When was the Clipper Lighter invented?

When talking about iconic lighters, everyone first thinks of the luxurious and exclusive S.T. Dupont lighters, or the coveted Zippo gasoline lighters. However, the world leader in sales of refillable lighters belongs to Clipper, another truly mythical brand, despite the fact that its price is ridiculously low. In fact, it is possible at Mundo Clipper to buy very cheap Clippers. Check out our store by clicking here!

Obviously, the secret of the Clipper’s success is not only its price, since there are lighters on the market that are even cheaper. And it is that, this lighter has a history and some characteristics that would give game to write a book.

The Clipper, a Spanish lighter

Yes, you read it right. Despite its Anglo-Saxon name, the Clipper lighter is a Spanish invention.

The Clipper is the work of Enric Sardà, a Catalan avant-garde designer who gave shape to a commission carried out around 1970 by the Flamagas company, located in Barcelona. Enric Sardà was the one who devised the aesthetic and mechanical design of this innovative lighter, made of plastic material. Therefore, it can be categorically stated that Sardà is the inventor of the Clipper.

The lighter was marketed for the first time in 1971 by the Flamagas firm, and in a very few months, it became a total sales success. And it continues to be so, because half a century later, the Clipper is the leader, not only in Spain, but worldwide.

The origin of the Clipper brand

In the 1960s, most lighters were just that: old-fashioned contraptions with a gas tank, a stone mechanism, and a wick (hence the name lighter).

These devices were similar to the current Zippo lighters, the only surviving lighters from that time. Which meant they had to be cleaned, recharged, and wick changed almost daily. And it wasn’t always easy to turn them on, an operation that could be maddeningly slow at times.

Gas lighters were very expensive, and their use was reserved for the wealthier classes. In fact, at that time, a lighter was an item that could last a lifetime. The same was the case with watches.

It is not known for sure if the idea came from a Flamagas executive or from Sardà himself. The fact is that it was decided to use a word that would suggest that the product was not of national manufacture, but imported. And the name Clipper was chosen to refer to the ease and speed of lighting, and to value this lighter, compared to traditional lighters.

This name is explained because, in English, the word “clip” was used in ancient times to express speed, and “clipper” referred to certain transoceanic sailing vessels capable of reaching high cruising speeds. Moreover, this name is still used today to designate a special class of sail-powered recreational boats.

Features of the original model

The most curious thing is that they are exactly the same as today. It can be said that the original design has not changed one iota in five decades, which gives us an idea about the genius of its inventor.

Although we all know the characteristics of a Clipper by heart, we will list them briefly:

Refillable gas lighter
Very light and comfortable
Modern, attractive and functional design
Practical, reliable and very cheap

All this no longer seems new to us today. We have become accustomed to it being so. But in 1971 it was something really extraordinary, since it allowed anyone to forget about the rudimentary lighters of the time, and enjoy the same benefits offered by the few and exclusive gas lighters, reserved for people who managed good money.

The success and practicality of the invention was such that the wealthier classes soon followed in the footsteps of the middle class. Two years after the launch of the Clipper, they had put their heavy, bulky and luxurious lighters in the drawers, to go on to use the Clippers in a massive way. The Clipper had become the most used lighter by all social classes. And it had come to stay.

Why the Clipper continues to succeed 50 years later

Practical and functional objects never go out of style, because they evolve with the new times. Even more so when they are accessible to the general public. And this is the case of the Clipper. If this lighter had been invented in the United States, it is certain that today there would be a public museum, dedicated to the inventor and the invention.

One of the characteristics that allow you not to notice the passage of time is, precisely, that of being rechargeable. If in the 70s this was appreciated for the consumption economy that it entailed, today it has become a sign of environmental sustainability and commitment to the ecosystem.

Many current Clipper users appreciate that it is a non-disposable product on first use. And it is that a Clipper can last a long time. In fact, there are those who keep old Clippers from relatives who died decades ago as keepsakes, and despite being absolutely worn out from years of use, they still work perfectly.

But there are many more factors behind the relentless and enduring success of this lighter.

A very exclusive feature

The lighter flint fastening system has a special design, which allows it to be removed very easily. You just have to gently pull it. And the stone support is attached to a long cylinder about 4 centimeters in length and just over 2 millimeters in diameter.

This design is not accidental, but responds to a very thoughtful and specific purpose: to provide the lighter with an efficient tobacco pressing system. It must be taken into account that in the Spain of the early 70s, there were many smokers who rolled their own cigarettes. It is clear that Enric Sardà was a meticulous guy who did not miss even the smallest detail.

The pressing functionality remains unique on the market, which is why the Clipper is, to this day, the favorite lighter of rolling tobacco and pipe smokers, as well as consumers of other types of herbs.

Thousands of designs

Originally, the Clipper came in a few basic colors. Little by little, over time, the range was expanded with more daring and striking colors.

The marketing explosion came, and the horizon widened even further. Companies large and small rushed to order Clippers screen-printed with their corporate emblems and slogans.

There are lighters with the logo of Coca Cola, Pepsi, Mercedes Benz, BMW and countless leading international brands, many of them already defunct. The assortment becomes almost infinite, since it must be taken into account that thousands of small companies or businesses from all over the planet have used the Clipper as a basic promotional support.

The range expands even more, since there are innumerable fashion and design firms that include Clippers among their accessories for sale, displaying their prestigious and expensive logos on the casing.

It is not unreasonable to say that there are hundreds of thousands of Clippers with different exterior designs, making these lighters highly coveted by hobby collectors.

Available in various sizes

The first Clipper had very small dimensions for the time, and was also considered an extremely light lighter. It should be noted that, at that time, the volume of conventional gas lighters tripled that of the Clipper, and its weight could be up to ten times greater.

Today, the original Clipper is still on the market. But the widespread use of jeans and tight clothing has motivated the manufacturer’s decision to launch more contained versions of size and weight on the market. The functionalities are the same, but in exchange for greater comfort, the user has to be aware of recharging them more frequently.

The currently available versions are the following:

Clipper Large: without any change in size compared to the original 1971 model.
Clipper Medium: Maintains the diameter of the original model, but is approximately two centimeters shorter.
Clipper Pocket: it is three centimeters shorter than the initial model, and its diameter is less than 3 millimeters. This model is designed to compete with the smaller lighters on the market, including the well-known BIC Mini.

These versions maintain the four most characteristic functionalities: they are cheap lighters, they can be easily recharged, they have a clip for tobacco, and the variants in their exterior design are almost unlimited.

The Clipper in the world

Apart from the factory located near Barcelona, the company has two other factories located in Shennai (Republic of India) and Shanghai (People’s Republic of China). The units destined for the European Union and bordering areas are manufactured in Spain, and from the others the demand of the rest of the world is met.

The latest estimate of worldwide sales is more than 1,000,000 units per day, and Clipper lighters are the best sellers in most countries in the developed world, and of course, in our country.

The fame of these lighters is such that you don’t have to be a smoker to know them, right? We think that we have not forgotten anything relevant and that if you have read all this information, you already know almost everything about this lighter that has become a commercial myth.