1 Topic by battistini

  • battistini
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Topic: James Bond's lighter

I need to get something off my chest. Feel free to set me straight. Bond used a Ronson lighter. Some web sites identify the Varaflame (introduced in 1957) as the model of lighter he used. But Bond's lighter is first identified in FRWT (1957) and Casino Royale was written before that, so the likelyhood of the Varaflame's being Bond's lighter is zero. "Oxidized" is not a color but a sign of wear, I never thought otherwise.

Don't make reference to "other threads" on this subject, there are no helpful ones. To my mind, the most helpful information would be knowing what Ian Fleming used, since I just saw a short documentary in the Blu-Ray version of Casino Royale that highlights convincingly that Fleming modeled Bond on himself, in the manner of "wishful thinking".

2 Reply by CmdrAtticus

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Re: James Bond's lighter

Ronson Vintage 50's Windproof Lighter - Whirlwind 6430 and the Adonis.  These are probably the types
Bond and Fleming would have used in the fifties, being one of the most reliable and windproof
of the models.  To my knowledge, Ronson never made a gunmetal version, though having
one given a gunmetal finish would not have been difficult for a metals craftsman to produce.
These type of vintage lighters can sometimes be obtained from collectors at places like ebay.  You
might also like this website: http://vintageronsonlighters.com/Ronson … hters.php.

http://s1.postimage.org/1khhoth50/RONSON.jpg

http://s1.postimage.org/1klj840lg/Ronson_Adonis_silver_set.jpg

3 Reply by Donald Grant

  • Donald Grant
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Re: James Bond's lighter

battistini wrote:

I need to get something off my chest. Feel free to set me straight. Bond used a Ronson lighter. Some web sites identify the Varaflame (introduced in 1957) as the model of lighter he used. But Bond's lighter is first identified in FRWT (1957) and Casino Royale was written before that, so the likelyhood of the Varaflame's being Bond's lighter is zero. "Oxidized" is not a color but a sign of wear, I never thought otherwise.

Don't make reference to "other threads" on this subject, there are no helpful ones. To my mind, the most helpful information would be knowing what Ian Fleming used, since I just saw a short documentary in the Blu-Ray version of Casino Royale that highlights convincingly that Fleming modeled Bond on himself, in the manner of "wishful thinking".

Well you have to be carefull with Fleming when trying to nail him down with such things.  Although Fleming did research, he often times changed things to suit his "writer's ear".  He loved the sound of words.  So an oxidized Ronson lighter sounds better than just a Ronson lighter.  A perfect example of this was when Fleming wrote about the gold Girard Perregaux owned by Donovan Grant in FRWL.  The watch as written did not exist until recently.  The other thing is, was the lighter that was used in CR the same one used throughout the novels?  You can't tell with Fleming.  But it is lots of fun digging!

DG

So, what sharp little eyes you've got...wait till you get to my teeth.
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"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."  Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.