Designed by founder Louis V. Aronson in 1926, some collectors believe The Ronson Lighter was the very first fully automatic lighter produced. In fact, Aronson's design is predated by numerous fully automatic figural and table lighter models produced in Europe and the U.S. by SIG, Ludwig Heymann, Kluss, Guinn, Handilite, Steele & Johnson, and likely others.

Despite its muddled history, The Ronson Lighter is an important and iconic lighter. Nicknamed "Banjo" by collectors, original pocket and table versions were produced using this lighter mechanism. Vintage Ronson Lighter reproductions were made in the 1990s and modern reproductions are still produced today.