The morning call., 1892-10-02
MAKING MATCHES.
improvements Devised Since the F!rs,
Patent Was Issued.


atenI w as Issued.
Washington Star.
The first United States patent for friction
matches was issued in 1885, Splints for
them were made by saving or splitting
hlocks OF wood into sliYers slightly at
tached at the base. the whole bunch be-
ing dipped at once into chlorate of pot
ash. These were known as slab" OF
block" matches, and they are in favor
in parts of this country at the pres
ent day, notably in Maine. Their chief adj
vantsges are that they are noiseless and
will not leave a mark when scratched upon
white wall. The first ''lncifer matches"
were made by dipping splints first into
melted sulphur and then into paste OF
chl0rate OF potash and suipbide OF anthony
mixed with gum water.
Each paper box contained about 10C
matches and two pieces of fine sand paper.
paper over the end and giving the match a
quick pull. They were manufactured in
England as early as 1888, and a mon
name for them was "locofocos." The COM
position used in many OF the early chlorate
of potash lucifers melted and dropped while
burning, but this was soon remedied.
The next step was to employ phosphorus.
rendering matches easily igniiable with
lower temperature aud less exerti0D. a
phosphorus match will ignite at 40 deg,
while it is probable that the lucifer
required at least 200 deg. The use
of phosphorus for matches dates prob
ably from 1882, being 172 years after the
discovery Of that element by Brandt, a
Hamburg chemist. But the manufacture OF
phosphorus matches was attended with
great danger to the workmen from the
fumes. which caused decay of the bones of
the jaw. Many persons were poisoned from
carelessness In handling them, and numer-
Gus CONGREGATIONS occurred on account of
the ease with which they were ignited.
The ''parlor match"-its name significant
that other matches were hardly suitable for
that section OF the hOuSe-had Its origin
with the manufacture, in 1913, OF Schrotter's
red or anonymous phosphorus. This product
is Of a scaTlet-red color, has neither odor nor
taste, is not poisonous and does not take
FIRE at ordinary temperatures.
The latest important invention in matches
secures the separation of the chemicals,
which in com bination are always more or
less dangerous. Thus Is obtained the
safety match" which was invented by a
Swede named Lundstrom in 1855 The head
OF the safety match contains chlorafe OF
paper is spread with paste OF amorpho US
phosphorus and antimony.
This is q return to first principles. as
shown in splints and acid OF the light
box" There are many odd varieties .of
matches now in vogue, such as the YES
tas," of which the splint is waxed cord ;
fusees for lighting In a wind. with thick,
short splinf. tipped with large mass Of
chlorate Of potash composition; natural
gas" matches. with very long splnt for
lighting natural gas fires. and many others.
The production of matches has grown to a
manufacture of enormous and rapidly In
creasing proportions. Making Of spiints In
great quantities. began with the invention Of
Reuben Partridge's splint-cuttiBg machine.
Previously matches had been cut by hand
by means of collection of blades. Now
the splints are forced through dies to give
them a round shape. SpiIntcuttIng Is at
present separate industry.
The splints are sold by hogsheads to the
match factories. and one machine VIII cut