IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MATCH AND FUSEE BOXES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Woolcott, of 15, Great George Street, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Clothier, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND RELATING TO MATCH AND FUSEE BOXES."
Sealed the 21st May 1878, and dated the 2nd March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Woolcott at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd March 1878.
WILLIAM WOOLCOTT, of 15, Great George Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Clothier. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MATCH AND FUSEE
BOXES."
This Invention consists,--
1st. In producing a match box impervious to damp.
And, 2nd. In the employment of it and other forms of match and fusee boxes for
advertizing purposes.
In order to make the box waterproof I construct it of shaving or other material
as now used, but steeped or well coated with shellac varnish, or I attach the
wrapper to it by shellac varnish, glue, and bichromate of potash or other cheap
adhesive material impervious to moisture. One end only is open, and the smaller
box that slides into that has an india-rubber or waterproof end to act as a valve
for the opening; or if the box is in the ordinary chest form with a lid, the lid fits
on to a slight lining of rubber, and is thus waterproof. These boxes being more
expensive than the present are not intended to supercede these in ordinary use
for common purposes, but only for exportation to very damp climates, and also
being handsomer and more durable than those in ordinary use, for permanent
receptacles for matches and for presentations. Their chief use in this country,
however, will be for advertizement, the label being usually varnished with shellac
and fastened securely, is permanent. It will consist of clothiers' and other adver-
tizements other than match manufacturers.

page_text: A clothier, for instance, will get a large number of match boxes made 'and
covered, preferably, with handsome glazed advertizoments, and will send them
round as presents to restaurants, hotels, offices, and other places. This application
I believe to be quite new, match boxes never having been used for advertizing
purposes before, except that they bear the name and trademark of the maker of
course.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Woolcott in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd Sep-
tember 1878.
WILLIAM WOOLCOTT, of 15, Great George Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Clothier. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MATCH AND FUSEE
BOXES."
This Invention consists,-
First. In producing a match box impervious to damp.
And, Second. In the employment of it and other forms of match and fusee boxes
for advertizing purposes.
In order to make the box waterproof I construct it of shaving or other material
as now used, but steeped or well coated with shellac varnish, or I attach the
wrapper to it by shellac varnish, glue, and bichromate of potash or other cheap
adhesive material impervious to moisture. One end only is open, and the smaller
box that slides into that has an india-rubber or waterproof end to act as a valve
for the opening; or if the box is in the ordinary chest form with a lid, the lid fits
on to a slight lining of rubber, and is thus waterproof. These boxes being more
expensive than the present are not intended to supersede those in ordinary use for
common purposes, but only for exportation to very damp climates, and also being
handsomer and more durable than those in ordinary use, for permanent receptacles
for matches and for presentations. Their chief use in this country, however, will
be for advertizement, the label being usually varnished with shellac, and fastened
securely, is permanent. It will consist of clothiers' and other advertizements others
than match manufacturers.
A clothier, for instance, will get a large number of match boxes made and
covered, preferably, with handsome glazed advertizements, and will send them
round as presents to restaurants, hotels, offices, and other places, and supply shop-
keepers who sell matches to the public, so that this novel advertizing medium may
have a very large circulation. This application I believe to be quite new, match
boxes never having been used for advertizing purposes before, except that they
bear the name and trademark of the maker of course.
The Drawing filed herewith represents some of my own business advertizements
printed on labels as actually to be attached to and form part of a match or fusee
box in the before-mentioned or in other equivalent manner.

page_text: Having now described my Invention and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim as new the placing of
name of the match and trademark, naine and business address of the matchmaker
on match or fusee boxes, as such plan has been well known; but what I believe to
be novel and claim as my Invention under the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
1. The manufacture of match or fusee boxes of shaving or other material covered
with varnish or other waterproof coating and made waterproof, so as to resist
damp, and partially or wholly covered with business advertizements, substantially as
described.
2. The mode of advertizing a business or trade unconnected with matches, for
instance, that of a clothier, by making the outside of match or fusee boxes adver-
tizements of said trade or trades.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Woolcott, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord
1878
WILLIAM WOOLCOTT. (LS)