Ronson - Art Deco Ronson Touch-Tip "Octette" table lighter with wand - Table lighter - Bakelite, Chrome - (2)

This is a 1930s–1940s Ronson Touch-Tip “Octette” table lighter, complete with its original detachable ignition wand — a component frequently missing from surviving examples. The Octette was one of the company’s major Art Deco designs and a key model in their highly successful Touch-Tip series, which helped replace traditional strike lighters in the late 1930s.

The lighter features a black moulded Bakelite body in the characteristic octagonal “machine-age” profile, set onto a stepped chrome-plated metal base. The top plate is also chrome-plated, with the hinged windhood, touch-tip wick column, and dedicated socket for the wand. The wand itself has the later square-shaft form with a tapered cone knob, a configuration introduced by Ronson from approximately 1942 onward. The shaft is stamped RONSON.

The Bakelite body retains its crisp geometric contours with the recessed lozenge panels characteristic of the Octette design. The heavy stepped base provides excellent stability and the underside retains its original green felt pad, together with the stamped metal fuel screw marked “RONSON – TOUCH-TIP – MADE IN ENGLAND”. Altogether, it remains a very complete and visually striking example of Ronson’s Art Deco table lighter engineering.

Height with wand inserted: 7 cm
Height without wand: 6.5 cm
Base dimensions: 9 × 6.5 cm
Total weight: 444 g

Presented in generally solid vintage condition with all components present, including the rare original wand. The lighter shows age-related plating breakdown, typical of 1930s chrome over copper construction. The upper surface displays plating loss, micro-pitting and bubbling, with areas where the underlying copper layer is exposed, creating the reddish tones visible in the photographs. There is oxidation around the windhood hinge, wand socket and reservoir opening, and the wand shaft shows surface abrasion and finish wear.

The Bakelite body remains structurally sound with only light surface handling marks. The original felt base is intact though worn and lifted at one corner. The mechanism has not been tested. Despite the cosmetic wear to the chrome surfaces, the lighter remains complete, stable and very collectible due to the survival of its original ignition wand.

Please take time to view all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description and provide an accurate representation of the item’s details and condition.

The shipping cost includes professional packaging, full insurance, and tracked delivery, ensuring the parcel reaches you safely and securely.