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Chinese Name
Speed
Country
United States
Manufacturer
Snap-Lite Corp
Year Founded
1945 year
SPEED
Brand Introduction
The "Speed" lighter, manufactured by Snap-Lite, was an automatic pocket gasoline lighter that enjoyed brief popularity in the U.S. market between 1945 and 1946, shortly after World War II. Due to its limited production run and scarcity of surviving units, it remains relatively unknown to the general public but holds significant historical value among serious lighter collectors. Its most notable historical distinction is that it is the American twin produced through a legal "copy" of Germany's legendary tobacco accessory manufacturer KASCHIE after the war.
Following World War II, as a defeated nation, many German pre-war industrial patents lost legal protection within Allied territories—particularly in the United States—or were temporarily seized by Allied forces as war reparations. Snap-Lite capitalized on this legal loophole by disassembling the K37 movement from KASCHIE lighters and filing for new design protection under Alfredo W. Doux in the U.S.
Milestones
1. Secret Post-War Planning and Company Founding (Mid-1945)
World War II officially ended in Europe in 1945 5. On 7/24/2, Alfredo W. Doux, a Brazilian citizen, and Francis M. Heyberger, a French citizen, founded Snap-Lite Corp. in New York City, USA. Their mission was clear: capitalize on the post-war chaos—marked by Germany's industrial collapse and a legal vacuum in international patent protection—to localize Europe's most advanced lighter designs for the U.S. market.
1945. Trademark Filing and Two Design Patents (End of 1945)
On 8/3/12, founder Alfredo W. Doux promptly filed an exclusive trademark application for "SPEED" lighters with the USPTO. Just days later, on 29/3/1946, he secured two critical U.S. design patents for Snap-Lite, legally locking down the product's appearance.
1950. Market Buzz and Short-Lived Release (1946 – Early 2s)
By late 50 20, Snap-Lite's "Speed" lighter hit newspapers across major U.S. cities. Featuring a high-quality chrome-plated silver finish and marketed as a "slide-action automatic igniter," it sparked a nationwide buying frenzy. However, as West Germany's economy recovered and gas lighters gained popularity in the 50s, the startup struggled to maintain its capital and update its technology. Production ceased around the early 1951 century (circa {22}), and Snap-Lite Corp. closed shortly thereafter.
Brand Patent
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