IMCO Lighter fakes, copies and replicas over the years.

10/3/2011

A few times a year, I get questions about whether a lighter is an IMCO or not. Recently, I had a question about a "Patent bora extra Austria 901". Since its working parts look an awful lot like an IMCO, I asked IMCO for information. They said it is one of dozens of copies made over the years

What I'm looking for now is a compilation of all the IMCO replicas and fakes I can find. Anyone with information, photos, comments, please feel free to send them to me. This information is invaluable to collectors. Thanks for your help!

77 Comments

Richard R. Vaughan

10/31/2011 12:52:53 pm

I don't know if it's a fake, or not, but nothing is written on the round tank bottom cover like some I've seen.

The back side of the striker assembly says Pat Pend DUXI Made in Austria. It has a push button about 1/2 way down on the right side of the assembly to release the flint cartridge. You place the flint in the hole where the push button was after sliding down the cartridge. Very nifty. Silver color, vertical metal lines top to bottom on the tank and striker covers, knurled on the sides for the removable bottom cap, sliding wind break, old, but in great shape.

Fake or copy?

Kirk White

9/5/2018 09:07:57 am

I know this post is super old but it seems I have the same lighter. Did you ever find out more about it?

Richard R. Vaughan

10/31/2011 01:15:40 pm

My DUXI lighter looks and operates exactly like this one listed on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUSTRIAN-WWI-DUXI-TRENCH-LIGHTER-/280761473279?pt=UK_Antiques_Other_RL&hash=item415eb018ff

Michael Millette

11/23/2011 04:30:20 am

I recently was given my great grandfather's Imco lighter, and it states the following: PATENT * BORA * EXTRA * MADE IN AUSTRIA. I have pics of this old lighter and can share if you would find it helpful. Can I use some high quality lighter fluid (Vector Signature Premium Refined Gas) in the wadding or is this only a gasoline lighter? I want to enjoy a smoke and light it with Bisnonno's lighter and wanted to make sure. Thank you!

RockiesGirl link

11/23/2011 10:24:16 am

The name tells me it was a copy and now I know it is after seen pictures. Not to say it doesn't have value, but monetary and sentimental, but it is not an IMCO. In any case, your lighter still works the same as an IMCO and uses lighter fluid, so I hope you can enjoy it!

Aaron

3/29/2016 08:56:08 am

Do u know how to tell the year on the triplex 6700 ik it's real just idk how old it is, plus the windproof cover has the seal from wien and some miniature pictures if that helps, ik it was my grandmother's who collected antiques so it must b old

molegone link

10/23/2012 02:00:34 pm

I am very satisfied with this buy.The lighter appear to be of a less heavy duty contraction than a zippo, but tough enough. It has lit every time, than I would have expected.

normdday

4/2/2013 11:39:40 am

i purchased a imco lighter online and am wondering if model #4200 or 4230 cannot quite make it out. was there ever a 4230 or are my eyes that bad.it has rivets not screws in squeeze part and no design on case.any info. would be grateful thanks,norm.

AHongKonger

8/4/2013 10:40:00 am

I bought an IMCO Triplex Super 6700 in 2013.
It has the correct logo on the round cover, "IMCO PAT" written on the springy part and it works well.

However, there are five stars on one side of the lighter, which I don't find in photos or video posted by European/ American IMCO users.

Besides, when I search online I see some Chinese online seller have some 19414 or 815 lighters, again with five stars, in stock.
Some called it "Asia version", some called it "Genuine".
And they are cheap, mainly around 25 yuan to 65 yuan.
Of course some sell them at a high price.

Many Chinese/ Hong Kong IMCO users think it is a replica, although no one can be sure.

(It is quite light comparing to a Zippo, and the metal nearly roasted my hand after holding the lighter for 30 seconds. Are these normal features for an IMCO?)

RockiesGirl link

8/22/2013 06:33:37 am

IMCO did actually sell me some of these "5 star" lighter directly a couple of times. Those were genuine, however, I did hear rumors that they were manufactured for them in China. Who really knows, but I sold them as the real deal since they came straight from IMCO.

It is always a possibility that any of these lighters found on the market today are copies. BUYER BE WARE is all I can say. I have a stash of IMCO that I'll sell some rainy day that I can PROVE where they came from. Can these sellers do that???

aaron

4/1/2016 12:59:26 pm

I have an imco triplex super on the inside of the flint changing mechanism where it should say imco pat it has an arrow yet it says patent made in austria at the bottom

Andre

10/22/2013 09:19:48 am

I have recently been buying IMCO lighters for my collection on ebay. They all look like they are genuine but I don't know how to tell. Thunderhawk, Let me know if you'd like to sell me some, I will pay high dollar if they come with the box and instructions from IMCO.

RockiesGirl

10/31/2013 01:18:33 am

Hmmm. I wish I had better news. IMCO's have not been sold in a real box that I know of, only retail packaging like an oval "box" that pops out to hold each lighter. I did not sell many that way. I provided a white jewelry box to ship my IMCO's in. In any case, I am not selling IMCO lighters now and I don't have the boxes that some were sold in. Sorry!

The only way I know how to identify an IMCO is by the cap on the bottom of the fuel tank. I'm sure if a company was industrious enough, they could copy it to perfection. I don't know if this has happened, mind you.

Ask to see the seller's purchase receipt from IMCO.

Alex

9/16/2015 10:52:33 am

check if you have IMCO PAT written on the internal slider and you should also have a space where to store a flint.

Amber

12/5/2013 10:58:38 am

Hi I have one of these lighters it looks really old and it says patent boar extra made in austria 901 than I don't know about the side of it thow because it says lydons tavern so if you email me back with info I would appreciate it very much I would like to know more

Richard Abell

8/1/2015 07:18:32 am

Hi, I recently inherited a lighter from my grandfather, and the romers say that he got it during or after the 2 world war!, on the cap its stamped "IMCO-JUNIOR VIENNA AUSTRIA 6600" how can I tell if it's a copy or not? can I send you some pictures on e-mail and maybe you can tell me?
Yours sincerely Richard from Norway

ALEXANDER FARRUGIA

11/27/2015 08:17:23 pm

Seems its an original IMCO 6600 - Chinese fakes have 'Come of Austria' or a number engraved on the bottom of the fuel chamber. Check if you have a chamber for an 'extra' flint inside.

RockiesGirl

8/4/2015 11:04:00 pm

I can take a look, however, my advise is normally to take a look at auction sites (Ebay is my favorite) to see what similar lighters have sold for in the condition yours is in. This can take lots of time, so I really don't do much research for folks like this. If you have any other question, please let me know!

Tarko

8/23/2015 07:44:11 pm

Hello, i started to make collection of imco's recently after i inherited a 6600 from grandpa. I bought a 6700 triplex super gold windproof from ebay. It looks like nearly mint. Thats why i am suspicious about it. The bottom cap and inside stamp is a criteria to understand if its fake or not since chinese replicas are also have them. I thought maybe the weight could tell if it is fake. Do you have any info of standart weight of a triplex super? Thank you very much!

Alex Farrugia

9/16/2015 07:16:25 am

Genuine IMCO lighters have IMCO PAT written on the inside slider and also a space/slot where to store a flint. . I have also seen fake IMCO lighters with bad English written on the bottom - come from Austria Hope this would be helpful

Moises

9/24/2015 02:28:10 am

Hola,soy de españa y colecciono encendedores imco,tambien zippo. Queria comentar que para saber si es verdadero o no un imco,lo primero en lo que hay que fijarse es en la base del mismo,que todo este correcto y bien estampado,lo segundo en la palabra imco pat del interior y el compartimento para colocar la segunda piedra de repuesto,tambien hay que fijarse en los muelles,los modelos ultimos que se realizaron los tienen de color azulado...

Josh

10/20/2015 09:49:54 am

I have just picked up a imco lighter. Its a IMCO TRIPLEX super 6700. It says come of vienna austria. Also has imco pat on slide for the flint. Came off ebay seeing if it is one of the many fakes. Was also looking at one stamped imco tm on bottom with vienna austria om the bottom. Is this one real?

Alex Farrugia

10/20/2015 11:21:52 am

Hello - I have seen these lighters for sale from Chinese sellers. The words 'come of vienna' arouse my suspicions that the lighter is a fake copy as the original ones have the words TM reg vienna austria.or vienna austria.and 'come of vienna' is bad english. If you bought it from a chinese seller its most probably a fake. sorry

ALEXANDER FARRUGIA

10/21/2015 04:20:13 am

The second one stamped imco tm vienna austria is probably an original. Check that a flint fits easily in the extra storage place for spare ones.

RockiesGirl link

10/20/2015 10:30:19 am

Without a picture, it's hard to say for sure, but they were made in Vienna Austria, and it sounds like all the markings are correct. You may have a winner!

ALEXANDER FARRUGIA

11/27/2015 08:09:20 pm

FYI - I have noted that a chinese made IMCO style lighter (this particular lighter does not open up for flint installation but has a screw at the bottom ) needs to be re-fuelled every four days as somehow the fuel evaporates quickly, even when in the closed position. I have an IMCO 6600 junior that only needs re-fuelling every 3 weeks or so and i use it regularly.

True

2/16/2016 09:46:33 am

I have recently bought what was supposed to be an imco, it arrived from CHINA and on it where it should say IMCO ~ AUSTRIA like my original from a tobaaconist a few years ago (the original lasted for 5 years with heavy daily use before the flint mechanism packed up) On the fluid case cap on the bottom, instead of Imco it says APONS and a serial number ZL201320550324.3
This one from China has a screw in flint mechanism, which may prove better given my case, however the windproof slide is a little loose for my liking, my original lasted at least 2 years before that happened.
Like I say seems to be a hybrid I guess and not an original ( I will be contacting the website to complain)

ALEXANDER FARRUGIA

3/21/2016 09:03:53 am

Definitely not an IMCO original. I have seen these lighters (APONS) selling on ebay and quite pricey for a fake lighter. The one i bought from China has also a loose windproof slide and since the cap does not close properly the fuel evaporates quickly and needs to be re filled every 4-5 days. What about yours?

SiD

6/30/2016 07:11:10 pm

Hi i wonder if yoou can help i recently acquired a IMCO 6600 offa the ebay and im wondering if it is real on the bottom it has
IMCO-TRIPLEX
PATENT
MADE IN AUSTRIA
JUNIOR
6600

And on the flint slider it does have imco-patent and also it has the slot for a spare flint it is very VERY similar to

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/221472370/vintage-lighter-imco-triplex-junior-6600

if you scroll down you will see the pics it does indeed have the yellowie paint job

Thanks

RockiesGirl link

7/1/2016 01:35:18 pm

I looked at the pix on Etsy and it sure looks to me like you got an authentic IMCO. I hope this helps!

SiD

7/2/2016 05:35:19 am

Ah Brillo !! haha i was so unsure because i got it for what can only be described as a steal ..even for a fake it wudve been cheap ! £4.00 with £1.00 postage so a fiver !(auction) .... new flint new wick bit of spit and polish and it lights every time :) thanks for your help

Dennis Marra

10/12/2016 07:18:44 am

If all of these so called " MADE IN AUSTRIA" are real ; why are they in English i.e. "MADE IN" and not in the native language of Austria ?? What is your take on that RockiesGirl or anyone else , Please.

Fenek

11/17/2016 03:15:00 am

I have bought recently an Imco lighter but reading this topic I'm no longer sure if it's legit. It's 6600 and at the bottom it says "IMCO TRIPLEX estab. 1918 JUNIOR 6600" inside where the flint goes "IMCO" not imco pat. But there is a hole for spare flint and it fits. So I'm a bit confused. Overall it works well and there is nice feel to it but still seems like something is off. What do you think? oh and it came in small rectangular black box with instrucion.

Dennis Marra

11/17/2016 08:20:33 am

Hi, I have got 2 juniors about a month ago.. One came from Bulgaria and the other in Germany.. I also got a Supper (6700) wich had the same markings as your Junior, "IMCO TRIPLEX ESTAB. 1918... It also came in a black box w/red label.. My juniors (both)actually say "MADE IN AUSTRIA" as well as the other markings... I suspect your lighter was made in Germany well after IMCO went out of business; whether they have pat.rights or not is only a guess, My guess is that they are telling you it is a copy of the original; and that it was PAT. from the IMCO company. Does yours have a raised punched hole for a lanyard also ? The Juniors I have are cica 1960s.. I hope this helps you out.. You can Call me if you like and I can go into greater details ... Dennis 973.230.2342

Nicholas

5/12/2017 08:30:46 pm

I recently purchased an IMCO with the following on the bottom of the cap:

IMCO TRIPLEX
PATENT MADE IN AUSTRIA
SUPER
6700

It also has the words IMCO PAT written on the slider, I'll attach the link to the site, can you please let me know if it is genuine?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-GENUINE-ORIGINAL-IMCO-SUPER-6700-PETROL-LIGHTER-BIO-COLOUR-NEW/122492739972?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D43781%26meid%3D52b524e7f12e4c93984558043b7cb725%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D122492457720

Thank you.

ALEX

5/12/2017 11:39:11 pm

probably its original. It should also have a hole for a spare flint.

Dennis Marra

5/13/2017 05:45:13 am

Nicholas; I would say you have an orig. The reason being is: I have seen very few IMCO'S that actually say "made in Austria" . The Authorized remakes usely say Pat. Vienna Austria. Not that these are fake but they are legitimate IMCo PAT. and I would think have the Blessing of IMCO... I have never seen one with IMCO on the side.. Take some pictures and lets see them..

Nicholas

5/13/2017 05:48:11 am

Hi Dennis,

I haven't received the lighter just yet but the link I provided has some pictures of the lighter from various angles. Hope that helps.

Dennis

5/15/2017 09:42:17 am

Nick; I clicked on the link you sent but there are a bunch of IMCOs. So I don't know which one your referring too.

Nicholas

5/13/2017 01:27:55 pm

I've also noticed that some IMCOs have ''TM REG'' written on the underside of the cap whilst other ones, like the one I purchased, don't. Does this mean that they are original and the other one's aren't?

alex

5/14/2017 02:04:30 am

my 6700 also has TM. REG.VIENNA AUSTRIA and its definitely an original IMCO. Fake IMCO lighters (Chinese) usually have 'come of austria' or a number with the word 'apons' in the middle, or do not have the imco inscription inside and no hole for spare flint

alex

5/14/2017 02:06:06 am

is also suppose that the tm reg inscription lighters could be later productions

Nicholas

5/14/2017 03:55:04 am

So is the one I purchased an original anyway?

Nicholas

5/14/2017 12:23:22 pm

Actually, I also noticed that the slider has IMCO PAT written backwards. Is this normal for authentic lighters or could it be a fake?

ALEX

5/15/2017 06:34:12 am

mine all have IMCO.PAT. embossed on the slider. personally speaking i have never seen an imco lighter with the words written backwards so maybe someone else in this group may answer your question

Dennis

5/15/2017 09:48:30 am

Nick... If its written backwards I will make book that its a fake...But don' despair ; A fake well made Imco is better then a Zippo anytime..Also, the one to check with and properly has the most knowledge would be RockiesGirl.

Nicholas

5/15/2017 11:56:04 am

Hi Dennis, sorry about the link, I've attached some other links to the actual pictures of the lighter, including the one with the IMCO PAT written backwards. Hopefully that will work. Have a look and let me know.

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/NioAAOSwcaFZFchI/s-l1600.jpg
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/NioAAOSwcaFZFchI/s-l1600.jpg
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/hnUAAOSwPh5ZFcgz/s-l1600.jpg

Thank you.

alex

5/17/2017 02:29:13 am

hi - the one i saw in the link has the imco pat as it should be

Nicholas

5/17/2017 03:17:54 am

Hi Alex, but the PAT is written closer to where the hole for the extra flint is when usually it is the IMCO word that is nearer the hole. Also, on the base cap IMCO TRIPLEX is without the dash in the middle. The real ones I have seen say IMCO-TRIPLEX, so I'm not really sure if that means that the ones without the dash are or are not made in Austria.

alex

5/17/2017 07:21:33 am

I have got a triplex super 6700 with a 'dash' and another one without a 'dash'. The distance between the 'PAT' and the centre dot and the 'O' of the IMCO inscription on all my lighters is not exactly the same but differ by about 1-2 mm ie " IMCO . PAT." This could be a defect in the production line. What i find strange is that your imco pat inscription is the other way round. ie if i had to open all my imco lighters in the same orientation you did, the inscriptions would all be upside down

Nicholas

5/17/2017 07:27:52 am

I agree, it is quite strange. Do you reckon it's also a defect in the production line?

alex

5/17/2017 12:00:15 pm

well i really cannot tell. Maybe other members have lighters similar to yours and can enlighten us

Bernhard

7/15/2017 11:30:10 am

There are lots of Imco 6700 lighters, sold by Aliexpress.com, for example:

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/IMCO-original-global-steel-gasoline-lighter-Vintage-blue-kerosene-lighter-Cool-logo-lighters-triplex-1918/32523039389.htm

Do you think, this lighters are original or copies? I'm from Germany an this lighters, are partly sold for under 7 Euro.

Bernhard

7/15/2017 11:32:52 am

https://de.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=AS_20170715103204&SearchText=imco+6700

RockiesGirl link

7/15/2017 04:09:36 pm

I don't know, but all I can say is scroll down. Is that Chinese?

Bernhard

7/15/2017 11:56:04 pm

In my opinion a comment under the following YT video describes it the best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AidVWnRaT0Y

"It's not a "Chinese copy". I think the brand Zorro bought the use of the trademark IMCO in mainland China so they're actually producing it legally. So it's not a fake or something. I've had five austrian imcos of which 3 are 6700s. I have one chinese one, it's good quality but gets heated up really quickly. Also the spring is too soft. I still prefer the Austrian one though but it's like 40-50 dollars or something brand new."

I suppose that is the right description. The lighters have the "Imco Pat." letter on the flint system, and they have an "Made in Austria" stamp on the ground.

I think it is actually so, that Westmill, the Imco follower, gave them the permission, to produce this lighters in China, using the Imco brand.

The producer is probably "Zorro". They are Imco lighters, but producey by another company, which is authorized by Westmill.

ALEX

12/10/2017 09:41:04 am

Hello - i have just been through nearly all the ali express IMCO 6700 but they are not like the one in the video. They all have "Come of Austria" instead of "VIENNA AUSTRIA' which is a stupid English mistake and most of them have "Design in Austria" yet another grammatical mistake. These two issues are indicative that they are not originals and in my opinion bad copies. The one you indicated in the you tube video is an exact replica of an IMCO lighter with the right wording on the bottom. If you can find this model at Ali Express kindly send us the url.thanks

Bernhard

12/10/2017 10:17:57 am

I have bought the following models yet:

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/Original-IMCO-Brand-gasoline-lighter-imco-akmak-can-put-in-cigarette-case-box/32610359529.html

The lid on the bottom closes much more gently than the original Imco 6700. Yes, I have an original Imco 6700 of Westmill, too! :-) )

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Stainless-steel-IMCO-retro-collection-6700/32589298846.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Vintage-metal-crafts-collectibles/32589395894.html

That are both the exactly the same lighter, but in my opinion the lighter above is the best of the models, I have posted, yet.

Bernhard

12/10/2017 10:21:41 am

Alex:

Have you bought one of them, yet. I could prefer it!

Only on my first order, with one of the lower ones, I linked, the quality of the spring was less, than the original Imco.

The first URL, the Imco with the black finishes, is a very, very good "Copy" of the Original Westmill Imco. The quality is very good!

Alex

12/11/2017 06:10:19 am

Hello - so you recommend to buy the first one from Ali Express ie item no 32610359529. Does it have 'come of austria' at the bottom or just 'Patent Austria" at the bottom? Most of my imco lighters are all originals that i bought from european sellers but i do have one chinese bad copy which does not close properly and the fuel evaporates within 2 days. I got a refund from the supplier as it was advertised as an original imco.thanks

Bernhard

12/11/2017 09:51:18 am

Yes, the "black" one is my favourit.

The bottom looks like in the the following picture.

https://de.aliexpress.com/store/product/Genuine-IMCO-6700-oil-lighter-Stainless-steel-black-logo-Gasoline-kerosene-petrol-lighters-Cigarette-lighters/226878_32683907178.html

"Imco Triplex Super 6700m, Come of Vienna Austria".

In the link above, you can see, how the bottom looks like, but I havent bought this Imco with the "Imco" Pattern on the side.

The other linked

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Stainless-steel-IMCO-retro-collection-6700/32589298846.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Vintage-metal-crafts-collectibles/32589395894.html

are also very good. I bought two of them, in within a few weeks. With my first order, the Quality of the spring is a bit lower, but you can buy all of my prefered lighters without any problems.

Bernhard

12/11/2017 09:55:32 am

32589298846

32589395894

Jingzhu told my, that both ligthers are exactly the same. It is the same model.

Alex

12/27/2017 11:12:33 am

hi Bernhard - the IMCO lighter from Ali Express arrived this morning and i have compared it carefully to my original IMCO 6700 which cost me 50 Euros.. On the outside the resemblance is impressive- the only differences that i see is that the very small markings (dents) on the flat part of the lighters body are small squares whilst those of the original lighter are bigger. Then there is the issue of 'come of vienna Austria' whilst the original has 'Patent Austria'. The opening part of the lighter only goes to 90 degrees so its stops at an L shape whilst the original goes nearly all the way through 180 degrees.The indents on the wheel that strikes the flint are parallel whilst those of the original are zig zag. 'IMCO-PAT' is embossed on the inside but the lettering size is smaller than the original 6700. Apart from these I can see no other differences.
The ali express lighter cap closes perfectly and so there will be no fuel evaporation (unlike other Chinese fake imco's). Overall its a very good lighter, in operation its close or as the original and at 10US dollars its worth every penny.
rds Alex

Bernhard

12/29/2017 04:50:55 am

Hi Alex,

I dont know what you mean exactly, when you describe the opening part, of your lighter.

With both my Imco 6700 Westmill and the Ali Express lighter, the cap looks like this:

http://www.klassik-lust.de/imco-triplex-sturmfeuerzeug-eine-oesterreichische-legende/

Do you also think that the cap of the filler opening is better than the original Imco 6700 and closes more gently?

Which lighter do you use in everyday life? Gas lighters: Piezeo, Bic, Clipper etc?

I think gas lighters are more like collector's items. How do you do it?

Bernhard

12/29/2017 04:53:18 am

Sorry, I have spoken of "Isobutan" Lighters and Gasoline lighters, and which of them you are using in your everyday life?

Damien Van Damme

11/30/2017 03:58:47 pm

I was wandering how to tell the year of my imco 6700. on the bottom of says
patent
made in
Austria
are there any other markings to tell the year?

RockiesGirl link

12/10/2017 05:38:43 am

I've never been able to pin down the year of manufacture of specific IMCO's, just the range based on whatever style they are. Some listings have a date if the owner just happens to know. I wish I could tell you more!

RockiesGirl

12/11/2017 01:46:53 pm

Just so everyone knows, Aliexpress shows the country of manufacture are most are from China. These are not IMCO Lighters. Most have a brand name that is not IMCO either. Please read all the specifics before purchasing if you are looking for genuine IMCO lighters.

Janne

12/29/2017 03:56:52 am

Hi. I'm new to IMCO's and I'm about the buy these two:
https://www.tori.fi/kaikki_kuvat.htm?id=42339693
Do you think they're originals?
In the bottom it says:
"IMCO
PATENT
MADE IN AUSTRIA
TRIPLEX"

Dennis Marra

12/30/2017 02:11:10 pm

Janne.. Those pictures show the IMCOs to be real.. Buy them :)

Janne

1/1/2018 03:19:18 pm

Thank you. I got them for only 7 euros. I've been a Zippo user for years but thought I'd take part in an older European tradition.

Would you have any idea how old the lighters I bought are? I found some pictures of similar ones but never with a date. It seems IMCO first patented that type of lighters in late 1930's and kept making them 'til the end. A very nice timeless and art decoish design.

EZ BATATA

1/2/2018 05:06:04 pm

Hey there.
just found this lighter from my grampa. It says the made in austria triplex 6600 thing on the bottom but i cannot find any photo online of the same lighter. on the top it has longitudinal openings instead of the circular holes that i see online. Anyone knows anything about this? thank you

whooo

12/20/2019 11:17:24 am

triplex should have the number 6700. 6600 is called junior. Also the longitudial openings are a thing for 6700, because there should be a piece of metal that moves up and down thanks to them. So if it says triplex 6600 and has longitudial holes then its weird. If there is written "made in austria" and has IMCO-PAT on the inside holder of the flint, then maybe its a real one with a wrong number. .. Its two years later after your question, but still..:D maybe it will be useful

Brice Brown

4/11/2020 11:29:45 pm

I have an IMCO lighter that was given to me in the early to mid 1960s but is different from any that I've seen on line. The only external markings are on the cap of the fuel container: "IMCO Patent Made in Austria TRIPLEX". Instead of a spring loaded catch at the bottom that allows cover of the flint compartment to pivot outward to expose the spring and the flint there is a small button about an eighth of an inch in diameter on the side which, when depressed, allows the flint compartment cover, the cap and the thumb latch to slide upward about three quarters of an inch exposing the flint. There is a stamping on the tube that encloses the spring and plunger below the flint that reads "5m/m" which appears to indicate the length of the correct flint. I have had it since it was new and the sliding cover looks sturdier than the hinged covers of some later models but it lacks the spare flint compartment. There is no model number on it. I assume that ,because of its age, it is a real IMCO. Can anyone provide any additional information as to its probable year of manufacture and the different cover mechanism?

Dennis Marra

4/14/2020 08:46:09 am

Brice; I think that back in the 60's -they were not forging IMCOs.. I like to see a pic of the button that release's the flint compartment..
Thanks

Brice Brown

4/14/2020 10:25:06 am

Unfortunately I'm a techno cave man and do not know how to download a photo from my camera to my laptop and email it and I don't even own a cell phone. However, after I posted my inquiry I found a site in which several IMCO lighters were advertised for sale. Most had the cover enclosing the flint compartment hinged at the top with the release latch on the bottom that allows the cover to swing outward to expose the flint compartment but there were a few old ones like mine. There are two small holes on the side of the cover, one near the top and one about and inch below it in the middle. When the little button is depressed with a thumb nail the flint compartment slides upward and the button locks into the top hole. Depressing the button again allows the compartment to be pushed down and locked in place. If you search a site on which the lighters are advertised for sale you can probably find an image.

Ryan Meeks

8/16/2020 06:25:15 pm

I have one exactly like this. The same 5m/m making on the flint tube, two holes in the hinged lid/flint tube housing that allows one spring button on the side of the hinged lid/flint tube mechanism to be service. The bottom hole holds it all together for normal use. Press it, and the hinged lid/ flint housing pops up a quarter of the way, due the single button getting caught into the hole closest to the top of the housing, just exposing the part where you install a new flint. You can either push the hinged lid/ flint tube back down with the button popping back into the bottom hole, or you can press the button while it's in the upper hole, and the whole hinged lid/ flint tube mechanism pops out also exposing where the flint storage should be. I THINK mine has a space that holds flints, but when you pop out the mechanism, I gotta be careful or the flints go everywhere! Maybe it had a spring holding them in place at one time,? Idk. Beside that, the one I have is identical to the one Brice Brown describes here. I got it from a friend, who it was given to by an old man who collects old lighters. Told him it was a very old very rare trench lighter possibly made during or before ww2. Given how well the condition is, idk about that. Mine is Almost spotless with only a very very very light coating of rust, or if you want to call it rust, on the flint tube which I have since brushed off with an old tiny American Safety Razor table lighter brush that I got from a still-in-box ASR table lighter set.

Which if you ever come across an ASR lighter, or table lighter, set and it has the tiny flint wheel cleaning brush that looks like a tiny tooth brush still with it, buy it for the brush alone. What ever the bristles are made of, and with how tiny it is, they're prefect for almost any cleaning of light to moderate corrosion and flame residue, and getting into most, but not all, hard to reach corners and crevasse, without damaging the finish on old lighters. Very handy.

RockiesGirl

Mom of one little girl with Down Syndrome who loves the Rocky Mountains, IMCO Lighters are a staple in my camping gear.
Sadly, since IMCO went out of business, I've moved on to different products, but try to keep up with IMCO news. I hope this information helps all who are looking!

IMCO Lighter fakes, copies and replicas over the years.

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