We continue our traditional rubric "Collectors". Resource ZippoCollector.ru always distinguished for its unique participants: most of them are interesting and talented people with refined aesthetic taste, which has its own particular vision of beauty. The hero of this article - is no exception. Dear readers, this time about his remarkable thematic collection tell us a permanent member of the forum ZippoCollector.ru Roman Larks.
PS All the photos presented in this review are copyrighted.
Hello, dear collectors and amateurs lighters ZIPPO.
My name is Roman Lark, I live in Moscow and in his spare time collecting work in the Art Institute Surikov.
My acquaintance with ZIPPO took place in 1994, when I was 16 years old.
The neighbor, a grown man sitting on a bench at the entrance and monotone "clicked" cover. I asked to see his toy and he proudly handed me the iron box. "This Zippo, Lighter American" - with some disdain in my address he stated.
Then, in the early nineties, the country became flooded with imports: the double cassette recorders, video recorders, Mars Snickers, Donald chewing gum, Coca-Cola and, of course, lighters ZIPPO poured into our lives. Nobody knew their catalog numbers, names coatings did not understand in the dating: for all it was just a ZIPPO. No other unnecessary clarifications.
Having been in the hands of this piece of stamped brass, memory began to revive footage from Hollywood blockbusters in which "it" has met Indiana Jones, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, Die Hard, and another and another, and another. Then he remembered that the Zippo - an essential attribute of bikers, rockers and other informal folk.
As at the time a representative underground youth carried away heavy music, instantly formed a desire: "I want !!!". Moreover, the jacket-black leather jackets with a suitable pocket already had, and I was smoking at the time, I must admit, like a locomotive.
So I has got his first real American cigarette lighter ZIPPO: golden, polished, with sprawled wings eagle Harley Davidson.
Even now, almost 20 years later, I remember very well how ZIPPO gaining popularity, turning from uncomplicated favors the subject of worship. It was hard to imagine any youth group, from which came the not recognizable to clatter.
However, I enjoyed his lighter did not last long - two years, maybe three. From standing wearing "gold-plated" began to descend from the sale almost completely disappeared "correct" gasoline, giving way to smoky surrogate and by switching to disposable lighters, such as Cricket, my fetish migrated to the bookshelf.
Subsequently, I tried several times to revive the tradition of using gasoline lighter, but all in vain. Until now, she is in her leather waist pouch manufacturer of the same name.
Probably I will never be, I did not use ZIPPO and, moreover, has not started to collect them, if not New Year's Eve 2011/2012, when my girlfriend made me a present: having turned everything upside down BottomzUp. Until that day I had never heard of lighters with two stamps, and generally I knew little about ZIPPO. As usual, everything is new inspires confidence and I went to surf the Internet in search of information about how to determine the authenticity of my gift. Soon I came across a Russian website collectors ZippoCollector.ru. A couple of days left to the study of the fundamentals and subtleties of cunning case. In parallel, I stare at the collection of other participants: the ships, vintage items, "cigarette" series, etc. Somewhere in this time, first I saw the lighter series Windy Girl. Some time later, after walking for online shopping, I discovered that in nature there are plenty of such lighters girls - all of different designs, shapes, colors. Very I liked, you can say sunk into the soul, and I decided to purchase several different instances. However, I was disappointed: on display models presented on hands. There was only one option - to try to develop international trading platforms. So I tried to make my first purchase on eBay. To my surprise, everything turned out, no problems, and ....
And so there was a relationship.
Then, like any collector, more and more often ran his eyes more and more necessary to indulge in various pleasures of life with only one purpose - to get another copy of a favorite. My collection began to multiply, to fill not only the serial, but also quite rare specimens.
First in my future collection became lighter ZIPPO Harvest Bronze Windy Girl by MAZZI. The most valuable available today, consider it a model Replica 1941 Replica and 1937 ZIPPO Windproof Lady with deciduous leaves and the letter «Z» Damsel on the sleeve coat. Although, of course, on the delineation of a more or less I have no favorite: each is valuable in its own way and all of them love. Here, it seems to me, it is worth noting that the value is determined by its prevalence lighters, or, more correctly - a rarity, but not cash. Although, as is usually the case, the less frequently found in nature particular instance, the smaller the edition it is released, so it is usually more expensive than necessary.
As an example, I can give a couple of his lighter: Windy Girl Deluxe Gift Kit Satin chrome and Windy Girl * She passed the fan test White matte. And one, and the second issued in limited series of 30 pieces. Both have serial numbers 25/30. And yet. Later, the assembly line factory ZIPPO descended ordinary lighters with the same serial coatings and images full of twins, so to speak, but without the numbers. And let them all have the same value, but the "license" will always remain lighter more valuable. Anyway, for collectors.
The bulk of its lighters I bought abroad. The main reason for this - a great choice. Last but not least is the question of price, because we all know that it is much cheaper. To date, I have established business contacts with several vendors from Europe and the United States, which themselves inform me about admission to their shops in a series of new products Windy Girl: write, suggest resemble. I'm buying. In general - a close mutually beneficial cooperation, interesting for both sides.
As the collection of a desire to present it to the audience. Agree to have a collection of something and enjoy it alone, at least not interesting. We must all take a picture and put it online for public review. Then I helped my long-standing passion for photography: the house with a mini photo studio, I try to combine substantive simple shooting with the original creative idea and modern technologies. For example, at the moment, I am preparing a series of works using anaglyph technology - the so-called stereo image that needs to be viewed through special stereo glasses with red / cyan filter. Fans spend their leisure time in the cinema will understand what is at stake. It turns out unusual and quite interesting. Several of these works, I introduced the infamous among fans ZIPPO forum ZEN, and received positive feedback from teammates. It brings not only the joy of the offense, but also stimulates me to create new works that are interesting not only to me but also to colleagues on hobby.
My main ally of collecting - my girlfriend Zhenya. The one through which it revived enthusiasm ZIPPO. It is for me and the main generator of ideas, it is also the critic of photographs. That is, a creative director. Since the Windy Girl - is lighter with a picture of the girls, but for me, after all, the girl first, and then the lighter, it is sometimes necessary to grant women their respective attributes: varnishes, lipsticks, bracelets, flowers, perfume, candy. In general, all that will adorn a woman, even with pictures, but what in principle can not be a man. All these women "joy" Eugene me happy supplies, helping to create the installation for the filming. It is also no less carefully than I do, tracks appearing in selling lighters, reported what, where and how do. In a word - a fan of "vindyushek." Other relatives / friends / acquaintances, though sympathetic to my hobby, but for the most part, do not share it. There is in my environment, and those who believe it is useless activity or even stupid. Well, collecting is not a business, it does not bring profit.
Here, in fact, all I wanted to say. Everything else for me doskazhut photos of my lighters. Their next recharge in the collection, I will spread on your page to display. Come back often, look, evaluate. Thank you for attention.
Roman Zhavoronkov