HaegerAshtrays.com

No. 813-H

Explanatory Note

This lighter was not manufactured by Haeger, but rather the mold was sold from a Haeger molds catalog. We haven't found a mold catalog with a lighter in it, so the date the lighter mold was sold is unknown. We do know that these lighters manufactured for sale by Haeger were listed in catalogs 1960-1970.

The mold was likely sold to a pottery shop open to local hobbyists. The shop would cast clay pieces and sell them to their customers. Included with the price paid for the piece the hobbyist could visit the shop as necessary to complete the painting of their item with glazes, then the shop would fire the piece in their kiln to complete the production process. Pottery shops for hobbyists continue to operate in this manner to this day.

Such pieces were often inscribed by the hobbyist, either in the glaze or directly into the clay. Though in this example it appears the hobbyist added the instription in pen after the lighter was fired.

Classic Lighter - DIY Mold 10½" circa unknown (see above, and this example is dated 1963 by the hobbyist), glazes provided by pottery shop, photos from the collection of Michael Bono

Bottom reads:

  1. Embossed from mold:  ROYAL HAEGER 813-H U.S.A.
  2. Written by hobbyist:  Charlyn 1963