The Bowers Company manufactured lighters in Kalamazoo Michigan (a fact stamped into their Army Navy Model). Bower’s pre-war market share meant that they had several models available at the start of the war. One of the most unique was the “Army-Navy Flameless Lighter”, which used a cotton cord as fuel. The "Army-Navy lighter" was introduced in 1942 for sale to the Quartermaster, this combined with their earlier "Slide Sleeve" lighters, accounted for 55% of the lighters purchased by the government during the war years. Marked "Bowers" Army & Navy Lighter of Kalamazoo, MICH, USA with original wick.