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                                                                    Exhibit 99.a

                    RONSON CITES LICHTENSTEIN/STEEL PARTNERS
             FOR MISLEADING ASSERTIONS IN THEIR RECENT PRESS RELEASE


Somerset, NJ - January 17, 2005 - Ronson Corporation (NASDAQ SmallCap RONC) - On
January 13, 2005, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
affirmed the dismissal by the U.S. District Court of a lawsuit filed in 2003 by
Ronson Corporation, together with several of its Directors, against Steel
Partners II, Warren Lichtenstein, Howard Lorber, several Steel Partner employees
and a number of secret, unidentified investors of Steel Partners.

WARREN LICHTENSTEIN/STEEL PARTNERS DELIBERATELY DISREGARDED THE CLEARLY STATED
LIMITED BASIS FOR THE COURTS' ORDERS OF DISMISSAL AND FALSELY ASSERTED IN ITS
PRESS RELEASE OF JANUARY 13, 2005 THAT "...the District Court and the Court of
Appeals have confirmed our (Lichtenstein/Steel Partners) assertion that there
was no merit to the Ronson claim." THIS COMMENT BY LICHTENSTEIN/STEEL PARTNERS
IN ITS PRESS RELEASE IS PATENTLY MISLEADING.

THE DISMISSAL OF RONSON CORPORATION'S CLAIMS WAS BASED SOLELY ON THE TIME
REQUIREMENTS OF THE APPLICABLE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS WHICH BARS LITIGATION
DEEMED TO BE UNTIMELY FILED. NEITHER THE FEDERAL COURT NOR THE COURT OF APPEALS
CONSIDERED THE MERITS OF THE CLAIMS ASSERTED BY RONSON IN ITS COMPLAINT.

LICHTENSTEIN/STEEL PARTNERS' RELEASE WAS MISLEADING IN THAT IT FAILED TO REPORT
THAT STATE LAW CLAIMS, ESSENTIALLY SIMILAR TO SOME OF THE FEDERAL COURT CLAIMS,
ARE PENDING BEFORE THE SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY IN A SEPARATE LAWSUIT. In
that lawsuit, Ronson is seeking specified declaratory and injunctive relief
under the New Jersey Shareholder Protection Act, as well as monetary damages
based on allegations of loss, disruption and damage to Ronson Corporation, its
business relationships and image as a consequence of various alleged wrongful
acts by Lichtenstein/Steel Partners and undisclosed affiliates.

For the past seven years, Mr. Lichtenstein has been waging a campaign against
Ronson Corporation to further his and his group's personal agenda, not in the
best interest of the Ronson shareholders. Ronson's management has consistently
received support from the majority of its shareholders. At its recent Annual
Meeting in December 2004, Ronson's management received the support of 88% of the
shares voted.

The Company continues to vigorously defend and to refute in its entirety the
claims of Lichtenstein/Steel Partners in the ongoing protection of Ronson and
the legitimate rights and interests of all shareholders.

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COMPANY CONTACT:
Daryl K. Holcomb
(732) 469-8300