Trench lighters, where did the parts come from

[Dan Brock]

I may be in entirely the wrong place but here goes. My latest part-time obsession is trench lighters. My question is this: Where did the lads get the parts, the flint holder, the sparker-wheelie bit and these other things that seem to be difficult to "gun deck" in the field? Thanks in advance.

Dan

[zephyr4]

Most of the so called trench art lighters are just made out of old nuts\old coins\bullets and could have been made years after WW1, and they probably used old lighter parts on most.

I would have thought the flint wheel would be hard to make,a lot of the wick covers look like dust covers of a tyre.

I have one which I think is made from a brass bush off something, what I don't know.see pic

[Guest Coldfusion]

Hi there!

I believe you will find that the parts for the lighters,(wicks, flint tube, spring and wheel) were sold or given to the soldiers in little kits.

During the 1930s and 40s the spare parts were made and marketed by Turner's Lighter Spares & Components Ltd., Hendon, London

I hope this helps mate!

Ian...

[geraint]

Most of the trench art bits and bobs were made by pioneers or engineers using their worckshops behind the lines at pioneer camp. They certainly had the forges and the machines, metal lathes and drills to make any such items. And they had the know-how and the time!