A cigar lighter adapted to be received in an electrical socket for energizing a heating element of the cigar lighter comprising: an electrically conductive body shell adapted to make electrical and mechanical contact with a sleeve of the socket; a user actuatable knob received in the body shell for telescopic movement therein against the bias of a compression spring; an electrical heating element disposed at a distal end of the body shell, the electrical heating element having a first electrical terminal in electrical contact with a first electrical contact element disposed around the perimeter of the electrical heating element and adapted to make electrical contact with a first electrical contact of the electrical socket; the electrical heating element having a second electrical terminal substantially centrally located with respect to the body shell, the second electrical terminal in electrical contact with a centrally disposed fastener; a first bimetal element held in position by the fastener electrically insulated from the body shell and being in electrical communication with the second terminal of the heating element, the bimetal element including at least two proximally extending engaging clips (34A,34B); a movable electrical contact arranged for movement with the user actuatable knob, the movable electrical contact being in electrical communication with the body shell, the movable electrical contact having first and second positions whereby, in a first position, when the knob extends proximally, the movable electrical contact is not in electrical engagement with the bimetal engaging clips (34A,34B) so that the heating element is not energized and wherein, in a second position, when the knob is moved distally, the movable electrical contact engages with and is held in position by said bimetal engaging clips (34A,34B) to energize the heating element with electrical power until a first predetermined temperature is reached at which said bimetal clips (34A,34B) flex to release said movable electrical contact from said bimetal engaging clips (34A,34B) to de-energize said heating element and allowing said knob to move proximally due to the bias of said spring; wherein the first electrical contact element comprises a cylindrical contact element surrounding the electrical heating element; characterized in that the cylindrical contact element is adapted to electrically engage the first electrical contact of the socket on an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical contact element such that there is a sliding contact between the inner peripheral surface and the first electrical contact of the socket. an electrically conductive body shell adapted to make electrical and mechanical contact with a sleeve of the socket; a user actuatable knob received in the body shell for telescopic movement therein against the bias of a compression spring; an electrical heating element disposed at a distal end of the body shell, the electrical heating element having a first electrical terminal in electrical contact with a first electrical contact element disposed around the perimeter of the electrical heating element and adapted to make electrical contact with a first electrical contact of the electrical socket; the electrical heating element having a second electrical terminal substantially centrally located with respect to the body shell, the second electrical terminal in electrical contact with a centrally disposed fastener; a first bimetal element held in position by the fastener electrically insulated from the body shell and being in electrical communication with the second terminal of the heating element, the bimetal element including at least two proximally extending engaging clips (34A,34B); a movable electrical contact arranged for movement with the user actuatable knob, the movable electrical contact being in electrical communication with the body shell, the movable electrical contact having first and second positions whereby, in a first position, when the knob extends proximally, the movable electrical contact is not in electrical engagement with the bimetal engaging clips (34A,34B) so that the heating element is not energized and wherein, in a second position, when the knob is moved distally, the movable electrical contact engages with and is held in position by said bimetal engaging clips (34A,34B) to energize the heating element with electrical power until a first predetermined temperature is reached at which said bimetal clips (34A,34B) flex to release said movable electrical contact from said bimetal engaging clips (34A,34B) to de-energize said heating element and allowing said knob to move proximally due to the bias of said spring;