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A rare silver plated TFG 1 Permanent Table Lighter by Reinhold Weiss for Braun, 1965

Silver plated finish with etched grid pattern

Made in West Germany

With etched LW logo

In very good vintage condition

A wonderful silver plated example of an already much sought after Braun piece!

Dating from 1965, the TFG 1 was the company’s first lighter and quickly attracted the alternative moniker 'the toaster', for visually obvious reasons. The sliding switch mechanism was a design innovation at the time. This example is executed in polished chrome with a modernist grid pattern finish.

It was created by Reinhold Weiss, then working under the design directorship of Dieter Rams. Weiss was the designer of several landmark Braun pieces of this period, including the HL 1 desk fan and HUV 1 sun lamp, both of which are represented in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York.

The piece is marked Braun permanent, Made in West Germany on the underside. It measures approximately 105mm long by 32mm wide and 75 mm high and takes a type of fuel - butane gas - that's still very commonly available today.

This example is executed in silver plated chrome with a modernist grid pattern finish. It's fully factory marked on the underside: 'Braun permanent / Made in West Germany' and also has its unique production number faintly etched into the plastic. It also has the initials 'LW' stylishly etched on one side. It is in very good vintage condition. There are minor surface signs of handling consistent with careful use – but no deep scratches, cracks or signs of repair. As always, please browse the multiple photos that I have provided to get the best possible view of condition. The mechanism sparks and the lighter works, usually on the second click. The tanks holds its gas. Because vintage items can go wrong at any time, it is being sold here as a display item only.

In all, a wonderful example of 1960s Braun design in an uncommonly good state of preservation. This model was only produced for two years and silver plated examples are extremely hard to find.

References

See Bernd Polster and Olaf Meyer, Braun 50 Jahre Produktinnovation, DuMont Press, Cologne, Germany, 2005, p 257 and 476 for an illustration and more information.

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Non-payment

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Condition of items

Please note that, unless clearly stated otherwise, my listings are for vintage/antique items and therefore, by definition, are not going to be in the same condition you would expect from a brand new item. Please be assured that I always endeavour to offer the most accurate description possible of the item's condition and take multiple illustrative photographs.

Vintage electrical items

Vintage electrical items are sold in their original condition without electrical guarantee, so must always be safety checked by a qualified electrician (in the country of intended use) before use.

Returns

Returns are possible, if reported within 7 days and by prior arrangement, if a mistake has been made in the listing and the item is not as described, but for no other reason. I'm afraid that straightforward buyer's remorse does not qualify and that all return costs must be borne by the buyer.

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