LuminousWhatnots
Top shop for gifts.
Buyers bought gifts from this shop and gave them 5-star reviews!
Announcement
I began collecting and restoring vintage cigarette lighters over 20 years ago and also enjoy photography, mixed media painting and dabble in a myriad of other mediums. As an artisan and collector, I take great care to provide quality lighters, complete with clear photos and researched descriptions for each piece.
I personally test and service each lighter in my shop. Most will make great lighters for regular use, some are display pieces for collectors, many fall into both categories. Every lighter's description details its cosmetic and mechanical condition, including an explanation of any service it received.
Thanks for taking a look around my shop!
Announcement
I began collecting and restoring vintage cigarette lighters over 20 years ago and also enjoy photography, mixed media painting and dabble in a myriad of other mediums. As an artisan and collector, I take great care to provide quality lighters, complete with clear photos and researched descriptions for each piece.
I personally test and service each lighter in my shop. Most will make great lighters for regular use, some are display pieces for collectors, many fall into both categories. Every lighter's description details its cosmetic and mechanical condition, including an explanation of any service it received.
Thanks for taking a look around my shop!
Items
All Items
Reviews
-
![]()
Jennie on Dec 15, 2018
5 out of 5 starsEldon is such a wonderful person to work with. His lighters are always the highest quality and I am blown away by how beautiful this one is! Shipping was so fast and the product arrived in perfect condition. If you're looking for a place to purchase a one-of-a-kind gift, this is the place to go!
-
![]()
-
![]()
tapking30 on Jul 8, 2017
5 out of 5 starsElton, the lighter arrived today, I love it. I love that it is still in original box and packaging. I filled it with fluid and it works perfectly. Let me know when you get more lighters or have any of this caliber in stock. Best, Jeff
-
![]()
-
![]()
Zak on Jan 13, 2017
5 out of 5 starsExtremely fast shipping, great communication from seller, and very high quality item. You get what you pay for and in this case, the price was well worth it. The lighter came ready to use, just have to add fluid. Thanks so much!
-
![]()
autumnrosepetal on Jan 10, 2017
5 out of 5 starsIt shipped on time and was in very nice shape, even better than I expected. I refilled the lighter and it worked perfectly!
-
![]()
-
![]()
-
![]()
-
![]()
About LuminousWhatnots
Lumious Whatnots
I found my first vintage lighter at a flea market when I was 16, a sterling silver arm lift lighter made in Mexico during the 1940s about the size of a half dollar. Up to that point, I'd only been exposed to Bics and Zippos and the idea that a cigarette lighter could be anything beyond a utilitarian means of lighting a smoke was a revelation. I fell in love with the uniqueness of the lift arm design. Its craftsmanship and durability was in stark contrast to the disposable and generic flip-top lighters sold in most convenience stores. That little silver lift arm was a work of art to me, a memento of a time in history when quality, elegant design, and affordable cost were not mutually exclusive concepts. It set me on a path of seeking lighters everywhere: at local flea markets, antique shops, thrift stores, et al. This before was the internet and I didn't know books about vintage lighters even existed. So for me, every lighter was a new discovery.
Coming to the hobby as a young smoker, of course I wanted to use my new acquisitions and I've been learning to fix lighters as long as I've been collecting them. At the same time, my interest in art was just beginning and I was experimenting with mixed media painting and sculpture. I learned the basics of B&W photography a few years later in college. In retrospect, I realize these parallel interests have followed me into adulthood and converged.
Shop members
-
Eldon Baldwin
Owner, Photographer
Shop policies
Though I haven't counted in many years, I'm sure I've amassed a collection of thousands of lighters over the last two decades. Most of the lighters I'm offering here on Etsy are duplicates from my personal collection I've decided it is time to part company with. Much like kittens, I simply can't keep all of them - no matter how endearing they may be.
I take care to write detailed descriptions for each lighter to share its history, explain how it works, and describe its condition honestly. I personally disassemble their firing mechanisms, hand clean parts, clear blocked flint tubes, re-wick and repack them as necessary, and do whatever is needed to restore each to working order. Many pieces will make great carry-around lighters for regular use, others are only collectibles for display, a good number fall into both categories. Once serviced, I strive to clearly describe the working condition of every piece to ensure it meets your expectations.
Please understand the time I spend to ensure the quality of each lighter as an element of its cost. Over the years, I've bought countless lighters advertised as "probably works" or "just needs flint and fluid", only to discover it required much more substantial repair or, even worse, could not be fixed at all. As an artisan and serious collector, I take great care to provide quality lighters, clear photos, and researched factual descriptions of each piece.
I also enjoy photography, abstract painting and a myriad of other craft-related, creative outlets. That's the best introduction I can muster for my FRANKENLIGHTER Series. These are literally one-of-a-kind lighters I've created using restored/working vintage lighter mechanisms combined with found items, my own artwork, and/or whatever else inspiration brings. Each of my "monsters" is unique -- an original, handcrafted functional art piece.
Accepted payment methods
Returns and exchanges
Shipping
SHIPPING FOR CUSTOMERS OUTSIDE U.S.: Delivery by U.S. Post Office International Priority Mail, which is a trackable and insured service. The flat-rate shipping cost will be charged for the first item, additional items will ship in the same package with no extra shipping cost.
I've run a mail order company for over a decade and learned through experience the post office handles Priority Mail packages with MUCH greater care than 1st class, parcel post, and 4th class mail packages. I hope you'll agree its worth investing a couple extra dollars to ensure your irreplaceable item(s) arrive promptly and in good condition. I only charge the cost for postage - no handling fees and free insurance.
Additional policies and FAQs
If you are a collector or interest to learn more about vintage lighters, check out the Luminious Whatnots page on Facebook. I post links to interesting lighter-related articles/websites here and instant updates from my Etsy shop. Here's a cut-and-paste direct link: https://www.facebook.com/LuminiousWhatnots
I'm slowly but surely photographing my personal lighter collection. If you're interested, you can take a look at them here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/therepository/collections/72157626134216021/