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Vintage Scripto VU-Lighter Promotional Advertising Lighter Set
\"Before using this lighter on an airplane in flight or at any high altitude, first press in the refuel button firmly while holding the lighter in an upright position... This will cause the pressure inside the fuel chamber to equalize... and eliminate the possibility of fluid being forced out of the lighter and over the hands when the lighter is inverted for refueling.\"
That warning is remarkable because it reminds us that refillable lighters were common personal items carried aboard commercial airliners, and manufacturers had to account for changing cabin pressure long before pressurized cabins became universal.
A wonderful complete late-1940s/early-1950s Scripto VU-Lighter promotional set complete with its original metal storage tin, advertising insert, instruction cards, mailing notice, and original factory tissue wrapping.
This lighter features advertising for:
P. R. Boston, Inc.
Paving
North Berwick, Maine
The Scripto VU-Lighter was one of the first refillable lighters with a visible fuel reservoir, allowing users to monitor the fuel level without disassembly. It quickly became one of Scripto\'s most recognizable post-war designs.
Included
- Original Scripto VU-Lighter
- Original advertising insert
- Original metal storage tin
- Original wax-paper factory wrapper
- Original \"Contents Notice\" mailing sheet
- Original High Altitude Instructions card
- Original Guarantee & Operating Instructions sheet
Condition
The lighter presents beautifully with a bright chrome cap, clear transparent body, and crisp advertising graphics. The original paperwork and factory wrapper are included, making this an exceptionally complete survivor.
The tissue wrapper shows expected age-related wear and small tears. The tin displays light cosmetic wear from storage. Please examine all photographs carefully as they are part of the description.
Measurements
- Tin: 3.25\" long × 2.25\" wide
- Lighter: approximately 2.5\" tall
A fantastic addition for collectors of Scripto lighters, vintage advertising, tobacciana, Maine memorabilia, or mid-century promotional items.
There are several fascinating excerpts:
A close second is the postal notice, which reflects an era when the U.S. Post Office had to create special regulations just for mailing fueled lighters:
\"Approved for mailing by U.S. Post Office Department, July 8, 1948.\"
The paperwork continues with detailed mailing instructions:
\"Do not mail this lighter after fluid has been transferred from the reservoir to center section. This lighter, with fluid in the reservoir, may be mailed if this box is wrapped in double corrugated paper with all seams closed with tape.\"
That statement is a wonderful snapshot of postwar America. Mail-order sales were booming, and Scripto engineered the VU-Lighter so it could be legally shipped nationwide while already containing lighter fluid—provided the fuel remained sealed in the outer reservoir until the customer activated it.
Perhaps the most intriguing feature is described in the operating instructions:
\"Your Vu-Lighter is complete with fluid, flint, plus an extra flint ready for use. To transfer fluid from the reservoir into the wick chamber...\"
Unlike most refillable lighters of the era, the VU-Lighter left the factory already fueled. The lighter fluid was stored separately in a sealed outer reservoir and wasn\'t released into the wick chamber until the owner intentionally pressed the side valve. This clever design allowed the lighter to be shipped safely, stored for long periods, and then activated by its first owner—an ingenious piece of late-1940s engineering that makes the original paperwork almost as collectible as the lighter itself.
