The daily gazette., 1876-08-01
A Visit to Swift q Courtnsy's ParlOr
Match Factory, Wilmington.

A Visit to Swif d COurtnsy's ParlOr
Match Factory, Wilmington.
Near the Brandyvine, not far from
1lth Street Bridge, in Wilmington,
DEL, is situate Swift g Courtpey's
match factory, consisting of several
two story brick buildings, separated
from each other by awide courtyard.
Through the courtesy OF Mr.. Courtney
was shown the whole process of mak>
ing and boxing matches. THIS firm
consists of a number of worthy gentle
men, who have several factories; one
one in Wilmington and one in Chicago
They own $4,000 acres of land in Can {.
ada, and large saw mills where they
get their match timber. All the ma.
chinery they use is of their own inven-
tion, and is made at their hugh works
in Westville, Connecticut. The wood
is cut up into match sticks, exact size
and length for two matches, and is put
into large boxes and shipped to the
different factories. The.fiTst process is
to put the match stick into hopper;
it falls through singly on to linen
belt about the width of boot webbing,
and is rapidly rolled into a tight bun
die of about one foot diameter, with
hole through the centre of the bum
die. These bundles are transferred on
tramways to the dipping rooms, where
they are dipped, first one end then the
other, into basin OF parailine; when
dry they are pushed along in large
trays to another room, where the prep.
aration is put ON the head; this is done
by dipping each end of this bundle of
matches into the compound, which is
about as thick as thick cream. They
are then carefully carried 10 the dry
ing room, where each bundle re,
mains in its little caddie pearched up.
on short post until it is thoroughly
dried; they are then carried TO the sep
arating room. where machine cuts
this stick into two matches, unr ollinp
it at the same time. Two little girls
attend to each machine, onebeforehand
one behind; the girl before the machine
as the matches are cut apart, pulls
them out with rapidity into open trays
Boys and girls carry these off to the
boxing rooms. The heat and the ra-
pidity Of work frequently sets a tray
full of matches on fire, and smother.
ing sitting atmosphere greets one at
his entrance into this department. The
matches are not cOnnted into the boxs
but girls with wonderful rapidity
crowd a box full, and put the cover
on. They are then carried into the
packing rooms where they ara wrap-
ped, packed and shipped to all parts of
OF the world. The girls are paid BY
the gross for the part each does.
Making the boxes was to me tho most
interesting part of the work. Hugh
rolls OF paper are cut into proper
widths,-printed, pasted, shaped, and
made into perfect boxes by the million
with only girls to attend the ma>
chinery. In this factory in Whining
ton they employ about 150 hands; $20O.
oO0 worth of machinery; perhaps half
as much in buildings, and use over
$2oO, 900 worth of Government stamps
year. All their factories employ
over 800 hands, and use over ST. ,OOO,-
0O0 worth of stamps q year. Mr.
Courtney is evidently an Englishman :;
says he has been in the match business
ever since he was twelve years old.
The composition on the head Of the
match is his invention and secret. His
every look indicates thorough busi~
ness mechanic; courteous and ever rea
dy to give information. The wonders
full machinery itself is the head
scratching of the Yankee nation. G.
-D0rer Sentinel.