SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                (Amendment No. )

                               RONSON CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                                  Common Stock
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    (Title of Class of Securities)

                                   776338 20 4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                               Nancy D. Lieberman
                     Blau, Kramer, Wactlar & Lieberman, P.C.
                             100 Jericho Quadrangle
                             Jericho, New York 11753
                                  (516)822-4820
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notice and
                                Communications)

                                January 27, 2000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)


If the filing person has previously  filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the  acquisition  which is the subject of this  Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box .

     Note: Six copies of this statement, including all exhibits, should be filed
with the Commission.  See Rule 13d- 1(a) for other parties to whom copies are to
be sent.


                         (Continued on following pages)

                               (Page 1 of 5 Pages)



*The  remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting  person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for  any  subsequent   amendment   containing   information  which  would  alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

     The  information  required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed"  for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise  subject to the  liabilities of that section of
the Act but shall be subject to all other  provisions of the Act  (however,  see
the Notes).

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

CUSIP No.  776338 20 4                                     Page  2  of  5  Pages
          -------------                                         ---    ---

1       Name of Reporting Person
        S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No.  of Above Person
        Howard M. Lorber

2       Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group*       (a) [ ] (b) [X]

3       SEC Use Only:

4       Source of Funds:                PF

5       Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required Pursuant to
        Items 2(d) or 2(e) [ ]

6       Citizenship or Place of Organization: U.S.A.

7       Number of Shares
        Sole Voting Power: 269,340

8       Beneficially
        Shared Voting Power:  0

9       Owned by Each Reporting
        Sole Dispositive Power:  269,340

10      Person With
        Shared Dispositive Power: 0

11      Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 269,340

12      Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) excludes Certain Shares*[]

13      Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11):  8.4%

14      Type of Reporting Person*:  IN

Item 1: Security and Issuer.

The securities to which this Schedule 13D relate are the shares of Common Stock,
par value $1.00 per share (the "Shares") of Ronson Corporation (the "Issuer"), a
corporation  organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey. The address of
the  Issuer's  principal  executive  office  is  Campus  Drive,  P.O.  Box 6707,
Somerset, New Jersey 08875.

Item 2: Identity and Background.

The person filing this statement is Howard M. Lorber,  a United States  citizen.
Mr. Lorber's  business  address is 70 East Sunrise Highway,  Valley Stream,  New
York 11581. Mr. Lorber's  principal  occupation is President and Chief Operating
Officer  since  November  1994 and director  since 1991 of New Valley  Corp.,  a
company engaged in the ownership and management of commercial real estate in the
United States and, through its subsidiaries,  in investment  banking,  brokerage
and real  estate  development  in the United  States and Russia.  The  principal
offices of New Valley  Corp.  are located at  NationsBank  Tower,  100 S.E.  2nd
Street, Miami, Florida 33131.

During the last five  years,  Mr.  Lorber has not been  convicted  in a criminal
proceeding  nor has he  been a party  to a civil  proceeding  of a  judicial  or
administrative body of competent  jurisdiction the result of which was he was or
is subject to a judgement,  decree or final order enjoining future violation of,
or prohibiting or mandating  activities  subject to, federal or state securities
laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

Item 3: Source or Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

All of the 269,340 Shares  beneficially  owned by Mr. Lorber were purchased with
his personal funds.

Item 4: Purpose of the Transaction.

Mr.  Lorber  purchased  the  Shares of the Issuer  based on his belief  that the
Shares at current  market  prices are  undervalued  and  represent an attractive
investment opportunity.  Depending upon the availability of additional Shares at
prices Mr. Lorber deems desirable,  other investment  opportunities  and overall
market  conditions,  Mr. Lorber may acquire additional Shares on the open market
or in private  transactions,  on such terms and at such times as Mr.  Lorber may
deem advisable.

Mr. Lorber believes that management of the Issuer should take action to increase
shareholder value.

Notwithstanding the foregoing,  Mr. Lorber has no present plan or proposal which
would relate to or result in any of the matters set forth in subparagraphs (a) -
(j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.

Item 5: Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

(a)  According to the Issuer's  Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended  September  30,
1999,  there were 3,197,736 Shares  outstanding.  As of the close of business on
January 20, 2000, Mr. Lorber  beneficially owns 269,340,  or 8.4%, of the Shares
outstanding.

(b) Mr.  Lorber  has sole power to  dispose  or direct  the  disposition  of the
269,340 Shares  beneficially  owned by him. Mr. Lorber has sole power to vote or
direct the vote of the 269,340 Shares beneficially owned by him.

(c) In the past 60 days, (i) Mr. Lorber made the following purchases:

   On January 27, 2000,  131,640 Shares were purchased in a private  transaction
at a price of $2.1875 per Share.

Item 6: Contracts, Arrangements,  Understandings or Relationship with Respect to
        Securities of the Issuer.

        None.

Item 7: Exhibits.

        None.

Signature.
   After  reasonable  inquiry  and to the best of my  knowledge  and  belief,  I
certify that the  information  set forth in this  statement is true complete and
correct.

January  31, 2000
- ------------------------------------
Date

/s/ Howard M. Lorber
- ------------------------------------
Signature

Howard M. Lorber
- ------------------------------------
Name/Title

Attention:  Intentional  misstatements  or omissions of fact constitute  Federal
criminal violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001).