Introduction to Colibri Lighters
This blog is dedicated to Colibri lighters: it's history, catalogues, pictures of lighters and pens and other Colibri items from before 1998 when the company was sold.
If you are in your 20s or 30s you may have never heard of Colibri but your parents or grandparents would probably recognise the name.
Colibri was a well known brand for pens, watches lighters and other ladies and gentlemen's gifts. Unfortunetly several factors influenced its decline. The biggest reason is probably the fact that it became easy to buy 'throwaway' lighters and then later it would have been considered impolite to buy a gift for a loved one that would perpetuate a habit that could eventually cause them to get cancer.
However, as I have discovered (I'm not a smoker) that old fashioned lighters possess something special. It's the way that they gleam, the variety of designs and how like most antiques they conjure up a vision of era and class.
Colibri began through my great grandfather Julius Lowenthal in 1928.
I hope that you find what you are looking for on this site. I'm happy knowing that I can share the information I have with a wider audience who can appreciate it. Instead of it gathering dust and being forgotten for all time.
If you are in your 20s or 30s you may have never heard of Colibri but your parents or grandparents would probably recognise the name.
Colibri was a well known brand for pens, watches lighters and other ladies and gentlemen's gifts. Unfortunetly several factors influenced its decline. The biggest reason is probably the fact that it became easy to buy 'throwaway' lighters and then later it would have been considered impolite to buy a gift for a loved one that would perpetuate a habit that could eventually cause them to get cancer.
However, as I have discovered (I'm not a smoker) that old fashioned lighters possess something special. It's the way that they gleam, the variety of designs and how like most antiques they conjure up a vision of era and class.
Colibri began through my great grandfather Julius Lowenthal in 1928.
I hope that you find what you are looking for on this site. I'm happy knowing that I can share the information I have with a wider audience who can appreciate it. Instead of it gathering dust and being forgotten for all time.
posted by Keith & Dom at 1:03 PM
15 Comments:
Dominique,
I really enjoyed your Blog. I've been with Colibri(USA)
for 14yrs. as a designer & share your interests in the history of the Company.
I'm very interested in seeing photos of your Grandfather if possible? Any early sketches, etc.
I hope you will continue with this
Project. I would love to somehow include your Grandfather as part of the company again.
If you approve?
Best Regards, Andy Smith
Hi - I worked for Colibri in the early 1960's in London, at the Warren Street address and knew Julius and his sons Jack and Ernest.
this is not exactly a comment, more a cry for help. I have a colibri lighter which is about 3 inches high, round, made of brass and has an enamel top which you pull off to get to the wheel to light it. I can find no information on this lighter and hope that someone out there can enlighten me. thank you. gunz66@ptd.net
Is the picture of Colibri House in Dublin? I used to work for them in the fifties. I have a picture of the factory in Sulzbach Germany.
IBELO
ISsac BEngiman LOwenthal
Terry
I just received my Grandfathers (I think) monopol. It appears to have been a gift by someone in the military as it was hastily inscribed to him on the back. The front side has a map of Canadian provinces. Now I need to find a way to get it working again.
Thanks for your blog. I`m a begginer collectionist an want informations about your ancestrals, about Monopol, Fbelo, Ibelo, Colibri... May you help me in same way?
Sergio Campos, fro Brazil
My father worked at Colibri in Warren Street. He worked for the Lowenthals from the 1930s until his death in 1970.
Regards
Thelma Winyard
I'm desperately looking for information about a vintage piezo colibri, it was stamped from Japan and its silver toned, engraved with all sorts of filigree and very intricate designs on the slim casing. If I can get a year maybe attached to this piece it would make my day. Thank you! Yeceniamorales@gmail.com
Hello. I just found my Dad's Colibri lighter which I remember from my childhood. He passed away in July and I have been going through some of his things but found this quite by accident in his writing desk drawer. I'm not sure if this is the Colibri Monopol but will try and post a picture of it so you can tell me which one it is exactly. Love the blog.
Best regards.
Mavis
I couldn't be happier to find this written by you!! I was trying to research a cig case that says "Colibri Germany" I wrote the current company they said they couldn't help because it was from the "old company". There isn't much I could find about the old company, yours was the most. I really think that your should dig for more info and photos of Julius from the start and instead of a blog, an actual web page to honor his history and to help those on a quest about it. I don't know much about computers but I love the 1800's, history,research and honoring those who have passed. Do you think you could please contact me for a light discussion ?? (I have a great sense of humor but am not a nut case) I have been so driven about finding this info, maybe this is why. parisofkitsap@yahoo.com --NW Washington, USA married mom of 7.
I have a hand made Colibri lighter? Very pretty. Ladies dancing. What is the estimated value please?Marion
Hi
I have monogas from my father but in shops didn t find the gas . Here in Switzerland.
Can u pls help me????
Thanks Giovanni
Thanks for informing us about the colibri lighters. I used colibri lighters some years ago, now using butane lighter . Butane lighters are little bit higher quality than colibri lighters.
I just bought this colitis by Kessler just wondering what year it is has a cultured pearl and craving on top
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