One of the real problems is lighting the darned things while you are outdoors, because you need a flame that burns horizontally. This can be a big problem when your match or Zippo wants to burn vertically in the wind. Enter the "Nimrod" lighter invented by A.F. Ward Jr. of Cincinnati, Ohio.
By the way, the word "Nimrod" as synonym for "hunter", taken from Genesis 10:8-9
"... Cush was the father of Nimrod, who grew to be a mighty warrior on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD ; that is why it is said, 'Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD' ..."
Of all things, Nimrod grew up to build the Tower of Babel, which is something that I might do if my father was named "Cush."
The lighter is a marvel of simplicity. One side holds a wick and the fuel -- just regular lighter fluid. You have to unscrew a fitting (15) at the end using a dime as a tool. There is a striker wheel (13) and a Flint (12). To operate it, you grasp each side and pull them apart. This causes the wheel to strike a spark from the flint and ignite the wick. As shown in Fig. 5, the flame burns in a nice wind-proof chamber that fits over the pipe.
They have a kind of nostalgia for me when my Dad and I would rake and burn leaves in the fall. We would smoke our pipes and periodically pass the Nimrod to each other to keep the pipe or the leaves lit. Life evolves: it is dangerous to smoke and it is illegal to burn leaves. But there was a time when Father and Son could enjoy this simple pleasure on a crisp Autumn day, just like having a real job with benefits and a car with a big engine and lots of chrome.
With the decline in smoking, you'd have to go to extraordinary lengths to find one of these. The first alternative is to ty the on-line auctions. They are fetching $10-$20 depending on condition. Thanks to our new friends, the Chinese, you can buy a reproduction at ... and contribute to the balance of payments deficit at the same time. (Our friend Greg sent this along.) Search for JUST the word NIMROD.
Return of the Legendary Nimrod Lighter. Sportsman Flint lighter with compass on the bottom. Also Great for Pipes with it’s unique design. Uses Zippo fluid and flints for fuel and ignition source.
