AN IMPROVEMENT IN LUCIFER OR OTHER MATCH BOXES OR IN PEN BOXES
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov, 1886.
Complete Left, 12th May, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 12th Aug., 1887.
CHARLES BAKER, Newspaper Proprietor, 22, Union Street, Dewsbury, and Carr
Lodge, Beckett Road Dewsbury, Yorkshire. I do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for AN IMPROVEMENT IN LUCIFER OR OTHER MATCH BOXES OR IN PEN
BOXES to be as follows:--
The improvement is designed to prevent litter or waste from used matches or pens.
It takes the form of a match or pen box with an extra compartment either sliding or
fixed or one forming part of the original compartment for the reception of struck
matches or used pens. In the case of the match box the entire box when containing
only struck matches would be available as a fire lighter or the slightly burnt matches
could be again used as spills for lighting purposes.
Dated thi 10th day of November 1886

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"
Improvement in Match or Pen Boxes.
I, CHARLES BAKER, of Carr Lodge, Beckett Road, Dewsbury, and of the
"Chronicle Office, Union Street, Dewsbury, in the county of York, newspaper
Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVEMENT IN
MATCH OR PEN BOXES, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Each matchbox to which this improvement is applied or adapted (excepting only
the methods indicated by Drawings Da and Ea) becomes its own receptacle for used
matches.
5
The improvement consists of a division formed at the bottom (A) side (B) or
end (C) of the original drawer or other main receptacle of the matchbox, or of a
separate sliding drawer or fixed compartiment, constructed in connection with (D & E)
or affixed Da and Ea in metal or otherwise to such matchbox. The division at the
bottom of the original drawer (F) or other main receptacle is one of the principal
methods for which protection is claimed. It is formed by the insertion of a movable
false bottom (A) and the used matches are filled into this division through a small
end eyelet (F a) or other aperture, or two or more small end eyelets or other apertures.
As the lower division becomes filled the false bottom is forced gradually up and the
division enlarges. When the whole of the good matches are used the box and its
contents (in the case of the ordinary wood shaving box) are available as a fire-
lighter. The general principle is also applicable to metal boxes containing wax or 2
other matches and to pen boxes. In such boxes an end (C) or a side (B) partition
(movable or fixed) should be inserted or constructed or in the case of pen boxes the
separate sliding drawers (D & Da) before mentioned might be adopted as an
alternative.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention 2
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1-That the adoption of this improvement prevents the litter hitherto associated
with the use of matchboxes and pen boxes unless furnished with a separate and special
holder and tray.
2-That it prevents the unnecessary waste of slightly-burnt matches, which become a
available as light fuel or spills.
3-That by no previous method or invention have matchboxes or pen boxes been so
constructed or adapted as to become their own receptacles for used matches or pens.
Dated this 11th day of May 1887.
CHARLES BAKER.