Steel Collectibles and Curiosities

Desk cigarettes humidor box with lighter designed by Ronson. This is an amazing desk cigarettes box & touch-tip lighter, created in New Jersey United States by The Ronson Lighter Co. during the art deco period, back in the 1937. This is a rare near mint box with a single lid with a five-barrels hinge and an integrated touch tip striker lighter. It was designed with strong geometric patterns and crafted in solid chromed steel. Embellished with black lacquer, creating a great color contrast and the interiors are lined up with natural cedar wood. Extremely well made and solid construction with great care and attention to details. This surely is a very decorative piece and should be a great conversation item. Model: 16268. Country: New Jersey, United States. Period: Art Deco, 1937. Materials: Chromed steel, cedar wood, black lacquer. Weight: 897.5 Grams, (1.96 Pounds). Measurements: 203 mm by 102 mm by 89 mm (8.0 x 4.0 x 3.5 Inches). Marks: Stamped with the maker's mark and signed, "FASHIONED BY RONSON NEWARK NJ US PATS BRITISH PAT IN CANADA 1935 NEWARK NJ-USA-ART METAL WORKS INC. RONSON-TOUCH-TIP ". The Ronson Lighter Company The company started as The Art Metal Works in 1897 and was incorporated on July 20, 1898, by Max Hecht, Louis Vincent Aronson and Leopold Herzig, in Newark, New Jersey. Louis V. Aronson was a huge creative driving force for the company; and, with a few business adjustments, including the addition of Alexander Harris (1910–11) as Business Manager, the company soon became World Famous. In the 1910s The Art Metal Works were producing very good quality Hood Ornaments and gained a reputation as a dependable supplier of same. All accounts state that Louis Aronson was a gifted man, who at 16 years old set up a money-making shop in his parent's home - before receiving a U.S. patent for a commercially valuable metal-plating process he developed when he was 24 years old, and he sold half the rights while retaining the Right to Use. "His experiments, which he has been conducting since his early youth, resulted in 1893 in the discovery of a process for electrically producing tinplate. Much money was expended upon improving the process... and has been of great practical value to the whole industry. Retaining its rights, he sold half the patent rights, and later used part of the proceeds to open the Art Metal Works in Newark, N.J. Soon the company was producing a variety of high-quality Lamps, Book ends, Art Statues and other decorative items, prized today for their detail in the collector marketplace. Louis Vincent Aronson Louis Vincent Aronson was an American inventor, industrialist and philanthropist who is best remembered as the inventor of Ronson lighters. "He was a son of Simon and Jennie Aronson, who were natives of Prussia. He was born December 25, 1869, in New York City, and there his boyhood was spent. Aronson was an exceptionally gifted young man who graduated from public school at the age of 12 before entering a New York Technical School specializing in metallurgy, practical metal working and mechanical drawing. At the same time, he set up a laboratory in the basement of his parents' home where he experimented with plating processes and turned-out money-making items while he devised ways of metalizing common items, in a durable finish of matte gold, including flowers, butterflies, animal claws and baby shoes. Aronson natural ability for designing was honed at the technical school and served him well throughout his life. He excelled and completed the School four year academic program in three years. When he graduated in 1886, at the age of 16, he was qualified as an Expert Metallurgist, Draftsman and Designer, he also had a high-level knowledge of Chemistry. He returned to the school five years later as an instructor in metallurgy for several years before devoting all his time to his own company. When he was 24 years old, he sold the rights to a commercially valuable metal plating process according to Urban Cummings book Ronson, The World’s Greatest Lighters, Wick Lighters 1913–2000. He gained public recognition when he won an award in 1893 from the Belgian government for the creation of the first non-toxic match, and young businessman Aronson received 50,000 Francs, equaling $10,000 in U.S. dollars. In 1897 he received a U.S. patent (592,227) for a match design (called the Wind-match) that would light in windy conditions or when wet. He continued working on his match designs including inventing the “Birds Eye” or “Kitchen” match that had a dual-tip design in 1903; this was an important safety improvement because friction matches of the day would sometimes light accidentally especially when stepped on or while in one’s pocket. He realized that placing a small friction ignition chemical on the tip instead of the entire match-head greatly limited accidental ignition. This style of match is still in use today. Literature: Urban K. Cummings, Ronson, the World's Greatest Lighter: Wick Lighters 1913-1966 Bird Dog Books, California. 1992. Pp-168 Figure-187 for this box illustrated. Note: This piece and the touch-tip lighter are empty of any flammable, gas or butane substances and is ready to be ship by any carrier, Condition: The overall condition of this Ronson cigarettes...

Art Deco gilt sterling silver mounted boars tusk cigar cutter with a thumb-push cutter mounted to the tusk and finished with a finely reeded collar. Markes: Sterling / Solingen / Ger...

This pair of rare midcentury English 3 wheel street skates were produced for only a short time by Davies Steel specialities. They date to the 1960s. This designs advantage is the low centre of gravity, 3 wheel balance...

English monumental polished steel carving set with inlaid eagle bone handles depicting E. pluribus unum motto. Stamped with Hallmarks in Silver S.H. Samue...

Wonderful 1950s functional design, and such an ingenious and sculptural piece. Also with a domed glass inset.  

A stainless steel lighter designed by Ronson. Very beautiful Rondette desk lighter, created in New Jersey United States by The Ronson Co. during the art deco period, back in the 193...

Used Zippo Lighter featuring a highly polished case with a 1955 Cadillac Emblem Design on the front and back with Display Case & Manual. This is a ...

English mahogany four dial banjo barometer with broken arch pediment, steel engraved face with Prince of Wales motif, and original rotating bone dial. Barometer can be restored to wo...

Interesting vintage California highway sign for Adobe Rios-Caledonia. This is a California historical landmark and on the National Register of...

Rare English ship's lantern known as a trawling lantern. Fitted with red and green filters for port and starboard with a clear strip up the center. Very large and heavy. Brass maker'...

Double desk box with lighter designed by Ronson. An exceptional and very beautiful desk box, created in New Jersey United States by The Ronson Co. during the art deco period, back i...

This is a wonderful example of 1800s inventiveness. We believe this is American made and ie signed and dated 1888. This is only the second example we have ever found. We will only se...

Ophthalmic steel surgery kit, signed J. Weiss & Son Ltd London and Dixey England, made in the end of XIX century circa, placed in its original wooden box covered with leather, red ve...

This Indian Katar “triplex” is made from Damascus steel and consists of two split halves, which are joined into one, and invested in the Qatari sheath. This Katar features gold damascene...

A remarkable, rare early 20th century Khanjali dagger handmade in the Caucasus. Crafted of silver, the handle and one side of the sheath are decorated in niello with Magen David...

Indistinct silver hallmarks for 1691 Silver, gilt, steel, agate England Late 17th century Size: 58cm long - 22¾ ins long Provenance: Ex Private English collection, Mrs How, ren...

A unique and sculptural bookstand made almost entirely of long patinated copper-plated steel rods twisted in such a fashion to create an esthetic yet structurally strong frame.

An enamelware Lotus pattern Dutch oven manufactured by the Norwegian manufacturer Cathrineholm. Cathrineholm operated from 1907-1970. The popular Lotus line...

ABOUT Antique wood and steel ram's horn cabinet maker's wood scraper. CREATOR E.C. Atkins & Co. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1905-1910. MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Steel, Boxw...

For your consideration, a vintage old ESTWING steel head curved claw hammer with leather handle. Made in the USA. Dimensions: 20 H x 6 W x 3 D Please visit take a look at our list...

Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage Colnago Master Olympic Art Décor road bike with Freuler geometry Columbus Gilco steel frameset with straight Colnago Chrome Precisa forks HISTORY I am selling my entire bike collection which comprises of 16 bikes, all luxury high end pieces, there are Colnagos, Cervelo’s, Lemon’s, Specialized, with Carbon Titanium or Columbus steel frames and some of the most expensive parts in the world, there are also some frames, again Titanium and Colnago, Bianchi etc, some wheels Zipp 303’s, Campagnolo Hyperion carbons etc, and then a few parts. I also have a NOS in the case Dura Ace 25th Anniversary groupset. These are all that is left over from my bike shop, I have kept them for years hanging around my furniture workshop as pieces of art and to remember the good old days, my new warehouse doesn’t have the same hanging space so these all need to go! DESCRIPTION A very good looking well made and collectable road bike frameset from the masters… Colnago! This is an early collectable model with the super rare raised seapost and head tube know as the Freuler geometry, it has the original Campagnolo headset, the straight chrome forks, the rear triangle is matching chrome...

Incredible boat: in solid wood. We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982. If you have any questions we are at your disposal. Pushin...

Caja De Musica Music box by Acoocooro Dimensions: W 54 x D 54 x H 119 cm. Materials: Hand-carved solid oak wood table/pedestal and box; Corian resin box cover; steel and solid wood...

A Vintage Prop-Spinner from an early 1950s navy Neptune patrol plane.

Two intriguing historical 19th Century Indo Persian shields, one handcrafted in bronze with four protuberances and engraved floral designs highligh...

ABOUT Solid wood carpenter's wood plane with steel and bronze accents. Stamped on both sides. CREATOR Varville & Son, York, UK. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1870-1900. MATE...

Antique steel and brass quadrant, first half of the 20th century, made in London for the U.S. Navy, in very good condition with lenses, shades and scale. The essential mariner's navi...

Ciclotte Bike is an innovative exercise bike, designed and made in Italy, that combines idea, form and technology rethinking the traditional aesthetic an...

A Large Galvanised Housemaid’s Bucket A Traditional piece and a very versatile and strong piece, the housemaid would have carried this one by the swing handle and used the end handl...

Ladies Balloon Tire Springer Front Bicycle. Fleet Wing Blue bicycle. 26" Period correct whitewall tires show some age cracks . Light does work . Horn does...

Born from the exclusive collaboration between ELIE SAAB Maison and Giobagnara, the Ecusson Humidor is a striking expression of functional design and refined luxury. Merging tradition...

Fabulous buddy L Coca Cola delivery truck with aluminum hand truck from the late fifties early sixties. One rear tire is smaller by not much, it's a little dif...

Awesome vintage steel Right Lane Must Turn Right traffic sign. This is a large sign and is in fabulous vintage condition with just the right amount of age...

A rare and Historical Industrial Era Mounted Turnstile from the Fun House at Coney Island, New York, featuring original painted finishes mounted on wood plinth with label reading, “T...

Born from the refined collaboration between ELIE SAAB Maison and Giobagnara, the Monogram Ashtray embodies the perfect balance between elegance, practicality, and artisanal excellenc...

Solid stainless steel case and bracelet. Coper face with chronograph function sub-dials and luminous hands and markers. Swiss ETA 1/60 Split Second Chronograph Movement. Measures up ...

Manufactured by Artis in the 1960s in former Czechoslovakia. Height adjustable construction made of original blue painted steel tubing. The cleaned and preserved thick cowhide has a ...

Ship's port and starboard lanterns with polished and lacquered steel cases, glass Fresnel lenses, red and green filters, electric sockets, etc.. With brass maker's badges and serial ...

Selection Of Vintage Hickory Golf Clubs, Putters. A wonderful selection of various hickory shafted putters. This is a great collection on its own or could even be the makings of an e...

Supreme x hoto red tool set, 5-piece, Spring 2023. Made exclusively for Supreme (Spring 2023), limited edition. Red, Supreme-printed case. Includes 3.6V 3-level torque adjustable scr...

Display this modern industrial menorah in white oakwood and steel to celebrate eight days of Hanukkah miracles. Made with solid urban wood, so it's ...

Backgammon is a very old strategic board game, from which its origin is still undefined. A true Classic game about tactics and luck played around the globe. Taking this Classic as inspiration, Orfeo collaboration joined skills to create a board game with stimulating materials and astounding chips. Shined a spotlight on to the raw materials used to create it. The exterior of the board is composed of two elements, a metalic box and a thinly sliced oyster cut veneer of parota wood. The oysters are sourced from reclaimed branches of these gigantic trees; a material that is commonly discarded as fire wood given the difficulties of processing it. Underneath the wood they have used a single sheet of meticulously oxidized metal that is laser cut to size, then assembled into a box by one of their master craftsmen. Opening the chest you’ll find a treasure of glass checkers and dice handmade by Orfeo Quagliata’s artisans. Orfeo takes his most interesting glass techniques to apply them to all the chips in the game. The checkers are manufactured in two different processes. The "Barcodes" technique is a fine linear design with schemes of different colors that contrast between one competitor and another. Thin strips of different colored glass are placed next to each other and then fused into a single piece, from which circular pieces are drilled, ground and hand polished to form the chip. The more sober and bitone "Roarshax" technique presents an electrifying texture on the top of a transparent body. Meanwhile the dice are solid glass cubes...

Antique Pyrenees Mountain Cow Bell in Brass   A wonderful detection device used by cattle farmers in the Pyrenees mountains.   The handmade leather strap adorned with copper rivets a...

For your consideration, an Antique Wood Compass Shop Carpenter Tool. Dimensions: 33 H x 17 W , 58 open radius ( I can draw a circle up to 154" in diameter) wood is 1 thick Please v...

This vintage leather gymnastics horse was manufactured in Poland by a sports equipment factory in Warsaw. It has a manufacturer's plate underneath an...

Vintage Tool Nail Pliers Pincers Pullers. Made in the USA. 1960s Signs of vintage age and wear Great design and form. Wonderful advertising carpentry prop. 12.25 H x 1.88W x 1.75 D i...

19th Century American Brass Ecclesiastical Revolving Dual Sided Lectern/ Music Stand USA, 1871 A Remarkable piece of 19th-century American ecclesiastical workmanship: a Brass Revol...

Steel Shafted Tom Morris Golf Club. An early steel shafted golf club, No. 7 iron, stamped Tom Morris, St Andrews. The club head has a curved hollowed back and is stamped 'Walker Cup...

American Civil War Era brass bodied bloodletting fleam, phlebetome or scarificator. The fleam, which has many other spellings such as phleam, flew or fleame, is a very distinct surgi...

A rare art deco mechanical bartender. Engraved gold metal figure raises to display contents. Steel and brass. Germany, circa 1930s.

Gulf Oil Corporation Spray Can USA, c.1957 Spray can with red, white, green, and blue text on white label and insect graphics. Round blue removable cap. No leaks, No holes. Dia 3 x H...

Ciclotte bike is an innovative exercise bike, designed and made in Italy, that combines idea, form and technology rethinking the traditional aesthetic an...

This antique dinner or service counter bell is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from England and date to approximately 1900 and done in the period Edwardian style. The bell features a cast metal robed female holding up and two piece plated bell. The bell functions by turning the knob at the top which spins back and forth. This sculptural bell stands...

Decorative yet very useable vanity or travel manicure set consisting of 10 parts including the leather pouch and Gold Plated Cup. The manicure set was ...

Trolley Chrome Aircraft made with steel structure in polished riveted aluminium. With wheels including a lockable system. Trolley includes a fridge and a led lighted tablet inside...

Sam Chermayeff Ashtray From the series “Beasts” Produced in exclusive for SIDE GALLERY Manufactured by ERTL und ZULL Berlin, 2021 Brushed steel Contemporary Design Measurem...

Ronson Art Deco Combination Humidor and Touch Tip Table Lighter. This Art Deco smoking accessory is a combination humidor box and touch tip lighter by Ronson Lighter Co., back in th...

Elevate your space with this Antique Dentist Rinsing Sink crafted from stainless steel, showcasing Belgian craftsmanship. This unique piece is a testament to the bygone era of dentis...

ABOUT Pair of World War II bomber airplane wheels with red enameled, cast aluminum rims and balloon tires. CREATOR U.S. Airforce, United States. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1940...

A desk lighter clock designed by Polaire Paris. A beautiful desk lighter-clock, created in Paris France by the Alphonse Brun company know as Polaire Paris, back in the 1938. This pi...