Question: Three years ago, I bought a box of old table cigarette lighters at a tag sale. Most are fairly ordinary but I hope you can tell me something about the maker and age of one that is unusual.

“He’s going to carve roast beef with his Ronson!” gasps the sloe-eyed young thing in a recent ad for Ronson Corp. “Isn’t that a bit much for a little cigarette lighter?” Of course it is, but that ...