Contact Us Estimate Form	Zippo Lighter Identification Codes The majority of this information is taken from David Poore's book, ZIPPO: The Great American Lighter. The Zippo dating information shown below is more accurate than the current Zippo® Collector's Guide, but omits various details regarding changes in logo style, design, word spacing, and unique variations. The best source of complete information on Zippo lighter dating is David's book and this book is a must for any serious collector. The dating information shown here will suffice though in a great many cases. Year Regular Slim Left Right Left Right 1932 ZIPPO MFG. CO. BRADFORD.PA. ZIPPO PAT. PENDING MADE IN U.S.A. Not Made Yet The case is 2-7/16" tall, 1/4" taller than 1934-1936 outside hinge plate models. 1933 ZIPPO MFG. CO. BRADFORD.PA. ZIPPO PAT. PENDING MADE IN U.S.A. Not Made Yet Case is still 2-7/16" tall during the 1st quarter of 1933. Mid-1933, Zippo reduced the case to 2-3/16 inches in height. True 1933's are 2-7/16" tall. 1934 ZIPPO MFG. CO. BRADFORD.PA. ZIPPO PAT. PENDING MADE IN U.S.A. Not Made Yet 1935 ZIPPO MFG. CO. BRADFORD.PA. ZIPPO PAT. PENDING MADE IN U.S.A. Not Made Yet 1936 ZIPPO MFG. CO. BRADFORD.PA. ZIPPO PAT. 2032695 MADE IN U.S.A. Not Made Yet This 1936 model must have an outside four barrel hinge and the "PAT. PENDING" logo. All true 1936's through 1941's have to have either a flat or slightly curved outward bottom and the 2032695 patent number. The 2032695 patent number was placed on the bottom line in mid-1936. 1937-41 ZIPPO MFG. CO. BRADFORD.PA. ZIPPO PAT. 2032695 MADE IN U.S.A. Not Made Yet Some 1936-40 types have flat bottoms, while other 1938-41 variants have both corners that are rounded and bottoms that are slightly curved outward. 1942 ZIPPO MFG. CO. BRADFORD.PA. ZIPPO PAT. 203695 MADE IN U.S.A. Not Made Yet Some 1942 models have the 203695 patent number in lieu of the 2032695 patent number. 1942-45 ZIPPO MFG. CO. BRADFORD.PA. ZIPPO PAT. 2032695 MADE IN U.S.A. Not Made Yet All true 1943-45 models will have the 2032695 PAT. NUMBER on a steel case. These do not have canned bottoms. The bottom of the case extends outward, even more profoundly than their 1938-1942 counterparts. These were black crackle WW II models. The word "ZIPPO" and the type face vary during these years, with some lettering bolder and more rounded. 1946-49 ZIPPO MFG. CO. BRADFORD.PA. ZIPPO PAT. 2032695 MADE IN U.S.A. Not Made Yet Lighters made from 1946 to date have a canned bottom with the exception of replica lighters. 1946-49 models have a 3-barrel hinge. Spacing of the words, letters and the height of "ZIPPO" vary during this period. 1949-50 ZIPPO MFG. CO. BRADFORD.PA. ZIPPO PAT. 2032695 MADE IN U.S.A. Not Made Yet The 1949-50 model has the exact same bottom markings as the 1948-49 model, but it has a 5-barrel hinge on a chrome plated nickel/silver case. 1951 ZIPPO MFG. CO. BRADFORD.PA. ZIPPO PAT. 2032695 MADE IN U.S.A. Not Made Yet The 1951 model had three different bottom markings (which cannot be adequately shown here) The spacing between the words MFG. CO. and BRADFORD vary in relation to the word ZIPPO, and at times ZIPPO is shorter in height and words are closer together. 1952-53 ZIPPO MFG. CO. BRADFORD.PA. ZIPPO PAT. 2032695 MADE IN U.S.A. Not Made Yet This model had a 5-barrel chrome plated steel case. There were three bottom variations. The bottom letterings were alike, but differed as far as the depth of the strike that was made when stamping it. All the "shorter and more compact" logo. 1953 ZIPPO MFG. CO. BRADFORD.PA. MADE IN ZIPPO U.S.A. PAT. 2517191 ® PAT. PEND. Not Made Yet This model has the "full stamp" bottom logo on a chrome plated steel case with a 5-barrel hinge. Early 1953 models had the 2032695 patent number whereas later models had the 2517191 patent number with the large pat. pending logo that covered most of the bottom of the lighter. In 1953 Zippo started using the registered trademark subscript, ®, as part of the bottom logo. 1954-55 ZIPPO MFG. CO. BRADFORD.PA. ZIPPO PAT. 2032695 MADE IN U.S.A. Not Made Yet Very similar to the 1953 model except that it has a 5-barrel hinge on a chrome-plated brass case. Later 1955 models began using the 2517191 patent number. Year Regular Slim Mid-1955 Zippo changed the Logo to a stylized "Zorro" script style slanting from lower left side towards the upper right-hand side. The actual design is not shown in the codes below. Zippo also began adding coding marks mid-1955. The "dots" on the left and right sides of the Zippo logo are located near the top of the Zippo logo, but this couldn't be shown. Left Right Left Right 1955 BRADFORD, PA. .... ZIPPO ® .... PAT. 2517191 PAT. PEND. .... .... 1956 BRADFORD, PA. ... ZIPPO ® .... PAT. 2517191 PAT. PEND. .... .... In 1956, note that one dot has been removed from the left side. 1957 BRADFORD, PA. .... ZIPPO ® .... PAT. 2517191 .... .... For 1957, the left dot has returned, but the "PAT. PEND." logo has been removed. 1958 BRADFORD, PA. .... ZIPPO ® .... PAT. 2517191 .... ... From 1958 to 1967, the patent numbers are centered. 1959 BRADFORD, PA ... ZIPPO ® .... PAT. 2517191 ... ... This is a true 1959 model, with 3 dots on the left and 4 dots on the right, but there is no PAT. PEND. on a 1959 model. The 1960-67 models have the 2517191 pat. # centered as well as having the dots or slashes depending on the year. From now on only the dots or slashes are shown, but the look is exactly the same in all other ways as above. Left Right Left Right 1960 ... ... .. ... 1961 ... .. .. .. 1962 .. .. .. . 1963 .. . . . 1964 . . . 1965 . Zippo put no code on the bottom of a 1965 slim, so that both the regular and slim size lighters would have the same code from then on. 1966 | | | | | | | | same 1967 | | | | | | | same 1968 | | | | | | same 1969 | | | | | same Zippo made two changes on the bottom of the cases mid-1969. Zippo used a new press machine in 1969 which caused the "canned" bottom of the lighter to be more dented in. Also, at this time, Zippo changed the "Z" logo on the word Zippo and gave the letter "Z" a "tail" hanging down on the right side. Therefore there are two different logos on a 1969 lighter. 1970 | | | | same 1971 | | | same 1972 | | same 1973 | same 1974 //// //// same 1975 //// /// same 1976 /// /// same 1977 /// // same 1978 // // same 1979 / // same 1979 marked the last year Zippo used the "Zorro" style "Z" on the word Zippo. 1980 marked the first year of the stylized "Zippo" logo were the letters "Z" and "i" are connected and a flame takes the place of the "dot" in the letter "i". In addition, the words "Bradford, PA." were moved below the word Zippo. From 1980 to date Zippo has used many different bottom logos, even for the same year (although their code system is still accurate). 1980 / / same 1981 / same 1982 \\\\ \\\\ same 1983 \\\\ \\\ same 1984 \\\ \\\ same 1985 \\\ \\ same 1986 \\ \\ same Effective 7-1-86 the above system was replaced by a YEAR/LOT code. Year is noted in Roman Numerals whereas Letters designate LOT month (A=Jan., B=Feb., etc.) The LOT letter designation is to the left of the word Zippo, and the Roman Numeral is to the right. 1986 A to L II same 1987 A to L III same 1988 A to L IV same 1989 A to L V same 1990 A to L VI same 1991 A to L VII same 1992 A to L VIII same 1993 A to L IX same 1994 A to L X same 1995 A to L XI same 1996 A to L XII same 1997 A to L XIII same 1998 A to L XIV same 1999 A to L XV same 2000 A to L XVI same 2001 A to L XVII same 2002 A to L XVIII same 2003 A to L XIX same 2004 A to L XX same 2005 A to L XXI same