C&O Historical Society teams up with Zippo for vintage-inspired high-tech lighter

CLIFTON FORGE, VA (LOOTPRESS) – The Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society (C&OHS) has partnered with the renowned Zippo Manufacturing Company to create a modern, high-tech product that pays homage to the C&O Railway’s rich history.

This Virginia-based non-profit organization has released a custom-produced lighter, combining Zippo’s state-of-the-art technology with vintage graphics from the C&O Historical Society’s extensive archives.

The new rechargeable candle lighter, the first in a series of collaborations, features historical iconography from the C&O Railway’s 1960 celebration of “175 years of transportation progress.”

This celebration highlighted the railway’s origins with the James River Company in 1785 and included a classic C&O Railway lighter by Zippo, adorned with an image of George Washington as a surveyor.

The updated design on the new lighter includes the same imagery, along with the inscriptions “George Washington’s Railroad” and “Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.”

C&O Historical Society President Mark Totten expressed excitement about the partnership.

“Zippo is an American classic. This modernized version of the 1960 C&O Railway lighter allows us to blend history with cutting-edge technology, highlighting the significant transportation history that led to the creation of ‘George Washington’s Railroad’,” Totten said.

Alyssa McGrew, Business Development Manager for Zippo, praised the collaboration.

“Recreating a product with vintage artwork is incredibly fulfilling. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the C&O Historical Society,” McGrew said.

The new lighter features durable metal construction in Pebble coloring, a flameless and windproof electrical arc, and a flexible neck for ease of use. It includes a charging cable and boasts long-lasting battery life.

Priced at $29.99, the lighter is available on the Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society’s retail website, ChessieShop.com .

For more information, the C&OHS can be contacted at 540-862-2210 or cohs@cohs.org.