Briquet SA

Lausanne, Switzerland (CHE)

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Very similar to the popular French Luxia and Autolux produced by Myon, different sources offer divergent information about the Swiss-made Radar, Retty and Ropp lighters. Lighters Accendi (c.1983) states that ROPP and Retty lighters were first manufactured in 1933 by La National without any supporting documentation. In Le Briquet Automatique (c.2018), Olivier Ballet attributes the design of these lighters to a 1932 French utility patent filed by the pipe manufacturer ROPP. Ballet also shares 1947 advertising showing that Retty lighters were produced by Lighters Ltd. (an English translation of Briquet SA.) A U.S. trademark was filed for "Retty" in 1945 by Briquet SA and states the brand name had been in use since 1944. (EB)


U.S. Trademark - 1945

R.Paillard, 1945/1947

Radar Automatic Lighter

silverplate finish

Radar Automatic Lighter

silverplate finish

Radar Automatic Lighter

silverplate finish

Radar Automatic Lighter

silverplate finish

Radar Automatic Lighter

silverplate finish

ROPP Automatic Lighter

partially plated example

Radar Automatic Lighter

branding detail

Ropp Automatic Lighter

branding detail

Retty Automatic Lighter

branding detail

Ropp & Retty Lighters

models compared

Retty Automatic Lighter

1947 British advertising

Ralen Automatic Lighter

copy made in Argentina

Radar Automatic Lighter

compared with Ralen copy

RCA Automatic Lighter

copy made in Greece