Ian Fleming was specific about which brand of lighters he used, the American Ronson, but he never made clear a specific model that he used 007.
In works like Casino Royale, Fleming describes the lighter as an oxidized Ronson and in Moonraker it is added that it is oxidized black. The oxide is just a test of the continuous use of this contraption.
In any case, although the Ronson model used by James Bond was never specified, the models of this British brand in the 50s of the 20th century, in which the novels are set, are limited, so the fans of the character have identified three possible lighters and all of petrol load.
Ronson Standard, 1928
Ronson Standard.
(Click on the images to see them better)
Ronson Adonis, 1947.
Ronson Adonis.
Ronson Whirlwind, 1941. This had an accessory windshield that made it very suitable for outdoor use, such as the golf courses that fascinated the character.
Ronson Whirlwind with the windproof accessory.
Ronson Whirlwind without the windproof accessory.
As you can see, all the Ronson models on display, perhaps with the exception of Adonis, are examples of robust devices, not designed to impress but to withstand intensive use. We can see then that the Bond of the novels was something different from what the movies show us. Much more cynical and harsh than the character that shaped Sean Connery and Hollywood.
The lighters that Bond has used in his multiple films have been varied until in the most modern films he has joined the prevailing fashion (and I do not blame him) for giving up the habit. However, until that moment we have left sample that the writers have not neglected the iconic value of this accessory.
In Doctor No, the James Bond played by Sean Connery delights us with a magnificent Dunhill Broadboy Mk2 in black finish . The British brand Dunhill, has always stood out, as we have shown in this blog, for making mechanically reliable and very beautiful elements. In this case, they got a slightly "customized" model that was commissioned by a customer who did not pick it up. There are three sizes of the Broadboy, the highest being the one that seems to be used.
Dunhill Broadboy (it is the model although the one of the film is personalized and in black color)
Note: Some sources say that it was not really a Broadboy but a Wideboy. I watch the frames with care I lean towards the Broadboy.
In my opinion, the Dunhill Broadboy is the one that best suits the cinematographic Bond.
In the License to Kill 1989, Timothy Dalton is presented with a beautiful Dunhill Unique
Silver Lighter
Dunhill Unique Silver Lighter
Frame of Panorama to kill. Credits for MGM.
James,
Love Always
Della and Felix
The inscription shows us that the lighter was a wedding gift for Bond from a couple friend.
In 1997, Pierce Brosnan in The Tomorrow Never Dies, goes back to using a Dunhill, specifically an expensive and gimmicky Dunhill Unique Sports Gold. They could be used as an explosive grenade.
Dunhill Unique Sports of gold.
In 2012, in the movie Skyfall, the character of Severine, (played by Bérénice Marlohe) plays a sensual Pierre Cardin Classic Black Lacquer.
Pierre Cardin Classic Black Lacquer.
James Bond is a character who has distilled elegance and style like few others. As a spy he may have been too flashy to be credible, but as a fictional character he has an undeniable charisma.
In the novels as in his first films we were shown a James Bond drinker and smoker in a magnitude that today would be politically incorrect, but Bond was like that and that is how we have to enjoy it.
What lighter James Bond used in the novels?
Ian Fleming was specific about which brand of lighters he used, the American Ronson, but he never made clear a specific model that he used 007.
In works like Casino Royale, Fleming describes the lighter as an oxidized Ronson and in Moonraker it is added that it is oxidized black. The oxide is just a test of the continuous use of this contraption.
In any case, although the Ronson model used by James Bond was never specified, the models of this British brand in the 50s of the 20th century, in which the novels are set, are limited, so the fans of the character have identified three possible lighters and all of petrol load.
Ronson Standard, 1928
Ronson Standard.
(Click on the images to see them better)
Ronson Adonis, 1947.
Ronson Adonis.
Ronson Whirlwind, 1941. This had an accessory windshield that made it very suitable for outdoor use, such as the golf courses that fascinated the character.
Ronson Whirlwind with the windproof accessory.
Ronson Whirlwind without the windproof accessory.
As you can see, all the Ronson models on display, perhaps with the exception of Adonis, are examples of robust devices, not designed to impress but to withstand intensive use. We can see then that the Bond of the novels was something different from what the movies show us. Much more cynical and harsh than the character that shaped Sean Connery and Hollywood.
Lighters in the James Bond movies.
The lighters that Bond has used in his multiple films have been varied until in the most modern films he has joined the prevailing fashion (and I do not blame him) for giving up the habit. However, until that moment we have left sample that the writers have not neglected the iconic value of this accessory.
In Doctor No, the James Bond played by Sean Connery delights us with a magnificent Dunhill Broadboy Mk2 in black finish . The British brand Dunhill, has always stood out, as we have shown in this blog, for making mechanically reliable and very beautiful elements. In this case, they got a slightly "customized" model that was commissioned by a customer who did not pick it up. There are three sizes of the Broadboy, the highest being the one that seems to be used.
Dunhill Broadboy (it is the model although the one of the film is personalized and in black color)
Note: Some sources say that it was not really a Broadboy but a Wideboy. I watch the frames with care I lean towards the Broadboy.
In my opinion, the Dunhill Broadboy is the one that best suits the cinematographic Bond.
In the License to Kill 1989, Timothy Dalton is presented with a beautiful Dunhill Unique
Silver Lighter
Dunhill Unique Silver Lighter
Frame of Panorama to kill. Credits for MGM.
James,
Love Always
Della and Felix
The inscription shows us that the lighter was a wedding gift for Bond from a couple friend.
In 1997, Pierce Brosnan in The Tomorrow Never Dies, goes back to using a Dunhill, specifically an expensive and gimmicky Dunhill Unique Sports Gold. They could be used as an explosive grenade.
Dunhill Unique Sports of gold.
In 2012, in the movie Skyfall, the character of Severine, (played by Bérénice Marlohe) plays a sensual Pierre Cardin Classic Black Lacquer.
Pierre Cardin Classic Black Lacquer.
The lighters inspired by Bond.
Taking advantage of the character, different firms have obtained permission to manufacture lighters inspired by the franchise but have never appeared in the movies. I do not consider them properly James Bond lighters and therefore I will not extend on them, but we found interesting specimens like ST Dupont Xtend James Bond Torch Flame Lighter '007', ST Dupont James Bond Gatsby Lighter, or aS.T. Dupont SPECTER Premium lighter.
