Joritz! International Harvester IH Fluid Tube Lighter, Rare! West Pullman 1941

Description

FROM HERE FORWARD I WILL BE LISTING A SERIES OF ARTICLES FROM WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE  "JOHN JORITZ  COLLECTION".....  HE ACTUALLY **DIED** SUDDENLY ON MY PROPERTY OVER A YEAR AGO.....  A LOTTERY MILLIONAIRE LOANED ME THE MONEY TO BUY THIS COLLECTION..... ALTHOUGH MY INTENTION WAS TO SELL THIS COLLECTION IN ITS ENTIRETY TO PAY THE LOAN BACK AND SPLIT THE REMAINING PROFIT, THE MAN INSISTS ON BEGINNING TO LIST THINGS INDIVIDUALLY SINCE THE GENERAL SALE OR BULK AUCTION HAS STALLED.....  PROBABLY DUE TO THIS VIRUS CRAP!!!.....  ALL THE SHOWS HAVE CLOSED, AUCTION HOUSES ARE BACKED UP FOR-E-V-E-R-, AND BUYERS ARE UNABLE TO TRAVEL TO CLOSE THE SALE ON THE COLLECTION......   THIS COLLECTION HAS A LOT OF HIGH-END SMALL MEMORABILIA, AND THOUSANDS OF ADVERTISING BROCHURES!!!
This has got to be one rare fluid lighter!  I have never seen one like it myself, and I am an antique collector also (different more eclectic items though)!!
It is from the famed West Pullman Works. This factory was maybe 15 miles from my house, and I actually participated in its demolition somewhat after the main contractor, as I remember, bankrupted out during, or because of, this job!  The work was not completely finished.  I bought bricks from the huge powerhouse stack and a lot of railroad rail from the clean-up contractors!  I also actually had rented the engine-house and yard at 120th and Peoria for my operations in the '90s from Sy Maslov who owned West Pullman Iron and Metal before it closed...................the yard was the Chicago West Pullman Railroad  during the active years of the IH plant. As collectors may know, the CWP Railroad was owned by IH as was Wisconsin Steel which this railroad also served.
I met John Joritz years ago due to our overlapping interests in antiques, railroads and in his case, serious collecting of International harvester memorabilia.  He was one of the most knowledgeable individuals you would ever meet on the IH company history!   There are articles in this collection with a direct connection to the McCormick family.
He became what I consider to be one of my 3 best friends!!!  Along with Robert Sinise (first cousin to Gary Sinise, actor!) and Earl Mosby, a demolition company owner of wide repute in our area!   Sadly, all 3 men are now deceased.............
Imagine my shock when I discovered him lying on the ground at the back end of my property, having died suddenly one evening.  (March 7, 2019).
He was a premier collector and excellent historian on IH company and Cyrus McCormick and the Reaper Company that became International Harvester Corporation at the turn of the last century.  He was well known in the agricultural memorabilia world.   People arriving on this eBay site and my wife's site "TRUCKDEAL" where articles will also be listed will quite possibly be familiar with John!!
The lighter is from 1941.  It mentions a Safety Award garnered by the Works that year.  It hoped for a safer yet in 1942!!  They were gearing up at that time for war material production, as well as nearby Wisconsin Steel, another IH company!!
It looks like it was never used!   It sparks brilliantly from the friction wheel.  IT MIGHT HAVE HAD A CAP ON IT WHICH IS GONE IF IT DID!   I AM GOING TO GO THROUGH THE JEWELRY DISPLAY CASES OF WHICH THERE ARE A LOT, TO SEE IF IT TURNS UP!!!
I LIST THIS AS A "BEST OFFER" PURCHASE.  I CANNOT FIND ANY INFORMATION OF VALUE TO COMPARE WITH.  IF YOU HAVE A **********REALISTIC********* IDEA OF ITS VALUE FEEL FREE TO WRITE ME BACK WITH INFORMATION!!! ............ALSO, PELASE INFORM ME IF SUCH A LIGHTER WOULD HAVE HAD A CAP OR COVER! AND WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE!!
JOHN HAD THIS IN A DISPLAY CASE OF WHAT HE CONSIDERED HIGH-END MATERIAL, HENCE THE HIGH STARTING PRICE!!
Mike