What’s this object called?

Answers from the Community

1. Trench lighter – I’ve got one from my father. It was often made from spent rounds with a few modifications to create a lighter. I had a .20 caliber case with an old threepenny coin soldered in the base, which was also a lighter.
2. Army lighter that lights in the wind while covering the flame to avoid getting your face shot off.
3. It is a lighter, but it might be a replica.
4. It’s a miniature nuclear bomb hand grenade. DON’T pull the pin!
5. Looks like a copy of an Austrian 1920s IMCO windproof lighter.
6. Looks like a bobbin for an old treadle sewing machine.
7. It’s a lighter – I’ve got one made of brass.
8. Windless lighter – hard to find parts for it, but worth the effort to make it work. Awesome find!
9. Miniature German hand grenade used by trained suicide ferrets in WWI. They ran up your pants leg and detonated at a critical junction, thus damaging many Privates’ privates.
10. Military torchlight for when you can’t light campfires.
11. I haven’t seen one of those in a long time.
12. Trench lighter from WWII.
13. Windproof lighter.
14. I have one and it’s a lighter.
15. It’s a coconut, duh.
16. Prototype proto pipe.
17. Steampunk suppository.
18. Fire starter, flint.
19. A vintage lightsaber.
20. A vibrator from 1890.

The WW1 Trench Lighter: A Piece of History
The WW1 Trench Lighter stands as an iconic piece of history, highlighting the ingenuity born out of necessity during wartime. Soldiers in the trenches of World War I needed a reliable way to light their cigarettes or pipes amidst harsh conditions. Traditional lighters often failed in the wet and muddy environment of the trenches.

The Invention
Enter the Trench Lighter. This simple yet effective device, typically made of metal, featured a hinged mechanism that protected the flame from wind or rain. Soldiers could easily ignite it with one hand, keeping the other hand free.

Craftsmanship and Resourcefulness
These lighters were often crafted from spent bullet casings or other scrap materials found on the battlefield. This showcased the resourcefulness of soldiers. Beyond their primary function of providing light and fire, they became cherished keepsakes, serving as tangible reminders of wartime experiences.

Collector’s Item
Today, WW1 Trench Lighters are sought after by collectors and history enthusiasts, offering a tangible connection to the soldiers who once carried them.

The Trench Lighter’s Legacy
Also known as a “pipe lighter” or “pocket lighter,” the WW1 Trench Lighter holds a unique place in military history. Born from the needs of trench warfare, these lighters were not just functional tools but also symbolic artifacts of soldierly resilience and innovation.

Design and Durability
Typically crafted from brass, steel, or other durable metals, the Trench Lighter consisted of a tubular casing with a hinged lid protecting the flame. Inside, a flint and striking wheel mechanism produced a spark, igniting the fuel reservoir.

Adaptability
Designed to withstand the damp, muddy, and windy environment of the trenches, the hinged lid shielded the flame and prevented fuel loss, ensuring reliable ignition even in adverse weather.

Sentimental Value
Many soldiers crafted their own lighters using readily available materials, adding a personal touch. Engraved initials, regimental insignia, or other markings often adorned these lighters, transforming them into cherished mementos of camaraderie, hardship, and survival.

Enduring Legacy
Though the heyday of Trench Lighters ended with WWI, their legacy endures. Today, these vintage lighters are prized by collectors and history enthusiasts, offering a tangible link to the past.

Angelina Jolie through the years: The star’s life in photos

Angelina Jolie has lived her whole life in front of the spotlight. She was born to father, Jon Voight, and mother, Marcheline Bertrand in 1975. Now, on her 46th birthday, see her evolution through the years in the limelight.

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Jolie clings tight to father, Jon Voight, in 1980.

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Angelina Jolie, Jamie Haven and Jon Voight attend the Academy Awards in 1986.

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Angelina Jolie, Jon Voight, and Jamie Haven at the 60th Academy Awards.

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Jolie starts life in front of the camera while modeling a bikini in 1991.

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Jolie attends the premiere of “Wallace” in 1997.

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Jolie at the premiere of “Gia” in 1998.

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Jolie goes blonde for the SAG Awards in 1999.

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Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton get close at the “Gone in 60 Seconds” premiere. The two were married from 2000 to 2003.

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Jolie smolders in a beige dress at the “Taking Lives” premiere in 2004.

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Jolie out with baby Maddox in 2003.

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Jolie arrives to the Venice Film Festival in 2004.

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Jolie beams next to Brad Pitt at the premiere of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” in 20o5. The two began their relationship while filming the movie while Pitt was still married to Jennifer Aniston.

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Jolie films “Life or Something Like It” with a platinum blond wig.

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Pitt and Jolie attend the premiere of “God Grew Tired Of Us” in 2007.

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Jolie steps out with Maddox and Shiloh in 2007.

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Angelina Jolie steps onto the red carpet while pregnant in 2008.

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Pitt and Jolie attend the SAG Awards in 2009.

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Jolie out with her children in 2011.

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Jolie showing off some leg at the Academy Awards in 2012.

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Pitt and Jolie attend the “Maleficent” premiere in 2014. The two filed for divorce in 2016.

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Pax Jolie-Pitt and Angelina Jolie attend the Netflix Golden Globes in 2018.

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Angelina Jolie attends the “Maleficent” premiere with her kids, Vivienne, Zahara, Shiloh and Knox in 2019.

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Jolie beams with her daughter, Vivenne, in 2020. While Jolie hasn’t acted in a movie since 2019’s Maleficent, she has stayed in the spotlight as her custody battle with ex, Brad Pitt, rages on.