The Ronson Touch Tip Bartender

The Ronson Bartenders are some of the most collectable pieces made by Ronson- prized by Art Deco, Black Americana and of course Lighter collectors around the world. They came in at least 3 versions- a male Bartender striker with one cigarette compartment, a female Bartender Touch Tip with a half round bar- called the Junior Bartender by Lighter collectors, and  the male Bartender Touch Tip featuring 2 cigarette storage areas in the bar that lift the cigarettes as the lids are opened. As you can see from these photos they are big, heavy pieces which are often seriously damaged when they come to market. They almost always have a bent figure, bent bases and lids, missing lifters and bar top components, and plenty of dirt, grime and finish damage. I have also never received one that had a properly working touch tip mechanism. Many of them have some level of corrosion on the figure and the bar top accessories which require refinishing to one degree or another. Each one is different and a quote will be prepared so we both know what can be done and what it will cost before work begins.

Typical condition of a 50 year old bartender Typical condition of a 50 year old bartender
Typical “Before” Ronson Bartender, Corrosion, pitted, bent Typical "Before" Ronson Bartender, Corrosion, pitted, bent
Typical bent and chipped accents on bartender Typical bent and chipped accents on bartender
Typical Missing Stop for the cigarette case Typical Missing Stop for the cigarette case
Typical age and wear on the figure Typical age and wear on the figure
Ronson Bartender - Typical bad fix. Someone replaced the missing flint spring with a platic sleeve. Ronson Bartender - Someone replaced the missing flint spring with a plastic sleeve.
Typical bend associated with being dropped Typical bend associated with being dropped
Ronson Bartender. Figure so bent the cig case lid can't fully open Ronson Bartender. Figure so bent the cig case lid can't fully open
A couple of precious repairs including a screw to hold on an accent, missing cork insert, note lid runs into the figures elbow A couple of previous repairs including screw to hold on accent, missing cork. Note lid runs into figure elbow
Showing the amount of bend in the base of a Ronson Bartender Showing the amount of bend in the base of a Ronson Bartender
Bartender, Completely Stripped, Satin Finsh, Re-chromed and rebuilt. Bartender, Completely Stripped, Satin Finish, Re-chromed and rebuilt.
Finish photos of the details finished parts Finish photos of the details finished parts
Detail of Finsh pieces Ronson Bartender Detail of Finish pieces Ronson Bartender
Ronson Bartender Finish detail rehabbed with proper cork inserts in cigarette case Ronson Bartender Finish detail rehabbed with proper cork inserts in cigarette case
Proper positioning of the cigarette lids Proper positioning of the cigarette lids
Cigarette lid stop Cigarette lid stop
Detail of a replacement lift plate in a Ronson Bartender properly attached Detail of a replacement lift plate in a Ronson Bartender properly attached
Close up of the satin chrome and high polish finish on the bartender figure Close up of the satin chrome and high polish finish on the bartender figure
Re-inforcement plates for Ronon Bartender to it's base plate. Reinforcement plates for Ronson Bartender to it's base plate.
Even gets new felt on the bottom Even gets new felt on the bottom
Mini Bartender Striker Lighter. Mini Bartender Striker Lighter.