History Ronson (company)

1 history

1.1 art metal works

1.1.1 lamps, ink wells, hood ornaments , safety matches


1.2 1970s: decline

1.2.1 united kingdom , international unit spun off
1.2.2 north american sales

history
the art metal works

1903 art metal works advertisement

the ronson lighter company started art metal works in 1897 , incorporated on july 20, 1898, max hecht, louis v. aronson , leopold herzig, in newark, new jersey.

louis v. aronson huge creative driving force company; and, few business adjustments, including addition of alexander harris (1910-11) business manager, company became world famous!

all accounts state louis aronson gifted man, @ 16 years old set money-making shop in parents home - before receiving u.s. patent commercially valuable metal-plating process developed when 24 years old, , sold half rights while retaining right use. experiments, has been conducting since youth, resulted in 1893 in discovery of process electrically producing tinplate. money expended upon improving process... , has been of great practical value whole industry. retaining rights, sold half patent rights, , later used part of proceeds open art metal works in newark, n.j. company producing variety of high-quality lamps, book ends, art statues , other decorative items, prized today detail in collector marketplace.

lamps, ink wells, hood ornaments , safety matches

1912 art metal works hood ornaments advertisement page

in 1910s art metal works producing quality hood ornaments , gained reputation dependable supplier of same.

aronson had established himself safety-match development pioneer inventions of non-toxic match , all-weather match in 1890s. invention of mr. aronson wind-match, applied patent december 29, 1896. found chemical combination ensured combustion in highest wind, boon tourist explorer , hunter. patent granted october 26, 1897, , testimony merits shown following letter written former scientific chemist royal society of great britain in response inquiry of capitalists chemical , commercial importance of match:

in regard match patent louis v. aronson, patent dated october 26, 1897, number of 592,227, beg state during progress of invention , application patent, examined, chemist, various steps described therein, , have considered both commercially , chemically. conclusions process of manufacture simple one, product superior one, , patent broad , complete one, , can, therefore, recommend , you. if placed on market, feel convinced make great success, article fills long-felt want , has not of objectionable features of wind-matches heretofore placed on market.

in investigations conducted purpose of improving windmatch, aronson discovered method making white phosphorus-free match. had been long time goal chemical investigators in industrial world, white phosphorus necessity in match-making being cause of industrial disease called phossy jaw.

the belgian government had offered prize of 50,000 francs, or $10,000, in competition open whole world. offer had stirred scientists , chemists redouble efforts produce such match, , many came near eliminating poisonous phosphorus match. prize was, however, awarded mr. aronson, being adjudged 1 produce absolutely non-phosphorus match, , have complied entirely conditions of contest. triumph american production hoped in time secure generous reward discoverer, since negotiations in progress of largest manufacturers in world rights production , sale.

1970s: decline

during 1970s, ronson came under increasing pressure new competition in core , uk markets. main company never returned profitability, , different units spun off independent companies or sold competitors.

united kingdom , international unit spun off

continuing losses led sale of uk division in september 1981 jeffrey port, reorganized ronson international. losses continued, , new company in receivership july 1982. geoffrey lord bought in 1983, renamed ronson exports limited, , attempted return profitability adopting competition s approach of importing lighters produced cheaply in asia.

in 1994, howard hodgson of halkin holdings acquired ronson exports ltd £10 million, reorganizing again ronson plc , bringing in skilled management outside. product line re-expanded , brand reintroduced worldwide. in late 90s, there unsuccessful effort expand various lifestyle products such watches , sunglasses, leading heavy losses , ouster of hodgson ceo.

victor kiam (owner of remington products) acquired controlling interest in company , became ceo in july 1998. kiam embarked on cost-cutting measures, including end of uk production company s premier products. 2001, expansion disposable lighters allowed ronson intl post marginal profit first time in years, more heavy losses led major downsizing 2003-2004 , abortive effort rebrand powerdraught limited.

north american sales

in 2010, remaining intellectual property assets (i.e. trademarks) of core north american companies sold longtime competitor zippo. zippo continues maintain ronson distinct brand identity , markets ronson lighters , ronsonol fuel in us, canada, , mexico.

in october 2010, still-operational ronson aviation branch acquired landmark aviation.