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Best known for his distinctive automatic table and desktop Bell Lighters, Samuel Guinn was an important, lesser-known early American designer and manufacturer. Guinn's first lighter design was patented in 1917, an automatic ferrocerium sparking attachment for gas kitchen stoves. His first full automatic petrol lighter design was patented in 1923, more than three years before the more famous Ronson "one motion" design. Guinn patented several variations of his original lighter design during the mid 1920, reflecting both mechanical improvements and different design variations targeted for home and commercial use. Lighter production continued until the early 1930s when the company went bankrupt, Guinn passed away in 1935. (EB)