This lighter - a beautiful and exceedingly rare unused original old stock FlamSong Musical Lighter by Reuge from 1950 - is featured in the book “LIGHTERS” by Stefano Bisconcini page 292... the “bible” of vintage lighter collectors and enthusiasts (See photo).

Complete with original case as well as tune name sheet, it automatically plays the song "Brahms Waltz" (also known as "Brahms Lullaby") when lit; but music can be disabled whenever momentarily desired.

Its sub-miniature cylinder musical movement, designed and manufactured by Reuge of Sainte Croix, Switzerland, was vaunted in the 1950s to be the smallest music box movement ever manufactured.

Swiss Made... Musical Movement: Clock-work cylinder mechanism... Case: Heavy gold-filled... Lighter: Wheel and flint... Fuel: Petrol... Condition: Mint, unused original old stock... Size: 64 x 37 x 10 mm - 2 1/2" x 1 3/8" x 7/16"

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Reuge
Reuge was founded in 1886 by Albert Reuge in Sainte-Croix Switzerland. However, Reuge's history actually traces back to 1865 when Albert's father, Charles Reuge, a watchmaker from the Val-de-Travers moved to Sainte-Croix and began making pocket watches with musical movements.

Music Boxes
14th Century: The history of mechanical music begins in Flanders. An ingenious bell ringer invents a cylinder with pins which operates cams, which then hit the bells.

1780: The mechanical singing bird is invented by the Jaquet-Droz brothers, clockmakers from La Chaux-de-Fonds. In 1848, the manufacturing of the singing birds is improved by Blaise Bontems in his Parisian workshop, to the point where it has remained unchanged to this day. Barrel organs become more popular.

1796: Antoine Favre, a clockmaker from Geneva, replaces the bells by combs with pre tuned metallic notes, which produce more varied and more precise sounds. Numerous musical objects are produced.

1811: The first music boxes are produced in Sainte-Croix; an industry which surpasses the watchmaking and lace industries, and rapidly brings renown to the town. At this time, the music box industry represents 10% of Switzerland’s export.

1865: Charles Reuge, a watchmaker from the Val-de-Travers, settles in Sainte-Croix and begins making pocket watches with musical movements.

1870; A German inventor creates a music box with discs, therefore allowing an easier and more frequent change of tunes. It is also the golden years of automata. Already known in Egypt, they will be improved to become true works of art.

1877: Thomas Edison invents the phonograph, which has important consequences for the music box industry, especially around the end of the century.