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Busselton Historical Society > Records

Novelty KKW Cigarette Lighter - camera on tripod

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Unknown

Subcollections

Smoking Accessories

Overview

This wick (petrol) lighter is in the shape of a camera.
The body was made of metal with black crackle finish and polished metal trim.
A small compass located on the front.
The shutter button works the lighter and it can be locked by using the red button on the front which is marked "open - lock".
Spare flints can be kept under the large nurled knob on top.
Camera is screwed onto a 3-legged tripod

Historical information

Designed for both table and pocket as the tripod and cable release can be easily unscrewed.
The K.K.W. Lighter is a beautiful example of Japanese craftsmanship. It was first manufactured in 1948 in Occupied Japan as a wick lighter and a butane version was introduced in 1958.
Production stopped at the end of the 1960s. It was only available as a set: lighter, cable release and tripod.

Despite it being just a novelty lighter, many details are a delight for camera lovers:
- the lens cap unscrews to reveal the compartment to pour the fuel
- the antenna unscrews to reveal the button that ignites the lighter
- the tripod with foldable feet is screwed under the lighter, just a real one
- the red button on the front slides right and left to lock the lighter
- It even has a little compass on the front for some reason known only to its designer

Details

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-124-2020.143

Item type

Household Items

Personal Effects

Themes

Material

Inscriptions and markings

Bottom of lighter:
"Made in occupied Japan
pp 19449"

On lens:
"kkw camera lighter"

Back of camera:
"PhotoFlash"

Contextual information

This novelty cigarette lighter was only available as a set:
- lighter
- cable release
- tripod

Keywords

Cigarette Lighter

Place made

Japan

Primary significance criteria

Artistic or aesthetic significance

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance

Last modified

Thursday, 2 October, 2025

Completeness

88

Busselton Historical Society

Busselton Historical Society

Other items from Busselton Historical Society

Front of lighter

Close up - front of camera

Back of lighter

Close up - back of camera

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