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 "Before" Ronson Bartender, Corrosion, pitted, bent

Typical bent and chipped accents on bartender

Typical Missing Stop for the cigarette case

Typical age and wear on the figure

Ronson Bartender - Someone replaced the missing flint spring with a plastic sleeve.

Typical bend associated with being dropped

Ronson Bartender. Figure so bent the cig case lid can't fully open

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

Bartender, Completely Stripped, Satin Finish, Re-chromed and rebuilt.

Finish photos of the details finished parts

Detail of Finish pieces Ronson Bartender

Ronson Bartender Finish detail rehabbed with proper cork inserts in cigarette case

Proper positioning of the cigarette lids

Cigarette lid stop

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

Reinforcement plates for Ronson Bartender to it's base plate.

Even gets new felt on the bottom

Mini Bartender Striker Lighter.