IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCH BOXES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Dowler, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF MATCH BOXES."
Sealed the 30th June 1863, and dated the 7th January 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Dowler at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th
January 1863.
I, GEORGE DOWLER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCH BOXES," to be as follows, that is to
say:-
My Invention consists in making match boxes with a double bottom or case,
to contain a supply of strikers or sheets of material, upon which the matches
are ignited; this double bottom or case may be formed as a cap to fit on the
bottom of the match box.
My Invention also consists in forming a frame on the bottom of a match.
box which will allow the striker to be slipped in and out, so that when one
side of the striker is worn out it may be reversed. This frame may be con-
structed to hold more than one striker. It will be best formed by bending up
the lower edges of the sides and ends of the box to form grooves, into which

page_text: grooves a thin metal frame is fitted, which will hold the striker, and allow
nearly all its surface to be exposed for use. For other forms of boxes this
part will be best formed by making a flanged ring or cap to fit the bottom of
the box, and which may fit over the false bottom already named.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Dowler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
July 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
DOWLER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me,, the said George Dowler, Her special license that I, the said George
Dowler, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said George Dowler, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCH BOXES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said George Dowler, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Dowler, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
--
My Invention consists in making match boxes with a double bottom or case
to contain a supply of strikers or sheets of material upon which the matches
are ignited; this double bottom or case may be formed as a cap to fit on the
bottom of the match box.

page_text: My Invention also consists in forming a frame on the bottom of a match
box, which will allow the striker to be slipped in and out, so that when one
side of the striker is worn out it may be reversed. This frame may be con-
structed to hold more than one striker. It will be best formed by bending up
the lower edges of the sides and ends of the box to form grooves, into which
grooves a thin metal frame is fitted, which will hold the striker, and allow
nearly all its surface to be exposed for use. For other forms of boxes this
part will be best formed by making a flanged ring or cap to fit the bottom of
the box, and which may fit over the false bottom already named.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of my improved match box;
Figure 2, a longitudinal section; Figure 3, a plan of the second bottom or
case; Figure 4, a plan of the bottom, shewing the side and end edges of the
box extended; Figure 5 is an end view, shewing the opening for the insertion
or withdrawal of the striker; Figure 6, a back elevation of the box, with its
bottom edges extended and marked a, a, a; Figures 7 and 8 shew a plan and
edge view of that part which forms the first or real bottom of the box;
Figures 9 and 10 a plan and side view of the second bottom or case for the
strikers, and by this it will be seen that by placing the bottom plate, Figure 8
on the part of the box seen at Figure 4, and then the second bottom or case
for the strikers before referred to, seen at Figures 9 and 10, and turning the
extended edges of the box a, a, a, a, down around the edges of the two bottoms
before mentioned, the box will be complete and ready to receive the strikers,
as seen by the opening in the end view at Figure 5. Figure 11 is a front view
of another form of my improved match box; and Figure 12, a transverse
section taken through the dotted lines A, B, of Figure 11 the striking plate in
this instance is inserted at the top, and pushed down against the inside front of
the box. The striker is indicated by the oval form seen in Figure 11. When
one surface of the striker is worn out, it can be readily withdrawn and turned,
or a new one substituted in its place. These cases or grooves for the strikers
may, if preferred, be formed upon the sides or ends or top of the box, and they
may be made sufficiently large to contain several thicknesses of strikers if
requisite. Boxes of circular or curvilinear section may be fitted with the
receptacle for the strikers by forming a false bottom or top cut out to expose
the striker, and fitting over the real bottom or top as a cap, and either with or
without screwing.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I claim, without limiting myself to these exact

page_text: details, the several improvements in the manufacture of match boxes by which
I am enabled to utilize both sides of the strikers, and to contain upon or
within the box a supply of such strikers, as herein more fully set forth and
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Dowler, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
GEORGE DOWLER. (L.S.)