Founded in 1928 by Ernest Bowers, the Bowers Tool And Die Company began operations and has always focused on metal processing. Ernest's passion for smoking encouraged him to improve the design of his favorite lighter. The "Kalamazoo Slide Sleeve Lighter" became a local hit.

Ernest's son Frederick started working for the company and took the lighter to national markets. Sales grew dramatically. The company introduced several new models in the decade around 1930. The "Storm Master," in both the round and flat design, was a huge success. Producing 4000 lighters a day, the company struggled to keep up with demand.

In the 1940s the "Army-Navy" lighter was introduced, supplying some 55% of all the lighters purchased by the government during World War II. The tool and die division expanded to meet the demands.

By the 1950s Bowers Lighter Company had 150+ employees manufacturing some 6 million lighters a year and still was unable to keep up with demand. The "Pelican" (or "Lamp Lighter") table lighter was introduced during this period, as was the "No. 10" pocket model. Early in 1952, Bowers was approached by an advertising firm who ordered 500,000 lighters. A large investment in the company enabled the Bowers Plant to produce over 4000 pieces per hour with one operator, improving their competitive edge. In 1954, they started using aluminum.

In 1962, Frederick added an acid etch, photo silk screened finish, enabling them to manufacture advertising lighters that were bright-dipped anodized.

On September 16, 1966, Frederick passed away, leaving behind a legacy of dreams made into realities and adventure that he loved despite the hurdles and pitfalls.

In 1995, a fire destroyed all records of Bowers Lighters and Bowers Lighter Company. If you wish to sell or purchase old lighters, we suggest using E-Bay as a medium. There still is a very active market for these high quality, dependable lighters.

For further information about lighters please contact "On the Lighter Side" International Lighter Collectors at:

OTLS
PO BOX 1733
QUITMAN TEXAS 75783-1733

Bibliography:
Kalamazoo Public Library local history: Kalamazoo Gazette 2-9-95,9-17-66, 9-6-64-5-10-46
Citizens Historical Association, Indianapolis,
History of Bowers Tool & Die Company , Frederick H Bowers, July 1962
Kalamazoo The Place Behind the Product by Larrie B Massie & Peter J Schmitt, p 196

Special thanks to Tom O'Key and Judith Sanders for their effort in collecting this information.