HOW TO DATE YOUR ROLLAGAS
On this page i will to best of my knowledge try to present a timeline on the Dunhill rollagas and variants please if you see an error please feel free to let me know so that the best information is published.This is something i get asked a lot how old is my dunhill is it worth repairing etc. in short yes age does not matter if you have a DUNHILL it is the finest lighter made bar none (at this point please only my opinion) with correct care and servicing it will last a lifetime ,as is evident by the Dunhills that have become family items. First i would like to say a little about US RE 24163 this is the patent that applies to the Valve system used in the rollagas it was applied for by Conrad Zellweger on the 12 th of March 1953 and granted on the 5 th of june 1956 .The rollagas is a natural progression from the petrol/fluid fueled rollalite from 1937 using much of the same mechanics to spark the lighter
ROLLAGAS SERIAL NUMBER `S
Ever heard that the pre 70s rollagas has the serial number on the inside of the lighter this is a myth ,fallacy ,NOT TRUE .There are no serial number on the inside of a rollagas or any where else for that matter untill app 1987 when it appeared on the base .The serial number was in fact printed on the gaurantee docs. There are date letters stamped on the burner plate and on some later rollagas next to the fillercap changes to the design vary
some very subtle others not so subtle
some very subtle others not so subtle
Rare dunhills
The Bluebird Dunhill Presented to Donald Cambpell in 1964 by Alfred H dunhill upon his land speed record The Dunhill lighter was inscribed: "DC Bluebird 403.1 miles per hour, July 17, it was with him when he was killed on Jan 4, 1967, while trying to break his own world water speed record of 267mph. Bluebird's nose lifted and the craft somersaulted repeatedly, killing him instantly.it was recovered in may 2001 in Coniston Water, Cumbria,
1953-1956 dunhill rollagas
This model will have on the baseDUNHILL – BRIT.726982 U.S.A PAT. RE24163 OTHERS PENDING -MADE IN SWITZERLAND on the the flint block next to the flint housing is engraved " U.S.A PAT N.1657352 . IT WOULD APPEAR THAT MODELS 53-60 OVERLAP SOME WHAT
the filler cover will have two arrows on it the the hingeis of the barrel type flint and spring housing are iron (not plated) under the lid does not have the dunhill logo
.Made in gold or silver plate with a smooth lid and lined out barley body ,sold gold and solid silver versions have a few different patterns depending on jacket type
the filler cover will have two arrows on it the the hingeis of the barrel type flint and spring housing are iron (not plated) under the lid does not have the dunhill logo
.Made in gold or silver plate with a smooth lid and lined out barley body ,sold gold and solid silver versions have a few different patterns depending on jacket type
1956-1960 Dunhill rollagas
This model will have on the base patented made in switzerland and Dunhill the filler cover will have two arrows on it the the hinge is of the barrel type flint and spring housing are iron (not plated) under the lid does not have the dunhill logo .Made in gold or silver plate with a smooth lid and lined out barley body ,we see the emergence of different patterns over this period such as florentine ,hobnail with a smooth top and a few others sold gold and solid silver versions have a few different patterns depending on jacket type
1960-1970 DUNHILL ROLLAGAS
This model will have on the base usre 24163 underneath and hinge is of the barrel type flint and spring housing some are plated some are not i would suggest that mid 60s saw the switch, flame adjustment wheel is of the button type. For the summer of 1968 we .We also see the arrival of the Model 70 mk1 this was made in England has the same gas system as the rollagasbut it has the concealed hinge that will not be seen on the rollergas untill 1971 it is heavier but shorter than the rollagas, it will have on the flint slide DUNHILL 70 came in gold or silver plate with several pattern variations presentation case is blue /black with a brass closure lock a later version will have DUNHILL on the side and grooved burner plate case is plastic with no closure lock
ANOMOLIES PRE 1969
1971 DUNHILL ROLLAGAS
This model will have on the base usre 24163 with patented underneath and sees the concealed hinge arrive along with the new flame adjustment wheel design plated flint housing assy in silver/gold/rose gold plating Dunhill logo under the lid and the fuel cover changes to one with concentric circles several new patterns are introduced including Bark,Barley,godrons,etc jacketed gold at 14kt are avaiable as are solid silver the patterns of which differ slightly in some cases from the plated rollagas.(Please use this as a guide only there will be exceptions out there ) i know i have one .NOTE:Some early rollagas models will have later model flame adjust wheel due to it being replaced by Dunhill at their cost during routine service
1972 dunhill rollagas
1972 saw the BIC DISP0SABLE LIGHTER enter the market which prompted Dunhill to produce the introduction of of two new designs one made in england .The Dress lighter and the S Type lighter these were produced in gold or silver plate 20 microns thick in various patterns as well as some in sold gold jacketed variants .It is interesting to note that in 1958 Bic had bought out and merged with the waterman pen company which at the time would have been in direct competition with dunhill pen division.Back to Dress /S type lighters they are at best descibed as difficult they leak often are difficult to repair in the 90s, the "S" lighter (in any condition) could be traded in, without any cost to the customer, for a brand new Rollagas. and, 'probably' because of litigation, were recalled. if you know any one that can please let me know i will add them to this site A R S in U.S.A Can do this but it is not cheap CAUTION you will see on EBAY S type and Dress dunhills listed in full working order just need gas etc . Gas is cheap for a lighter listed as working for $150 + why would you not fill it and show a flame in the listing many times i have fallen for the trap only to find it leaks like a sieve .
This applys to any Dunhill listed on any online site
This applys to any Dunhill listed on any online site
1973 dunhill rollagas
Here we see the Rollagas lacquer arrive in various colours and effects Red,Black, Yellow,Green,Blue,and Tortoise with gold or silver plate trim. base reads Dunhill usre 24163 Made in switzerland
1977 dunhill rollagas
Here we see the Rollagas lacquer dome top arrive i have only seen it in yellow,red and in black with both silver and gold plate, pattern is a very course Bark on the front and back both sides are lacquer lighter has a weighty feel due to the lid still no change to base
1984 DUNHILL ROLLAGAS
Here we see the introduction of a new model called the GEMLINE it is slimmer than the normal rollagas different patterns and the fill and flame adjustment are in a cavity in the base with a drop down door base reads swiss made and patented with serial number uses blue flints, hard to repair this model was in production for app three years parts not available
1985 DUNHILL ROLLAGAS
This model will have on the front the D located in the bottom right corner base reads DUNHILL A/D SHIELD
1986 DUNHILL ROLLAGAS
This model will have on the front the D located in the bottom right corner base reads Swiss made DUNHILL AND A/D SHIELD flint housing assy is now 18 ct gold plate/highly polished silver new patterns introduced eg , Varia lines ,studded, brushed gold,brushed silver with gold accents etc (note US RE 24163 patented is gone )
1989 DUNHILL ROLLAGAS
Here we see the serial number back on the base on the left will read DUNHILL underneath is the serial number and underneath that is swiss made in past models it has been printed on gaurantee docs
1989 DUNHILL ROLLAGAS
Here i need some help note base late model 1st gen rollagas base has an ampersand printed in to the base just to the right of swiss made i belive this for a dunhill sold at a non dunhill outlet i may be wrong any help would be grateful
1993 dunhill mini-rollagas
For short period of time Dunhill produced a ladies model or mini rollagas exactly how long for if some one can tell me please do i believe it was about five years these are no longer made and are highly sought after they are 2 inches tall as opposed to the standered rollagas at 2.5 inches and came in a variety of finishes insolid gold, gold plate silver plate and silver plate /lacquer eg jade green, peach and black they are in the words of my daighter cute but if you have big hands not so. The roller is shorter and the base will have usual dunhill swiss made and seriaL #
1995 dunhill rollagas
The Royal Warrant was an honour that the Alfred Dunhill Ltd. kept until 1995, when it was rescinded due to a lack of demand from the Royal Households.
2006 DUNHILL ROLLAGAS
We see the new generation lighter first seen in 2006 when dunhill produced 3 models to celebrate 50 years of rollagas, now all new lighters are made this way, the flame control is on the base, rather than on the side, the other position had a fault that after time the adjuster got abit slack and could self adjust while being carried, the new gas filler port has a segmented plate that pushes in when you insert the gas canister, no adaptor needed,and no dust cap to lose, under the lid, the spring loaded burner has gone and so has the snuffer making the whole are easier to clean, new patterns and materials used including ostrich leather ,carbon fibre,teak veneer and leather
LTD EDITION DUNHILLS
DUNHILL ROLLAGAS LTD EDITION 50th 2007 Anniversary Lighter
Dunhill Lighter solid silver Rare Limited Edtion 50th Anniversary
Art deco solid silver unique
Dunhill GMT Brushed Stainless Steel Limited Edition Lighter 1 of 1884
Only 1,884 of these were made, commemorating the 1884 International Meridian Conference in which Greenwich was chosen as prime meridian and thus "Greenwich Mean Time" created. The brushed steel barrel of this "unique pocket" Dunhill lighter twists in increments, with lines delineating the time zones so as to determine time (a location's distance from prime) all over the world. Features a flip top; the stem was originally finished with a tiny blue and white cabouchon to represent the appearance of Earth from space.
Charles and Diana 1981 Commemorative Silver Dunhill Lighter
The wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer took place on Wednesday, 29 July 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral, London, United Kingdom. Their marriage was widely billed as a "fairytale wedding" and the "wedding of the century". It was watched by an estimated global TV audience of 750 million.[1][2] The United Kingdom had a national holiday on that day to mark the wedding. .Dunhill produced 50 rollagas in solid silver to mark the occasion