Zippo / Case Museum & Flagship Store — Attraction in Bradford

I found out about the Zippo/Case XX museum & it was only 2 1/2 hours from me. I asked myself “Do I have a solid, quality lighter that I can bet your life on?” Zippo fits that bill, so off to the Zippo / Case museum we go. The drive to Bradford, PA wasn't that bad, traffic was light & road conditions were good. The Zippo / Case museum was super easy to find. A nice ample parking lot is always a thing of beauty. The exterior is visually stunning, someone put some real thought to the artistic appeal of the entrance. They have a few cars that are branded by Zippo & Case, one car was designed to look like a rolling Zippo lighter. big zippo lighter & a Case style knife greets you as you enter the museum. I should mention that admission here is FREE!! Yes, I’ll say it again, FREE! The gift shop is the first area that you will experience as you enter the museum.

Adorning the gift shop walls are cases of zippo lighters & Case knives. As my eyes danced over all the wonderfully designed Case knives my mind was playing the “need it, got it, want it” game. As you look at the Case knives in the display cases, you will see small white tags with a stock number & price, oh yes, YOU can buy your favorite Case knife here. Pay attention to those prices though, They can range from mild to wild.

This gives you the opportunity to peruse all of the Zippo & Case knife goodness. I assure you that you will find the following: a Zippo that you will want, a Case knife that you absolutely need, a t-shirt, a sticker or some trinkets or treasure that will be a memento of your visit here.

The entrance to the zippo museum has the history timeline of the Zippo lighter, milestones of the development and operation use.

The museum is a self-guided tour that you can do at your own pace. You are not rushed & can enjoy seeing and reading all about the history of Zippo & Case knives. I enjoyed lazily walking through the hallways, stopping to read the nice, big easy to read signs. There are displays filled with the history of the iconic lighters & beautifully crafted knives. The displays were brightly lit so you could easily observe the beautifully preserved history within.

You can't say that Zippo or Case isn't patriotic, Zippo & Case were very common “essential” gear with the troops. I dare you to find me a Marine, Solider, Sailor or Airman that didn’t have one during WWII.

I love when some says “what's so great about Case Knives?” Case is made here in America and carefully crafted with the finest materials and twice tested for durability & reliability

Case has made Fighting military knives for service members since WWI. They are the M-3 Fighting Knife & the V-42 Stiletto (They also make a very nice USMC fighting knife). Another fun fact is the Case also made knives for certain NASA missions, The M-1 Astronaut Knife.

I was blown away by all the movies that the Zippo lighters has appeared in. There is a part of the Musem where they have a TV playing all the movies that the Zippo has appeared in. I mean John McClain (Bruce Willis) wouldn't have been able to navigate those airducts, set off that fire alarm or lit Hans Grobbers cigarette without his trusty Zippo!!

In the end, I will always tell you that you simply must come &...

A Zippo lighter is a reusable metal lighter produced by Zippo Manufacturing Company of Bradford, Pennsylvania, United States.  Thousands of different styles and designs have been made in the nine decades since their introduction, including military versions for specific regiments. Zippo lighters have been sold around the world and have been described as "a legendary and distinct symbol of America."  In 2012, the company produced the 500-millionth unit. Since the company's inception, Zippo lighters have been primarily manufactured in the United States, although the company ran an operation from 1949 until 2002 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

The Zippo/Case Museum tells the story of two American icons – both based in Bradford, PA – through an extensive collection of priceless Zippo and Case artifacts. The museum’s exhibits include the very first Zippo lighter, an exploration of Zippo and Case’s American military history, the world-famous Zippo Repair Clinic, and even a replica of the first knife to go the moon!

In 1993 Zippo acquired W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company.  Case’s rich heritage began when it was founded in 1889.  The company moved to Bradford in 1905.  Case manufacturers premium hand-crafted knives including traditional folding pocket knives and fixed blade sporting knives to limited-edition commemoratives and collectibles.

The Zippo/Case Museum opened in July 1997.  The 15,000-square-foot facility includes a store and museum.  It is also home to the world-famous Zippo Repair Clinic, where visitors can watch the repair process take place.

The history of Zippo Manufacturing Company is the story of its people. From its founder George G. Blaisdell, to the many Zippo employees, customers, and collectors who have all played a vital role in the company’s rich history. Their loyalty and dedication has made Zippo one of America’s greatest and most...

8-22-2025 - So my hubby had a couple of #zippolighters from his young adulthood era. One has bugged him for decades because it stopped making the tell tale sound when the #zippo lighter is opened. So he did a bit of research and found that you can send them back to the maker for repairs because they guarantee them for life for workmanship. Now, that doesn't mean where you've dropped, dented, kicked around, or otherwise abused them. That's on you. Strictly workmanship. So he packaged them up, filled out the paperwork, and sent them off for repairs. He is anxiously waiting on their return ....... more to come

8-25-25 Received email acknowledging the receipt of the antique zippo lighters. They 4 to 5 weeks to repair or replace. Fingers crossed, they will be able to repair the lights of my youth..... More to come

8/26/25 He has heard back from #Zippo, they have made the repairs and they will be shipping back soon.

He can hardly wait to get them back.

8/29/25 - So excited, package received with my zippo lighters!

They replaced both inserts with new ones and they fixed the hinges and gave me back the patented zippo click!

It appears they cleaned and buffed the casings too! My hubby is so happy with #Zippo!

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