A LITTLE HISTORY

The first known lighters were invented in the 16th century and were nothing other than converted flintlock pistols that used gunpowder. One of the first "real" lighters was invented by the German chemist Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner in the year 1823 and was called "Döbereiner Lamp". This lighter worked by a reaction of hydrogen to a platinum sponge, which gave a great amount of heat. This construction was very large and highly dangerous. Production ceased by the end of the 19th century.
The first version of a wick lighter came on the market in 1880, with the spark to ignite the wick obtained by a piece of pyrite.
An important invention was made in 1903 by the Austrian Carl Auer von Welsbach who patented what is today known as a "flint", consisting of pyrophoric alloys, 70% cerium and 30% iron, which when scratched or struck would give off sparks sufficient to light the fuel. The flint for the lighter was born and the first flint factory opened in 1907. The triumphal march of the lighter in all its variants has never stopped and continues, still, today.

HOW THEY WORK

Naphta based lighters use a saturated cloth/cotton wick and fiber/cotton packing to absorb the fluid and prevent it from leaking. They have an enclosed top to prevent evaporation of the volatile liquid and to extinguish the flame after use. The spark is created by striking metal against a flint. In naphta lighters the liquid is sufficiently volatile that flammable vapor is present as soon as the top of the lighter is opened. The spark ignites the flammable gas obtaining a flame burning until the lighter's top is closed.

A PHOTO GALLERY

The "novelties", introduced by foreigners resident or living in Russia for their work, were at once adopted and reproduced by local firms and workshops. In that manner, in the case of lighters, a Russian manufacturing business began.
Of course, the result was the production of objects in the typical Russian style: larger dimensions, a high level of workmanship, and more expensive than the European models they were inspired by.

Here is what I found over the years.

St. Petersburg 1908-1917 Iron guilloche, gold, silver, very high quality No maker, only chain assay marked 84 Zolotniki The form is a parcel tied up with string	Moscow 1908 - 1917 Enamel Cloisonné, Silver gilded, 84 Zolotniki Maker: Schelaputin, Dmitrij Maksimowitsch

Moscow 1908 - 1917, Silver, 84 Zolotniki Maker: Fuld, Alexandr Iosifowitsch	Brass, unknown maker, ca. 1920

Brass, unknown maker, ca. 1920	nickel, unknown maker, ca. 1921

nickel Unknown maker 1925	Soviet GULAG	Soviet camp W27439 for German POW