The S.T.Dupont Story & Our Promotion

1850: 
From Celebrity Photographer to Luxury Travel Case Maker
In 1850, a photographer in Paris by the name of François Tissot Dupont who was proud of the special distinction of counting Napoleon III amongst his clients. He was soon joined by his nephew, Simon Tissot Dupont, as an appointed photographer to the Imperial Court of Napoleon III, in Paris. Although his photographic career would end with the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the first 20 or so years as a photographer he immortalized the Parisian upper class, as well as the wealthy Europeans passing through Paris.

1872
In 1872, Simon Tissot Dupont bought a workshop to produce leather travel goods and began crafting leather-made cases and trunks, for diplomats, celebrities, and the same aristocrats he had photographed years before. By 1880, his business was flourishing and he moved into the ‘‘Hôtel Particulier’’ owned by the Baron Isidore Justin Séverin Taylor, Royal Commissioner and protector of the famous French novelist Alexandre Dumas. His neighbors included illustrious names such as the Goldsmiths, Christofle and Ercuis.

1920

Nobility and celebrities were the most frequent travellers, embarking on journeys that would take several weeks or months. This required trunks and travel cases for different climates and occasions. Travel cases, made exclusively to suit the different needs and tastes of customers. These masterpieces were made with the finest materials and fabrics, and each set or valise was meticulously designed. These travel cases became a luxury part of each traveller’s journey.

1923

Orders began to multiply and in 1923 they opened a second workshop in Faverges, France, the family’s home town, located in the picturesque Haute-Savoie Region, at the foot of the Mont Blanc Mountain in the French Alps. Recruiting only the best and the brightest craftsmen from 17 different trades. S.T. Dupont products continue to be hand-crafted in this very same place today.

 

1929
S.T. Dupont in New York with Louis Cartier
In 1929, the Dupont Brothers joined Louis Cartier in New York to introduce their specially designed trunks and luxury travel cases at the Cartier Boutique on Fifth Avenue (on the first floor). Their products were met with instant success. After the 1929 stock market crash, the brothers continued their rise to success by offering products that were so luxurious that only those who were spared by the crisis could afford to buy. 

  It was in the thirties that S.T. Dupont made its first lighter to The Maharajah Of Patiala, a "faithful" customer of S.T. Dupont who by himself, thanks to his 150 wives, represented a market, expressed the wish to have a small case with an integral lighter. This became S.T. Dupont’s first lighter. In solid gold. The Faverges laboratoire where the factory is located did not waste time-the lighter became part of their unique creations.

 

Maharaja Jubilee commemorative lighter

In December 1953 S.T. Dupont introduced its first gas lighter coded D57. The gas flow was adjusted by means of a separate key. The total output was 320,000 units. This old lighter is no longer repairable by S.T. Dupont in France or J&H Services.

In 1959, S.T. Dupont launched model BS (Briquet Simple or Standard), both small and large version, with a device to stop the flow of gas by means of a small wheel on top, very useful when changing the flint. A total of 1.4 million units were produced up to the end of 1973. This discontinued lighter is still repairable and J&H can restore it to a perfect condition.

1959 BS Model

In 1965, model BR (Briquet Reglable) was introduced. It had an automatic gas flow stop for changing the flint and a gas flow adjuster operated by means of a horizontal cylinder next to the nozzle. A very successful lighter, of which 15 million units sold up to 1984. This lighter is still available by S.T. Dupont and it is called the LINE 1 model, however the automatic gas flow stop does not exist on the new version. This lighter can have a wide cigar flame burner or angle pipe flame fitted.

1965 BR Model

During the ‘seventies’, S.T. Dupont introduced the first table gas lighter, also in lacquer version. It was called BTL (Briquet Table Long). The BT2 (Briquet Table 2), an elegant non-lacquered cylindrical lighter, was produced between 1971 and 1979. This lighter is no longer available but still repairable.

1977 PN Model

In 1977, S.T. Dupont introduced the PN model (Pyrophoric New), a large pocket lighter without gas stop. Production to date is about 1.2 million. This lighter is called today the LINE 2 model and it is the most popular lighter worldwide. This lighter can have a burner fitted with a dual flame for a cigar or an angle flame for a pipe smoker.

And for the next 30 days we at Benningtons will give you the opportunity to own one! We will be running a sale at 40% Off. It will end October 12th, 2012 Use code coupon #232425 at checkout.