Any WW2 trench art experts out there?

Hi Guys,

Are there any ww2 trench art experts out there? I have this REME lighter I think it's 1942 as it has RY 4-42 although this could mean anything, it also has a CF and the army arrow stamp.

It's a lighter measuring 3 1/2 inches, do these things have any value?

Cheers

Soren

 

Hi Soren,

Firstly I am an Antiques dealer and as well a collector of Trench Art.

With regard to your lighter - I am afraid that it cannot in anyway be regarded as Trench-Art!

The whole essence and main reason for the desirability of Trench Art is of course that each piece will have been made by "poor old tommy, usually fashioned out of a piece of ordinance and whilst surviving in his miserable muddy world during WW1.

If a piece does not meet this strict criteria then it will [hopefully!] be a collectable and fall under the major sub-heading of Militaria.

This is exactly what your lighter would come under.

You say it has REME engraved on the side of it - well from memory the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers was not created until mid way through the Second World War - and was I think I am correct in saying an amalgamation of the Royal Engineers together with the Signals, Service and Ordnance Corps.
That would date your lighter anywhere from 1942 to as recently as around 1980 when a whole range of reproduction lighters suitably engraved with various Regiments and Corps was made.

Assuming your lighter to be an old "original" lighter from the period 1942-1945 it would have a usual resale value of between £10-£30 depending on its condition and quality. The fact that it has RY-4-42 makes me believe that it was made to commemorate the formation of this new Regiment in 1942.

Unfortunately the quality of your photograph does not allow me to pin it down any more accurately!

 

Cally,

The REME were formed on the 1st October 1942 and were made up of Tradesman from the RAOC, RE and the RASC. I have seen high res pictures of this lighter and the Capbadge that is fixed to the front is a Pre 1953 example and by the looks of it has been there since day 1. I have seen many examples of this type of lighter and cannot see how it couldnt have been produced in a REME workshop. I think this is a genuine WW2 example but could be anywhere up to 1953. I would have thought a price more around £40-60....

Thanks, Donnie.

 

i found this lighter in my garden and i would be very appreciative if someone could tell me more about it. it has drgm engraved on the bottom (this looks like a shell case to me)

iv looked on the internet and couldn't find anything like it. are lighters such as this common?

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/hotmale_7253/lighter001.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/hotmale_7253/lighter002.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/hotmale_7253/lighter003.jpg

thx

 

Hi Adam,

Welcome to the forum. I think its safe to say its a Lighter . Can you take pictures of any markings and place aruler by the side to get an appreciation of its size?

Cheers
Andy

 

Hello Adam and welcome to the Forum from Canada.

What your image reminded me of is the miner's lantern that GrandDad used to use. I've pictured it to show you.

I agree that a ruler and the bottom of what looks to be a shell casing, and of what calibre it is would be helpful to know.

Cheers,
phil

 

hello,
thanks for that image, that miner's light looks very similar. unfortunately it doesn't have any other marking on any part of the lighter just drgm (which im pretty sure stands for german reich registered design) and even that is extremely hard too see (and impossible to get a good picture of because its is also quite small)

i don't have a ruler handy at the moment so here is a picture of it in my hand hopefully you can see its size. it about the same size as an average clipper lighter.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/hotmale_7253/lighter004.jpg

thanks for all your help

adam

 

HI mate,

I can confirm that DRGM is a German Patent and stands for Deutsches Reichs-Gebrauch-Muster, it seems that almost everything being made in Germany in the 20's, 30's and 40's was stamped with this there should also be a stamp which denotes the indervidual company which made it.....

Cheers mate, Donnie.

 

Hello everyone. I also found what is rumored to be an old ronson lighter; the city of Hamburg is embossed on the front, there are two weld marks on the side, and D.R.G.M. on the bottom. Above the D.R.G.M. is what appears to be "Ewiges Zundnolz". See 3 photos attached. Someone please shed some light on this for me!!

 

yea im pretty shure thats a lanter lighter something were you take it out light it and put it back in the other way to make light ta da but it looks like you can obeously use it as a light