Match

History

Origins

One is informed, as of the 6th century, in China, of sticks of impregnated pine of Soufre, which would have had the same use.

These matches with sulfur can ignite only secondarily, in contact with an ember obtained beforehand by the traditional means (Briquet of steel, for example, already known of the Romans). It is only at the beginning of the XIXe century that one will see for the first time a match producing a flame in only one time, by chemical reaction or friction.

Progress at the XIXe century

The modern match was invented in 1805 per K. Chancel, assistant of professor L.J. Thénard with Paris. The flammable mixture contained Chlorate of Potassium, Soufre, Sucre and rubber. It ignited when it was plunged in a small bottle of Amiante filled of Acid sulphuric. This kind of match, as expensive as dangerous, did not meet a great success.

The first flammable match by friction is the invention of the chemist English John Walker in 1827. It resumed the unfruitful work undertaken by Robert Boyle, in 1680, on the use of the Phosphore and sulfur. Walker developed a mixture of sulfide of Antimoine (III), of Chlorate of Potassium, Gomme and of Amidon, which could ignite while rubbing on a rough surface. The first matches, patented by Samuel Jones, were marketed under the name of Lucifer S . They presented important defects, the flame being unstable and the too violent reaction. Moreover, the odor that they produced was unpleasant. In spite of these difficulties of use, one considers that these first matches contributed to the increase in the number of smokers.

In 1831, French Charles Sauria added white phosphorus in order to attenuate the odor. These new matches, which were to be preserved in a hermetic box, gained in popularity. German Jakob Friedrich Kammerer was at the origin of their industrial production in 1832. Unfortunately, those which worked with their manufacture were reached by osseous Maladie S, in particular on the level of the Mâchoire S, dependant on the exposure to white phosphorus. After a campaign denouncing these practices, which led to serious infirmities, disfiguring and sometimes mortals, of the legislative actions forced the Industrie to change method and to protect the workmen.

The safety match

The safety match, still called “Swedish match” because of Swedish nationality of its inventor Gustaf Erik Pasch, date of 1844. “Safety” comes owing to the fact that it requires a special scraper, whose chemical elements interact with those of the end of the match to ignite. The scraper is composed of powder of Verre and red phosphorus, while the end of the match is coated with sulfide of potassium antimony and chlorate. The heat generated by friction transforms red phosphorus into white phosphorus, which in its turn contributes to the ignition of the match. An american company developed a similar process and the Brevet has in 1910.

A state monopoly in France during 130 years

In France, the matches concerned a Monopole of the State between 1872 and 1992, following too poor yield of the tax envisaged on the matches by a law of 1871, having to improve the national Public finances tested by the Franco-German Guerre of 1870. From an artisanal fabric, the sector thus quickly passed to a unit industrial engineering, the monopoly being leased at the General society of the Chemical Matches. In 1935, it is dealt with by the industrial Development company of the tobaccos and the matches, which becomes a Public limit company in 1980, then is privatisée in 1995, being amalgamated today in Altadis. The monopoly was raised between 1990 and 1992, after several recommendations of the European commission between 1974 and 1987.

Collection

August 1st The collection of the boxes of matches bears the name of Philuménie. It is practiced of long time by untiring researchers, evoked by Anatole France, the Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard, member of the Institute .

Old matches

Contemporary matches

Domestic matches

Matches for the pocket

Match-storm

The match-storm can be ignited with the outside, even by very high wind. They are very appreciated sailors and campers. The flammable head, very recognizable, is much bulkier than that of the traditional matches. They are also very resistant to moisture.

Matches treated against moisture

These matches are less expensive than the preceding ones; they are conceived to resist moisture, but they do not ignite in full wind.

Matches out of tight boxes

Boxes tight with screw make it possible to preserve the matches at dryness by any time and even in immersion. One can furnish them with special or ordinary matches.

Matches by nationality

Italy

The matches of Cire (fiammiferi cerini) are tiny paper matches of paraffined pure Cellulose , having an aspect of wax mini-candle. Very popular, compact and resisting moisture well, they ask a certain dexterity to be lit without yielding: they should be gripped between the two nails of the inch and the index, very close to the flammable part. The boxes are in paperboard decorated with slide, with a reduction preventing the accidental fall of the matches and sometimes even an elastic allowing the automatic closing of the drawer.

See too

Lighter
Technical of production of fire

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