The sun., 1907-09-29
WEST THIRTY FOURTH STREET
Nea, FIN hvesae, NfoO Tort

may he created with comparatively little
! labor.
II . clear, however, that the fire drill
could be- made more effective and rapid
in action in several ways. One such way
calls for the cooperation of two individuals.
one Of whom supports the vertical spindle
by means Of socketed rod, while the
| other wraps a cord about the spindle and
/ pulls IL back ward and forward a. rapidly
as possible.
/ A further complication Of the fire drill
was the application Of the bowstring-s -smi-
lar 10 the drilling appliance used by the
jeweller. The socketed rest for the vertical
shaft was then held by one hand, while
the thong was alternately pulled and slack
ened with the other. Thus a saving OF
labor was attained
The forerunners Of the comparatively
: modern flint and steel as means Of striking
a light were flint and pyrites or two pieces
of .pyrltes. These were struck together
aud the sparks thus generated were caught
among a little dry moss. The Esquimaux
from Smith Sound TO Bering Strait use
this method. very complete strike-a-
dainty little bags and leather pad TO
guard the fingers. comes from Cape Bath
urst Evans points also to Fuegia and the
European archaeological sites for the an
tiuuty OF tins method
Modern forms Of the flint and steel are
WI Nbowh w hoot pVoipN lipth VAouikic8
preserved in museum, Photographs of
several Of the more interesting varieties
are here reproduced. There 10 the very
old type of wooden box. perhaps the earliest
strike l1ht set made by civilized man.
kind With this are certain small angular
rieces OF stout papcr. the tips Of which are
dipped in SULPHUR These are the most
primitive kind Of match known. They
were used for generating a fame, by ap-
plication to the smouldering tinder. 0enti-
Iva as,.r -
extremely rare, though faxed" ones are
often offered for sale by dishonest dealers
in curoe
Another and more compact type Of
tinder box il of metal. In the, bottom is
seen the oil dry rag, used a. tinder, andhpon
this the flint and steel reposed when the
box was not in use Still more interesting
Ia the ingenious strike light made in the
form Of pistol The flint Is worked by
the trigger and strikes upon an upright
an opening upon the tinder contained in a
narrow box which takes the place Of what
would he the barrel In the case Of pistol
This contrivanoe 10 a relic Of the old stage
coach days. BY means Of il light could be
were then used we're strips % OF thin "ins nine
wood. the ends being dipped in sulphur.
One other tindcr box NAV he mentioned,
namely. the "chamak"-still in use among
the Himalayan tribes. II isl little leathern
pouch CONTAINING Hlnt ana t1n0er, while
the steel is a strip Of metal iveted along
one side OF the pouch. II is Of small size,
suitable to he carried about the person.
In conclusion we may dwell briefly upon
the developments OF the match proper
as perfected by civilized man. Phos-
phorus was discovered by Brandt in the
seventeenth century, and was used as a
means of obtaining fire shortly afterward.
But Its costliness. together with the danger
attending its use: initiated against its popu-
larity. But in the year 1905 the Parisian
Chancel elintroduoed the so called oxymuriate
match II was slip Of wood tipped with
mixture OF chlorate Of potash, sugar and
gum. To ignite II the match was thrust
into bottle containing piece OF asbestos
saturated with sulphuric scid-an awkward
arrangement, especially in the dark
Then came the -Promethean- matches,
whose career was short lived. They were
a kind OF paper cigarette, dipped in a mix
ture OF sugar and chlorate Of potash. Rolled
within the paper was a tiny glass bulb
matches the tip was compressed between
the teeth or pliers: BY this means the
bulb was broken. the acid liberated and
subsequent chemical action caused ignition
Of the paper.
The first really practical mcifer match.
however, was invented by John Walker
Of Stockton-on-Tees in 1927. and by him
named after Sir William ConRreve OF rocket
fame. II consisted Of a splint Of wood,
nrst tipped with sulphur and then with
a chlorate mixture. These matches were
drawn rapidly through . piece Of folded
sand paper to ignite them. II is curious
to note that a tin box containing seven
dozen OF them. together with the necessary
bit OF sandpaper. cost one shilling
Finally, after endless experimenting
inspired by handsome prizes offered by
America. England and other enlightened
countries, the non-phoephorus safety match
was brought into being. putting the top
stone. as II were. upon mans monumental 1
struggle with the problem OF striking q
light.
Il 10 . curious commentary on the old
~ @lse practical match should have bsea