Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-11-09
EVOLUTION OF THE MATCH.

Enormous Growth in Manufacture Since
 the First American Patent Was Issued.
 The first United States patent for friction matches was issued in 1886. Splints for them were made by saving or splitting blocks of wood into slivers nightly attached at the base, the whole bunch being dipped at once into chlorate of potash. These were known as "slab" pr "block" matches, and they are in Favor in parts of this country at the present day, notably in Maine Their chief advantages are that they are noiseless and will not leave a mark when scratched upon white wall. The first 'lucifer matches" were made by dipping splints first into melted sulphur and then into a paste of chlo- rate of potash and sulphide of anti mony mixed with gum water. Each paper box contained about 100 matches and two pieces of fine sandpaper. They were lighted by folding the sandpaper over the end and giving the match a quick pull. They were manufactured in England as early as 1883, and com mon name for them was "locofocos." " The composition used in many of the early chlorate of potash lucifers melted and dropped while burning, but this defect was soon remedied. The next step was to employ phosphorus, render ing matches easily ignitab ble with lower temperature and less exertion. A phos- phorus match will ignite at 140 de- grees, while 1t is probable that the lucifer required at least 200 degrees. The use of phosphorus for matches dates probably from 1889, 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 careless ness in handling them and numerous conflagrations occurred on account o1 the ease with which they were ignited.
 The ''parlor match"-in name signifi cant that other matches were hardly suitable for that section of the house had it's origin with the manufacture, in 1S49, of Schrotter's red or amorphous phosphorus. This product is of scar. let-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 combination 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 chlorate of potash and sulphur, while the friction paper is spread with paste of amorphous phosphorus and an. timony. This is return to first princi. pies, as shown in splints and acid of the ''hght box" There are many odd va rieties of matches now in vogue, such as the "vestas," of which the splint is waxed cord; fusees for lighting in q wind, with thick, short splint, tipped with large mass of chlorate of potash composition; natural gas" matches with very long splint for lighting nat ural gas fires, and many others
 The production of matches has growr to a manufacture of enormous and rap idly increasing proportions Making O splints in great quantities began witl the invention of Reuben Partridge splint-cutting machine. Previousl, matches had been cut by hand b, means of a collec tion of blades. Nov the splints are forced through dies t, give them a round shape. Splint cut ting is at present sepal ate industry The splints are sold by hogsheads to tn, match factories, and one machine vii cut 10000, 900 n day. Electricity, how ever, seems destined to limit the use o matches Lighting gas by electricity has been accomplished for some years and the gas jets of most large audi ence-rooms, thea ters and churches il this country are lighted by electricity bv the pressure of a button. In reSi dences with modern improvements ga can be lighted in the halls and rooms or different floors from switchboard sit uated at convenient location.-Wasb ington Star.