COLIBRI

1. Thunder in Frankfurt and the Birth of a Brand (1920 – 1928) In 1920, Löwenthal Brothers established a metal workshop in Frankfurt, Germany. By the mid-1920s, facing globally available exposed flint lighters that were rough and prone to causing cuts, the brothers secretly developed a revolutionary new mechanism featuring an integrated safety guard. In 1928, they officially named this groundbreaking product "Colibri Original" and registered the trademark across Europe, marking the birth of the COLIBRI brand. 2. Transatlantic Twins and the Iron Curtain of WWII (1929 – 1945) To tap into the vast and affluent Commonwealth market, brother Julius Löwenthal relocated to London, UK, in 1933 to establish Colibri UK. His brother Benno remained at the headquarters in Frankfurt (which later registered its own brand, IBELO). As the shadow of World War II loomed, the German factory faced brutal liquidation and forced separation due to the Löwenthal family's Jewish heritage. Julius maneuvered skillfully in London to keep Colibri UK alive. During the war, the British operation produced the rugged Stormgard trench lighter for the British Army and Allied forces, firmly establishing the brand's foothold in English-speaking countries. 3. Post-War Reorganization and the Golden Age of Innovation (1946 – 1970s) After WWII, the brothers reunited. Colibri UK and the West German Frankfurt factory (IBELO) resumed decades of technical sharing and cross-licensing of patents. In the 50s, COLIBRI fully entered the gas lighter market. In 1961 and 1967, COLIBRI shocked the world with the launch of the Monopol gas lighter and the Molectric piezoelectric lighter. Cultural Peak: In 1974, COLIBRI reached its zenith. In the Hollywood classic *The Man with the Golden Gun*, the villain's "Golden Gun"—a deadly weapon combining a lighter, pen, cigarette case, and cufflinks—was personally designed and handcrafted by COLIBRI's London headquarters. This iconic item instantly became a global pop culture symbol. 4. Bankruptcy Fears and Modern Corporate Operations (1980s – Present) By the 1980s, high-cost British mechanical lighters suffered a sales collapse due to devastating competition from inexpensive Japanese electronic lighters and disposable plastic models. Following several restructurings, the company temporarily closed some traditional British workshops in the early 21s. In 2009, the brand was fully acquired by American private capital and reorganized as the Colibri Group. Today, COLIBRI remains a dominant force in the premium men's luxury market. Beyond its renowned gas lighters, the product line includes the globally celebrated V-shaped cigar cutters, high-end writing instruments, and men's timepieces.