<P> The electrical cigar - lighter was invented and patented in the early 1880s by the German inventor Friedrich Wilhelm Schindler (de). In the 1890s, these tools were sold as electrical cigar lighters (Cigarrenanzünder), and later as Zigarrenanzünder in the major German warehouse catalogues . Probably in the 1920s they were renamed "cigarette lighters", as cigarettes overtook cigars in sales . </P> <P> In 1921, the Morris U.S. Patent 1,376,154 was issued for a so - called "wireless" or "cordless" lighter with a removable element . The igniter was heated in the socket and then manually removed for use after an appropriate time interval . </P> <P> In the United States, cigarette lighters started appearing as standard equipment in automobiles in 1925--1926 . </P> <P> In 1928, the Connecticut Automotive Specialty Company (Casco) in Bridgeport patented its version of an automotive cigarette lighter, which used a cord and reel . In the reel - type lighters, the igniter unit was connected with a source of current by a cable which was wound on a spring drum so that the igniter unit and cable could be withdrawn from the socket and be used for lighting a cigar or cigarette . As the removable plug was returned to the socket, the wires were reeled back into it . The circuit was closed either by pressing a button or removing the igniter from its socket . </P>

When did they start putting cigarette lighters in cars