lighters based on U.S. Design Patent 78315
Fay manufactured "Elgin" and several other pocket and table lighters based on the manual lighter mechanism shown in Henry Schiff's 1928 U.S. Design Patent 78315. Filed four months after USD77861, the patent drawing of the newer Shiff design shows a double bar lift arm mechanism with snuffer shaped to enclose the sparking wheel (a variation of the famous lift arm design patented by Greenwood & Wise in 1918). "Elgin" and "The Oakes Lighter" are two brandnames Fay used for some of these lighters, many models are unbranded. Fay produced table lighters using the body shapes and mechanism types shown in USD77861 and USD78315 interchangeably as well as eclectic array of other figural and decorative bases. (EB)