The first lighter was invented by Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner in 1823. It was called the “Döbereiner’s lamp”. Its design was very different from modern lighters. It released chemically produced hydrogen that was ignited on top of a platinum sponge which acted as a catalyst. Despite the explosive nature of hydrogen and the use of caustic acid, this lighter was produced up until 1880.
Over time, lighters have acquired a design that remains almost unchanged to this day: striking a serrated steel wheel against a ferrocerium crystal (lighter flint) creates a spark, which ignites a gasoline-soaked wick or the gas coming out of the valve.
The Karelian Front Museum has a gasoline lighter made by the German company “Karl Wieden”, which belonged to Valerian Alexandrovich Frolov, commander of the Karelian Front from September 1941 to February 1944. Karl Wieden was a German manufacturer that produced gasoline lighters for more than 70 years. The company was founded in 1905 and named after the founder. Karl Wieden invented several iconic designs and innovations that were copied and patented by many lighter manufacturers of the time.
In the original catalog of the German manufacturer from 1938, the exhibit is labeled No. 1135 KWW and included in the general model range under the name Sturmzünder, which can be translated as “storm igniter” or “storm detonator”. Under this sonorous name lies an important feature of the lighter — the presence of special wind protection around the wick, which allows it to be ignited and maintain the flame even under severe weather conditions.
It is also interesting to note that this lighter was brought by Valerian Frolov from Spain, where he served as senior military adviser to the commander in the Civil War on the side of the Spanish Republic from October 1937 to September 1938. Together with Frolov, the lighter traveled all over Europe, went through the Winter War of 1939–1940 and the Great Patriotic War. The museum where the lighter is now kept was used as the Headquarters of the Karelian Front where Frolov served.
