Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-08-11
Matches

HerSal InaC we scarcely comprehend
they were not always common; but it is
only few years since the now WELL
known friction match was invented.
The writer well remembers buying for
ten cents the first he ever saw, a few
matches in blue box with q piece of
sandpaper ON the bottom on which to
ignite the match.
The first matches made of which we
have knowledge were merely splints of
soft wood, the ends bof which were
dipped in birthstone. These were ignit-
ed by contact with fire, usually burning
finder that had been ignited by sparks
struck from steel by lint For doing
this there were many oontrivances. By
the first process the piece of steel was
held in one hand and struck with the
flint in the other. :SOnastimes the tin
der was put in the pan of flint-lock
gun, and ignited blythe spark that fell
when the lock was snapped. Then
other inventions were made, The ap-
paratuS, we remember, was contrived
so that high velocity could be given
to steel wheel by means of a string, SIM
liar i'm action no the way boys some
times spin their tops. When this wheel
was revolving rapidly, the steel was
applied and sparks thrown on finder
in chamber below. These sparks. it
will be remembered, were bits of steel
that were raised to AIRED heat struck off
the mass by friction or percussion pro-
duced by applying the steel.
An advance ON this was mixing chlor-
ate of potash with the birthstone in
which the ends of the matches were
dipped. These could then be ignited by
bringing them IN contact with sulphuric
acid. The discovery of phosphorus in
1850 furnished q new means of produc-
inc. fire. but lis use did not become gen.
eral until during the present century.
At first it was used by rubbing a bit be-
tween folds OF crown paper and then
applying sulphur match. Later an
oxide was formed by burning phosphor-
us In vial in which the air was con-
fined. This oxide would adhere to the
sides and bottom of the vial, and when
sulphur match wasstouched to it COM
bustion would ensue.
The so-called lueifer matches were
invented in 1929, by John Walker, an
English chemist He covered the ends
of sulphur matches with a paste made
of chlorate of potash and sulphuret of
antimony mixed with starch. These
ignited upon being drawn between folds
of sandpaper. Improvements now fol-
lowed in rapid succession. First the
sulphuret of antimory gave way to
phosphorus, and the chlorate of potash
to inter. Then stearine was used to
take the place in part,ef sulphur, which
diminished the disagreeable smell, and
various other changes were made. until
ave have the almost perfect matches of
the present day, designated as congreve
matches.
The so-called safety matches are made
without phosphorus, but the chemicals
with which the ends are slipped cause
phosphorus to burn when ithey come in
contact with it; consequently they can
net be ignited by friction of any kind
where phosphorus is MOI present. The
paper on the boxes in which they are
soaa IS covered with e preparation of
phosphorus, and by drawing the end
OF the match across it sufficient adj
heresito unite with the chemicals and
ignite. These were invented about
1880 They are comparatively little
known IN America, although their mer-
Its should procure for them better ac-
qualnt2nce. These matches are sold
for higher price than the ordinary
kind. and at rate different from
what their mode of construction would
seem to warrant; but even II sold at the
same rate it is doubtful if they would |
come into general use, so averse are
people Is taking trouble for the sake |
of safety. We understand that in some |
OF the European countries these safety
matches ana the only ones that are ap-
proved by Government, and that loss or |
damage by fires occasioned by the use |
OF other kinds, or where they are pres
ant, cannot be recovered from insurance
y Sun.