Rare .935 silver thorens Swiss lighter!!

[greg1186]

Got out to a local park by me and found this really cool lighter. I knew it was silver but when I cleaned it up a bit I saw it was loaded with hallmarks! We believe it’s a thorens single claw lighter from the 1920s which puts it before zippo.

 

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[jewelerguy]

that's cool

 

[mike b]

Id like to see that refurbished and working. Can you open it to see what it looks like inside ?

 

[billb]

Congratulations very nice. Good work cleaning it

 

[bologna321]

Sweet find

 

[pepperj]

Now that's a really nice recovery, congrats on the sterling lighter.
Any plans on restoration?

 

[Coinstar magnet]

I want one....how cool is that?! You must get it to function again...please update...Great recovery!

 

[oldmxrat]

Sweet find!

 

[ArfieBoy]

That one is a beauty! Congratulations!

 

[Hvactech19]

Very cool!

 

[camichael]

Interesting, I've never come across argentium silver before....Nice fine!

 

[Red-Coat]

Interesting, I've never come across argentium silver before....Nice fine!

This is not Argentium silver. Those are standard Swiss silver hallmarks, used on export 'Sterling' silver.

The reason why there is an apparent contradiction between the ‘Sterling’ mark and the fineness of ‘.935’ is a historical anomaly. Switzerland introduced the standard of .935 in a bit of a hurry from the end of 1887 onwards. Their export business to Britain would otherwise have been compromised by the “British Merchandise Act”, effective from 1st January 1888 because neither of their existing standards of .800 or .875 met the Sterling standard.

There was uncertainty and confusion in Switzerland about whether the tolerances they traditionally used for assay analysis were the same as those used in Britain, so they ‘overspecified’ the new standard at .935 to ensure that it would meet the minimum standard for British sterling (.925). The same standard was used for export to America.

 

[Red-Coat]

Nice lighter Greg. Unfortunately those Swiss hallmarks don't help much with dating the lighter since they were in use from 1888 until at least 1933. Since there's a patent date for 1920, you can at least put it between 1920 and approximately 1933

 

[Erik in NJ]

Nice lighter Greg. Unfortunately those Swiss hallmarks don't help much with dating the lighter since they were in use from 1888 until at least 1933. Since there's a patent date for 1920, you can at least put it between 1920 and approximately 1933

You are true asset to this forum, sir with your spot on research!

Re the lighter: beautiful lighter indeed and Swiss quality!