zippo Cigarette Lighters 1933-1975 [Hardcover]

Jim Fiorella (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1998

More than 700 striking photographs and a detailed text about Zippo cigarette lighters, their history and current values, as well as the Viet Nam War comprise this important new book. It provides not only photographs of authentic and counterfeit Zippos and the factory's own art work, but also a concise outline of the War, lists of U.S. and Vietnamese ship and boat names that did duty in Viet Nam, definitions of naval abbreviations, South Vietnamese waterways and geographic names, Allied in-country units, and a comprehensive dictionary translating important Vietnamese military terms so that old Zippo lighters can be interpreted today. Singularly, this book holds tremendous appeal to an extremely broad audience. Lighter collectors will see a wide variety of rare and common Zippos. Photographers and artists interested in the Viet Nam War and its images will see powerful action photos. Viet Nam War and general military collectors and historians will find factual information organized in a quickly accessible form. Political historians and Sixties and Seventies collectors will find ideas and objects to delight their interests. All will want this unique and striking book for their libraries.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Author Jim Fiorella is an avid Zippo collector, freelance writer, and photographer who lives in New York.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 189 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Pub Ltd (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764305948
• ISBN-13: 978-0764305948
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #849,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, must read for ANYONE!!!! BEAUTIFUL & COOL., August 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Viet Nam Zippo Cigarette Lighters 1933-1975 (Hardcover)

i've read just about everything on Viet Nam, and this book really is fun! Sort of like Michael Herr's "Dispatches" (with photos). Written in realistic prose and accompanied by hundreds of photo's of Vietnam Zippos, and great in-country shots. Lots of non-boring Vietnam War reference material. i couldn't put it down.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive piece on Viet Nam Zippo lighters, January 23, 2002

By 

n. chandonnet, jr (glen head, ny United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Viet Nam Zippo Cigarette Lighters 1933-1975 (Hardcover)

The most comprehensive work that I have seen to date on the subject of the ubiquitous war-time cigarette lighter. Mr. Fiorella concentrates on the most popular brand to be carried in Viet Nam, or any war for that matter, the Zippo. Who would think that a niche area of militaria collecting could be so broad with so many variations? From the slim Zippo to the cut-down variety, to Barcroft table models; those engraved in English, or in Vietnamese, carried by Americans, ARVN's, Cambodians, Koreans; Army, Navy varieties and Marines, this author breezes through all of these areas in clear-cut chapters with plenty of example photos and archival images. One of the most interesting chapters is to be found in the beginning of the book, about a subject that is best tackled first: how do you identify knockoffs? This book is worth it for the photos alone and is soon to be a collector's item. The only book you will ever have to own for this hobby.
NAC

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect collectors book, November 18, 2007

By 

B. Baez "M1 Helmet Guy" (Boise, ID United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Viet Nam Zippo Cigarette Lighters 1933-1975 (Hardcover)

This book is perfect. It covers most every important point when collecting Zippos from the Vietnam War era. Topics like markings, identification and engraving style are covered in great detail. The pictures are colorful and detailed. Buy this book if you want to collect these little gems of history.