“For twenty years, the Zippo/Case Museum has been a
destination for many visitors to our region, as we have built an interactive
and state of the art facility that reflects the heritage of both great American
brands,” said Mark Paup, President and CEO of Zippo Manufacturing Company and
W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company.
“We are excited to recognize the growth of Zippo Manufacturing Company
and W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company, while we celebrate their successes
and most importantly the 85th anniversary of Zippo Manufacturing Company.”
The Zippo/Case Museum 20th Anniversary Celebration will
feature activities and excitement for both collectors and community
members. Throughout the day, attendees
can take a tour of the museum led by Zippo Historian Shirley Evers and Case
Historian Katie Shonts-Saar. After the tour, they can have their Case knives
polished and sharpened, get a sneak peek at future product releases, and
participate in games, contests, and giveaways. The famous Zippo Car will be on
display during the event. Case representatives will be hosting knife safety
classes. Admission is free.
For collectors, special 20th Anniversary commemoratives and
souvenirs will be available for purchase at the Zippo/Case Museum store,
including a limited edition 20th Anniversary Armor™ Zippo lighter, and a
limited edition 20th Anniversary Case knife and Zippo lighter set. A
commemorative Zippo lighter and Case knife are also available now at the museum
store and on Zippo.com.
“We are very excited to be featuring these commemoratives
in-store at the museum during the celebration alongside new Zippo and Case
products – including Zippo eyewear, fire starters and other exclusive museum
collectibles,” said Kyle Kleiderlein, Zippo/Case Museum manager.
During the event, the Kids and Cancer Benefit Run
organization will host a silent auction featuring rare and historical Zippo and
Case products. For more information
about the organization, visit KidsAndCancerBenefitRun.com.
Food vendors will be onsite with offerings such as pulled
pork sandwiches, Italian sausage, nachos, hot dogs, hamburgers, local creamery
ice cream, and more.
The first museum, the Zippo Family Store and Museum, opened
in late 1993. Aptly named, as it featured products for sale from the Zippo
family of companies at the time: Zippo, W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company
and Holgate Toys.
The original museum was quite small and quickly proved
inadequate to satisfy the passion of collectors and curiosity of tourists who
made the trip to Bradford. In 1995, plans for a brand new and greatly expanded
store and museum were initiated. The grand opening of the Zippo/Case Visitors
Center took place on July 18, 1997, coinciding with the company’s 65th
anniversary celebration. It was the
centerpiece of the 1997 Zippo/Case International Swap Meet. More than 8,000
people from around the globe attended the three-day event, inaugurating a flow
of international visitors that continues today.
The Zippo/Case Museum now hosts more than 100,000 visitors
annually. Collectors and tourists travel from all around the United States and
many other countries including Japan, Korea, United Kingdom, Germany, France,
Spain, Portugal, and Brazil to revel in their love of these two iconic American
brands.
Caption: Sarah Dorn, daughter of Zippo inventor and founder,
George G. Blaisdell, speaks at the grand opening of the Zippo/Case Visitors
Center on July 18, 1997. Current Owner
and Chairmain of the Board, George Duke (far right), proudly looks on as his mother,
Dorn, speaks.
Caption: The Zippo/Case Museum will host its 20th
anniversary celebration on July 15. Admission to the event is free, and will
feature demonstrations, hands-on activities, and a silent auction to benefit
the Kids and Cancer Benefit Run.
Caption: Special
anniversary Zippo lighters and Case knives will be available for purchase at
the Zippo/Case Museum store. A limited
edition 20th Anniversary Armor™ Zippo lighter, Case knife, and set will be
available at the event beginning at 9 a.m.
A commemorative Zippo lighter and Case knife are also available now at
the museum store and on Zippo.com.
ABOUT ZIPPO MANUFACTURING COMPANY
One of the most recognized brands in the world, Zippo was
founded in the fall of 1932 by George G. Blaisdell in Bradford, Pennsylvania,
where it has manufactured more than 550 million windproof lighters. With the
exception of improvements to the flint wheel and modifications in case
finishes, the product remains unchanged and is backed by the company’s famous
lifetime guarantee – "It works, or we fix it free.™" Zippo’s diverse
product line includes lighters and accessories; butane candle lighters;
eyewear, fragrance, and a robust line of heat and flame products for outdoor
enthusiasts. Zippo markets in nearly 200
countries and also owns the Ronson brand of lighters and fuel and W.R. Case and
Sons Cutlery Company, both based in Bradford, Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.Zippo.com or
follow Zippo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (@OriginalZippo).
