On strike (Matches)

James Leavey on the latest match products

For thousands of years man sought an easy, reliable means of kindling flame to ignite tobacco. Anything was better than the usual method of sticking your head in the fire.

In the 1800s, steel, flint, and tinder were still used to make fire. This all changed in 1827 when the first phosphorus friction match was invented by Stockton-on-Tees chemist John Walker, who called his invention ‘Congreves,’ after the rocket maker. Later they became known as ‘lucifers’ and were kept in special containers since they could unpredictably ignite against any surface.

In 1844, Professor Gustaf Erik Pasch received a patent for the invention of the safety match, after replacing the poisonous yellow phosphorus with a non-poisonous red phosphorus.

He also separated the chemical ingredients for the match tip and put the phosphorous on a striking surface on the outside of the box.

Matches could be lit only on this striking surface, and so it was that the safety match was born. This was a significant invention which made Sweden world famous.

The production of matches was complicated and expensive until, in 1864, 28-year-old engineer, Alexander Lagerman, designed the first automated match machine.

Manufacturing promptly shifted from manual labour to mass production and safety matches from Jönköping in Sweden were exported to countries all over the world.

Today, the United Kingdom market size is currently about 6.4 billion splints (match sticks), which is way down from the previous figure of 7.3 .....

To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue or subscribe to Cigar Buyer to have every issue delivered direct to your door.

By James Leavey

Section : Cigar Accessories

Page number : 23

Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 7 on 10/02/2006.

This article is 78 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements.



	Home Magazine News Store Tastings Brands Legislation Glossary Links Contact
	On strike (Matches) James Leavey on the latest match products For thousands of years man sought an easy, reliable means of kindling flame to ignite tobacco. Anything was better than the usual method of sticking your head in the fire. In the 1800s, steel, flint, and tinder were still used to make fire. This all changed in 1827 when the first phosphorus friction match was invented by Stockton-on-Tees chemist John Walker, who called his invention ‘Congreves,’ after the rocket maker. Later they became known as ‘lucifers’ and were kept in special containers since they could unpredictably ignite against any surface. In 1844, Professor Gustaf Erik Pasch received a patent for the invention of the safety match, after replacing the poisonous yellow phosphorus with a non-poisonous red phosphorus. He also separated the chemical ingredients for the match tip and put the phosphorous on a striking surface on the outside of the box. Matches could be lit only on this striking surface, and so it was that the safety match was born. This was a significant invention which made Sweden world famous. The production of matches was complicated and expensive until, in 1864, 28-year-old engineer, Alexander Lagerman, designed the first automated match machine. Manufacturing promptly shifted from manual labour to mass production and safety matches from Jönköping in Sweden were exported to countries all over the world. Today, the United Kingdom market size is currently about 6.4 billion splints (match sticks), which is way down from the previous figure of 7.3 ..... To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue or subscribe to Cigar Buyer to have every issue delivered direct to your door. By James Leavey Section : Cigar Accessories Page number : 23 Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 7 on 10/02/2006. Subscribe Buy this issue More from this issue Preview other issues This article is 78 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements. Copyright Cigar Buyer © 1999-2012. All rights reserved. To use or reproduce part or all of this article please contact us for details of how you can do so legally.