1897: Art metal works is moved to New Jersey
1910: Art metal works receives first patent for Pocket Lighter, this the first of many formed the basis of the company's pre-eminence in the manufacture of lighters in the US, Canada, Great Britain and Europe
1913: Art Metal works produce the First lighter to sustain a flame the Wonderliter
1914: Patent granted for fuel to sustain a flame
1928: Public listing on the US stock exchange. First automatic lighter patented in America Banjo retailing at $5 with an advertising slogan PRESS - it's lit, RELEASE - it's out, one finger - one motion . This patent was held until 1952. The rest is History
1929: The beginning of Worldwide expansion, including Europe, Australia and Mexico
1930: UK subsidiary opens offices and factory in Battersea
1939 - 1945: During the war Ronson continued production of two lighters, The Standard and the Whirlwind. The UK offices had moved to London's Caledonian Road
1950's: Ronson moves it's UK operation to a new factory in Leatherhead in 1952
1954: Ronson Art Metal shortens it's name to Ronson in 1954. Ronson was now manufacturing butane and battery lighters, and sales had reached $26 million. With the introduction of a redesigned fuelling system called the Multi-fill came the introduction of the Varaflame pocket lighters, the most famous being the Premier Varaflam. By the late 50's the Varaflame had completely revolutionised the butane lighter industry.
1965: Ronson launches the Comet a butane fuelled pocket lighter
1970's: Ronson now operated from several sites within the UK
1974: Sales had reached $128 million, however the US parent company had long standing financial difficulties
1981: Ronson UK subsidiary goes into Liquidation
1982: Ronson Exports Limited was formed
1994: Halkin Holdings plc bought the Ronson Exports business and in 1995 changed it's name to Ronson plc.
