The World Famous Zippo Guarantee
Zippo Windproof Pocket Lighter
Any Zippo lighter, when returned to our factory, will be put in first-class mechanical condition free of charge, for we have yet to charge a cent for the repair of a Zippo lighter, regardless of age or condition. The finish, however, is not guaranteed.
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Bottom Stamps & Date Codes
As with most collectibles, the date of manufacture of a Zippo lighter often affects its value. Valuable information on the bottom of every Zippo lighter can help you determine its date of manufacture. Most lighters fabricated between 1933 and 1957 can be identified by style and model and the patent or patent-pending marks.
Starting in the mid 50s, date codes were stamped on the bottom. The original purpose was for quality control. The date codes have since become an invaluable tool for Zippo collectors. The appearance of the word “Zippo” in the bottom stamp provides another clue to dating. There have been three major changes, as shown in inset. From 1933 to the mid 50s the word Zippo was stamped in block letters. The Zippo script logo was
developed in the late 40s and was phased-in on the lighter bottom stamp around 1955. In the late 70s the logo was redesigned. It was incorporated into the bottom stamp in 1980.
Below is a complete chart of the Zippo date codes.
|
Year
|
Regular Lighter
Left Side |
Regular Lighter
Right Side |
Slim Lighter
Left Side |
Slim Lighter
Right Side |
|
1933
|
Patent Pending
|
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1937
|
Patent 2032695
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1942-1946
|
Black Crackle, Patent 203695
(This number was stamped in error, it should have been Patent 2032695.) |
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c.1949-c.1957
|
Patent 2517191
with patent pending |
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| Zippo records indicate an overlap of bottom stamp configurations from 1949-1957. Also, some lighters produced between 1955-57 were date coded, however, specifics remain unclear. The date coding was fully in effect by 1959. |
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c.1951-c.1957
|
Patent 2517191
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1957
|
|
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. . . .
|
. . . .
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1958
|
Patent
. . . . |
2517191
. . . . |
. . . .
. . . . |
. . . .
. . . |
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1959
|
. . . .
|
. . .
|
. . .
|
. . .
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1960
|
. . .
|
. . .
|
. . .
|
. .
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1961
|
. . .
|
. .
|
. .
|
. .
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1962
|
. .
|
. .
|
. .
|
.
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1963
|
. .
|
.
|
.
|
.
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1964
|
.
|
.
|
.
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1965
|
.
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1966
|
| | | |
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| | | |
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1967
|
| | | |
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| | |
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1968
|
| | |
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| | |
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1969
|
| | |
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| |
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1970
|
| |
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| |
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1971
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| |
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1972
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1973
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1974
|
////
|
////
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1975
|
////
|
///
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1976
|
///
|
///
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1977
|
///
|
//
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1978
|
//
|
//
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1979
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An error was made in the date code. One of the slash marks was removed from the left of the Zippo trademark instead of being removed from the right; thus the code read: / //.
This date code error was corrected within the same year to read: // /. |
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1980
|
/
|
/
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1981
|
/
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1982
|
\\\\
|
\\\\
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1983
|
\\\\
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\\\
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1984
|
\\\
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\\\
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1985
|
\\\
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\\
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1986
|
\\
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\\
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Effective 7/1/86 the above system was replaced by year/lot code. Year is noted with Roman Numeral, the letter on the left designates lot month (A=Jan., B=Feb., etc.)
|
Year
|
Regular & Slim
Lighters
Left Side |
Regular & Slim
Lighters
Right Side |
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1986
|
G to L
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II
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1987
|
A to L
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III
|
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1988
|
A to L
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IV
|
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1989
|
A to L
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V
|
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1990
|
A to L
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VI
|
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1991
|
A to L
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VII
|
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1992
|
A to L
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VIII
|
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1993
|
A to L
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IX
|
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1994
|
A to L
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X
|
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1995
|
A to L
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XI
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1996
|
A to L
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XII
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1997
|
A to L
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XIII
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1998
|
A to L
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XIV
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1999
|
A to L
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XV
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2000
|
A to L
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XVI
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Year
|
Regular and Slim
Lighters
Left Side |
Regular and Slim
Lighters
Right Side |
Zippo Multi-Purpose Lighter
|
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Left Side
|
Right Side
|
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2001
|
A to L
|
01
|
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2002
|
A to L
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02
|
D to L
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02
|
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2003
|
A to L
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03
|
A to L
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03
|
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2004
|
A to L
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04
|
A to L
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04
|
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2005
|
A to L
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05
|
A to L
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05
|
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2006
|
A to L
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06
|
A to L
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06
|
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2007
|
A to L
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07
|
A to L
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07
|
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2008
|
A to L
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08
|
A to L
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08
|
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2009
|
A to L
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09
|
A to L
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09
|
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2010
|
A to L
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10
|
A to L
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10
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