Vintage Zippo Measuring Tape | McCloskey Varnish Co. Novelty - Deadstock Complete

A ZIPPO that measures,
not ignites

Product Description:
This is a vintage tape measure manufactured by ZIPPO. While ZIPPO is synonymous with oil lighters, this item is a unique measuring tool made by the company, presumably as a corporate novelty item. The front features an impressive illustration of two red figures walking, along with the inscription "McCLOSKEY VARNISH CO." This design combines a practical purpose, fitting for a building materials and paint company, with a friendly graphic. The tape measure has both inch and metric markings, and can measure up to approximately 2 meters. The metal casing is compact yet substantial, conveying ZIPPO's characteristic robust construction. This is an unused, dead stock item, and the original box from that time remains. The back of the box clearly states, "A PRODUCT OF ZIPPO MANUFACTURING CO. BRADFORD, PENNSYLVANIA 16701," confirming the manufacturer's authenticity. A large ZIPPO logo engraving can also be seen on the bottom. (R080180)

Specifications:
・Brand: ZIPPO
・Item: Tape Measure
・Units: Inches/Meters
・Maximum Measuring Length: Approx. 2m
・Size: Approx. 4cm high
・Material: Metal casing
・Condition: Dead stock (unused)
・Accessories: Original outer box

Markings:
・McCLOSKEY
・VARNISH CO.
・ZIPPO logo engraved on bottom
・Box back: ZIPPO Manufacturing Co. (Bradford, PA)

Recommended Points:
・Rarity as a "non-lighter" ZIPPO product → A genre often overlooked even by collectors
・Completeness of a corporate novelty item → A practical tool with a strong graphic identity
・Practical specifications with both inch/metric markings → Reflects the international trade and industrial background of the era
・Dead stock + with box → Highly rated for both preservation and historical value
・A conversational ZIPPO collection item → An excellent piece to enjoy not only in the context of lighter history but also corporate and tool history

Special Notes:
McCloskey Varnish Co. was a varnish and paint manufacturer that operated in the U.S. from the late 19th to mid-20th century. It was a practical manufacturer for professional use. In America from the 1920s to the 1960s, wooden houses were dominant, and DIY and craft cultures were strong. In this environment, the "brand power of tool and material manufacturers" was highly valued, and McCloskey held the position of a "trusted paint brand on site." During that era in America, there was a culture of manufacturers distributing practical small items such as tape measures, lighters, knives, and thermometers as novelty items. ZIPPO, excelling in metal processing, precision spring mechanisms, and mass production, undertook the production of many non-lighter products as a "reliable novelty manufacturer." This tape measure, therefore, is an item with a dual corporate history: it is a ZIPPO product, a corporate novelty under the McCloskey name, and a practical item for construction and painting sites.

*Based on AI research.