Update: MONDAY 04/15/24: GREETINGS from FLYING TIGER ANTIQUES & Vintage Historical Artifacts!!! !!
Wishing A Special Thanks to all our Clients who Placed Orders During Our Recent Busy Period!!
Update 04/15/24: WE ARE STILL EXPERIENCING SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH non-PayPal CREDIT CARD PURCHASES!!
If you would like to PAY for an Artifact with a CREDIT CARD, please Call or Email and I will get an invoice emailed to you ASAP, or Process the Purchase Myself!!
Kanae has returned from her trip to Switzerland, and we are busy PACKING Orders & will start LISTING New HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS Tomorrow!!!
So, NOW is the TIME to ORDER that wonderful ARTIFACT that you've had your eye on, as it will SHIP within 24 to 48 Hours of Receipt of Payment, but USUALLY Same Day!
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That DISCOUNT also applies to PayPal GIFT (Fee-Free), Check, and Money Order purchases!!
Thank you for visiting. We hope you will find some vintage artifacts here on our site to add to your collection.
Happy Collecting, Ron & Kanae
ARTIFACT:
This is a very rare 1950s CAT (Civil Air Transport) lighter presented by Pilot Merrill Hulse. CAT was a Chinese airline established in 1946 by famed General and leader of the American Volunteer Group, Clare Chennault, along with Whiting Willauer. The company's airplanes, many of them piloted by former Flying Tigers, first flew humanitarian airlifts and then became integral in Chiang Kai-Shek's efforts against the Communists in China, eventually evacuating Chinese citizens to Taiwan after the fall of his government. In 1950 the CIA acquired CAT and used the airline for secret missions to China even though on the surface it appeared to be solely a civilian airline. CAT became Air America in 1959. A picture of Mr. Hulse can be seen on the University of Texas Dallas' web site here: http://libtreasures.utdallas.edu/xmlui/handle/10735.1/1095. The lighter was made in Japan by Prince. On the front there is a partial map of eastern Asia and on the back are the words I KNOW MERRILL HULSE.
VINTAGE:
Circa 1950s.
SIZE:
Approximately 1-3/8" in height and 1-7/8" in width and 7/16" in thickness
MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION:
Chrome-plated case and insert.
ATTACHMENT:
Screws.
MARKINGS:
KBL 500 PRINCE PAT. No. 412770 PAT No. 24754.
ITEM NOTES:
This is from a lighter collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. MBJL94 LCDEX6/13 SCDEX10/16
CONDITION:
8- (Very Fine-Excellent): The lighter is in great condition with some light abrasions only.
GUARANTEE: As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.
