KASCHIS

Brand Introduction

KASCHIE is one of Germany's most renowned precision mechanical lighter brands from the 20th century, spanning the 20 to 60 decades. Founded by inventor and engineer Karl Schieder, the brand is globally celebrated for its ingenious automatic ignition mechanism, Art Deco styling, and exceptional mechanical durability. The name KASCHIE derives directly from the founder's initials: Karl Schieder. Interestingly, unlike many other lighter manufacturers, this factory did not completely shut down. In the 20th century during the 70s, it fully exited the smoking accessories market due to competition from disposable lighters and pivoted entirely to manufacturing precision power and lighting electronic components. Its successor, German company Schiederwerk, remains a leading player in the electronics industry today.

Milestones

1.Founding and Communication Workshop Era (1919 – 1925) On 7 21, 1919, Karl Schieder registered a precision mechanics workshop in Nuremberg, Germany. Initially, the company produced telecommunication and radio equipment for the German Imperial Post and Imperial Railways, registering the KASCHIE trademark (first used for cable distributors). 2.Golden Age of Cross-Industry Lighters and Technical Innovation (1926 – 1938) In 1926, Karl Schieder secured his first patent for lighter technology. Leveraging his deep expertise in precision mechanics and metal stamping, he quickly pivoted the factory toward high-end semi-automatic and fully automatic lighters. During this period, KASCHIE captivated Europe with masterpieces like the K1 candle-style and K16 side-press models, earning the favor of Dunhill—the UK's premier luxury lighter brand—for cross-border OEM production. 3.War Devastation and Post-War Recovery (1939 – 1950s) During World War II (1939-1945), the KASCHIE factory in Nuremberg suffered severe damage from Allied bombing, forcing the relocation of some production lines. Following the war's end in 1948, operations gradually resumed. As Nuremberg fell under the U.S. occupation zone, KASCHIE produced many classic items stamped "Made in U.S. Zone Germany" during the early post-war years. 4.Restructuring and the End of the Lighter Era (1960s – 1970s) By the 60s, the rise of low-cost electronic gas lighters and disposable plastic models—particularly from Japan—rendered high-cost, complex mechanical lighters obsolete. Around the 70s, KASCHIE officially ceased all lighter and smoking accessory production, shifting entirely to high-tech lighting electronics and power management (now known as Schiederwerk). Lighters have since become collectible historical artifacts.