My latest eBay impulse buy: a repro trench lighter made somewhere way east of here. The cotton cord is hooked by a wire attached to the ball. Pulling the ball up pulls the cord up. Pulling the cord down pulls the ball down, snuffing the ember. This lighter takes no fuel and could probably get a tinder fire going. Originally made to allow soldiers to light up smokes without a bright flame to give away...Trench lighter or F&S in 1930s