The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-05-03
Iuc;far Matches

tions uDacquainted with the nature Of
fire, no people, however savage, can now
be found who do not obtain and use it in
some way. That ofthe ancients was-pro-
duced by such physical agents as friction.
mirrors, or solar specula. How long
these rude means remained in use, and
in what notifications, does not interest
US at present. since we intend principally
to trace back the history of lucifers
("light- bearers") to the point where the
old tinder box went out of use on the
greater part Of the face of the civilized
world. The principal on which matches
are now N sde was applied, We think, half
a century ago in France. 1t is simply to
bring such substances as are rieh in oxy-
gen and will part with it readily. into
contact with such as are very inflam able,
and to induce the com bustion or oxyda-
sion of the latter either by friction or by
heat produced by some means. The first
real and practical application Of this prin.
ciple was made with chlorate of potssss.
Berthollet the discoverer of this salt,
found that when mixed with infan able
substances it causes their combustion, in
consequence of the facility with which it
parts with its oxygen whenever such
mixture is rubbed between two hard bo-
dies or moistened with concentrated oil
of vitriol. II was about fifty years ago
that experiments were made tending to
replace the salpeter of gunpowder by
chlorate of potasss; but the danger at
tending the preparation of the mixture,
and the number of accidents resulting
from the so-called muriatic powder pre-
vented its adoption. When chlorate of
potassa is mixed with sugar, starch and
sulphureted metals, such as vermillion,
crude antimony, and others, on being
touched with oil of vitrol the mixture will
burn up Immediately. Parkes, in the Sd
edition of his Chemical Catechism" :"
Q80s) speaks of this mixture as means
to light fire with. Not long after, this
suggestion was made use of by covering
the common sulphur matches (Which the
next generation will have to hunt for in
remote corners of the globe) with mix
ture of chlorate of potassa and sugar
Thus prepared the matches were lighted
by being dipped in little bottle contain
ing asbestos moisteDed with oil of vitrol
The chloric mixture being lighted by con-
tact with the suphuric acid set fire to
the sulphur and this again to the wood.
According to Warren de la Rue this is
a French invention, which is not unlikely,
the manufacture on this principale upon
large scale was first carried on in Tue
bingen, university town in Wirtemberg.
The mixture used in this place was COM
posed of chlorate of potassa, sulphur, gum
arabic and vermill,on, the latter merely
as coloring. The chemical matches GER
tainly answered the purpose of rapidly
furnishing fire and light, bat carried with
them various disadvantages. In the mo-
ment of being lit they diffuse very dis
agreeable smell; at times portion of the
combustible mass and the oil of vitriol
was thrown about in consequence of the
rapid ignition; and the oil of vitriol, ow-
ing to It's peculiarity of condensing mois-
ture from the air, when the bottle was not
securely stopped, became weaker and
lost its lightning property. Nevertheless
these machines caWe very largely into
use. Up to the year 1882 no other kind
was known. although divers makers va
ried the composition by substituting ly-
copodium vegetable brimstone) for sui
pbur. and red lie nd for vermilion; and al
SO varying the relative proportion of the
ingredients. The necessity of using sui
pburic acid-hoxever. the faculty with
which the latter lost its action by expo
sure to the air. and the then compara-
lively high price of the chemical match
combined. stood 10 the way of their gen.
eral introduction aud flint and steel reign
ed supreme.
About the year 1882, the friction or
Congreve matches first made their ap-
pearance. The match itself was prepar-
ed with sulphur. and then covered with
q paste formed of chlorate of potassa,
black antimony and mucilsge of gum.-
1t was lighted BY drawing it rapidly be.
tween two pieces of sand paper held fol-
ded between the fingers. Here dissd-
vantage showed itself that in consequence
of the strong pressure the inAau IN able por-
tion came off and the u atch was render.
ed useless. But though very isperfect
and of limited application in this shape,
the principle was found to be excellent.
The crude autimony (tersulphide) requir-
ed too high a temperature to be ignited
by the chlorate Of potassa and coDse-
quently too strong friction, and more
infamabe substitute was demanded
which was soon found in phosphorus
This discovery of phosphorus matches
dates from 1888. in which year Romer
and Preshel, two large manufacturers oi
chemical matches, commenced to make
them on large scale at Vienns, Aus
tria.
| At FIRST the mixture used for these
matches contaiued a certain portion oi
chlorate of potassa, an addition which in
some places is still made. Its inhama.
BILE properties are very great, so much &C
as to resemble an explosion on a small
scale. As may be imagined the danger
] A. ~ m m m fo ntura Tins