This lighter is in two parts, which fit one inside the other.
1. One contains a pipe scraper and thin platinum wire array.
2. The other once contained a wad of cotton wool soaked in petroleum spirit eg Shellite (Naphtha?) or cigarette lighter fluid.
When they were partially drawn apart, air and vapour from the fluid mingled with the platinum wire. It acted as a catalyst to combine the air and vapour. This generated heat, which made the wire red hot, and ignited the vapour-air mixture. The flame was used to light a cigarette or pipe.
The flame was extinguished by putting the two parts back together.