IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMPOSITION, BOXES, AND SURFACES FOR OBTAINING INSTANTANEOUS LIGHT FROM CHEMICALLY PREPARED MATCHES INTENDED TO BE IGNITED BY FRICTION
Year: 1868

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LETTERS PATENT to William Austin, of Greville Street, Hatton
Garden, in the County of Middlesex, Match and Box Manufacturer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMPOSITION, BOXES, AND
SURFACES FOR OBTAINING INSTANTANEOUS LIGHT FROM CHEMICALLY PREPARED
MATCHES INTENDED TO BE IGNITED BY FRICTION."
Scaled the 25th September 1868, and dated the 31st March 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Austin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st March 1868.
I, WILLIAM AUSTIN, of Greville Street, Hatton Garden, in the County
of Middlesex, Match and Box Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMPOSITION,.
BOXES, AND SURFACES FOR OBTAINING INSTANTANEOUS LIGHT FROM CHEMICALLY
PREPARED MATCHES INTENDED TO BE IGNITED BY FRICTION," to be as follows,
that is to say:
My first improvement consists in mixing the friction surface chemicals:
with japan or other suitable varnish, resinous or oleagenous matter,

page_text: instead of mixing them with water or size, as heretofore. By this
mode of preparation the friction liquid when applied becomes wet and
damp proof, and is better adapted for export as well as for general
purposes..
The second improvement consists in applying the composition thus 5
prepared directly to the metallic surface of the box, match container,
or holder, or to any metallic or other surface, and baking, stoving, or
drying the same thereon by heat, or in any other way which may be
found to answer in practice.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Austin in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th September 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
AUSTIN, of Greville Street, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Match and Box Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Austin, Her special licence
that I, the said William Austin, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Austin, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 COMPOSITION, BOXES, AND SURFACES FOR OBTAINING INSTANTANEOUS LIGHT
FROM CHEMICALLY PREPARED MATCHES INTENDED TO BE IGNITED BY FRICTION,"
upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Austin,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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
'

page_text: Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date. of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Austin, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
Heretofore in the manufacture of the compositions of chemically
prepared matches whether applied to the igniting surface or match, it
has been the practice to mix the chemicals or ingredients with size or
other watery preparations or matters soluble in water. The compositions
prepared in this way are liable to be injuriously affected by wet and
damp, and when thus prepared with phosphorus the composition will
not adhere firmly or properly to any metal, glass, china, stone, earthen-
ware, or other similar hard or polished surfaces, if applied directly
thereto, hence boxes made of any such materials to contain and ignite
safety matches have hitherto had to be or have always been fitted
with a paper or card separately prepared with the phosphoretic
composition.
Now the objects of my Invention are, first, to render the friction-
igniting composition wet and damp proof.
Secondly. To make such composition when prepared with phosphorus
for igniting safety or other matches capable of being applied directly
to and adhering firmly upon the natural surface of such boxes or
materials without any previous preparation of such surfaces therefor.
Thirdly. To make the chemicals for igniting safety matches adhere
firmly to such metallic and other surfaces when such chemicals arc
mixed in the ordinary way.
Fourthly. To cause by the aid of other ingredients the chemicals for
igniting safety matches when applied in a dry state to adhere firmly
to the metallic and other surfaces above mentioned.
In carrying out the first part of my Invention or improvement first
above stated I mix or combine all friction-igniting surfaces and match
chemicals or ingredients with japan or other similar varnish or compound,
or matter possessing qualities similar to that of varnish or analagous
thereto, or possessing resinous, oleaginous, or anti-hydro or wet and
damp repelling properties instead of mixing the said chemicals or
ingredients with size or other watery preparations or matter soluble

page_text: in water as has been the practice hitherto. The chemicals which I
use for the safety match igniting surfaces, are for every 2 lbs. of varnisli
amorphous phosphorus 3 lbs., naphtha or spirits of tar lb., and black
sulphuret of antimony 3 lbs., adding the latter after the phosphorus has
been well mixed with the varnish and spirit for the safety matches
themselves, chlorate of potash 6 lbs., black sulphurct of antimony 3 lbs.,
red ochre 1 lb., and emery or finely granulated glass or other similar
material 1 lb. It will be obvious to every chemist conversant with
these substances, that other analagous substances or proportions slightly
varied may be employed for the purposes just stated without departing
from the principle of my Invention.
In carrying out the second part of my Invention I apply the anti-
hydro composition mixed with the chemicals or ingredients directly to
or upon the metal or other material before mentioned, by painting the
same thereon, or dipping the surface therein, or by first applying the
anti-hydro matter or varnish to or upon the material and then dipping
the surface thus prepared in the chemical mixture or igniting ingredients,
or by applying the varnish first and then adding the other ingredients
or chemicals separately in a dry state while the varnish is liquid. In
each case the anti-hydro matter or varnish acts as the medium for
causing the chemicals to adhere firmly to the surface. The other parts
of the box or match container with one or more surfaces thus pre-
pared may then be lacquered, and the composition and lacquer baked
or dried thereon simultaneously in an oven or drying stove, or by
applying heat thereto in a suitable way.
In carrying out the third part of my Invention or improvement in
causing the phosphoretic composition when mixed in the ordinary way
to adhere firmly to the metallic and other surfaces herein mentioned,
I first prepare such surfaces by a priming of the anti-hydro compound
or matter or varnish and grit only, and when this priming has dried
or partially dried, paint the phosphoretic composition thereon.
Lastly, I prepare the metallic surfaces with the priming above
mentioned, and before it has hardened apply the chemicals and phosphorus
thereto in a dry state, either mixed, partially mixed, or separately.
I have found that by mixing the friction-igniting surface chemicals
for safety matches or matches where the phosphorus is applied to the
igniting surface of the box, instead of to the end of the match, with the
ordinary japan varnish of commerce, the mixture will possess the required

page_text: anti-hydro properties, and that a heat of about 250 degrees (Fahrenheit)
more or less will generally be sufficient for drying the same rapidly.
The drying process may be effected by stoving, baking, or heating
the surface, or in any other way which may be found to answer in
practice.
+
The anti-hydro composition is suitable for being applied to the surface
of wood, paper, and other boxes, match containers, or match igniting
surfaces, and the anti-hydro ingredient may be used with the chemicals
in preparing any coniposition for dipping matches, by which applications
respectively, the boxes, surfaces, and matches will be improved and
become less liable to be injuriously affected by wet and damp, and in
consequence of the greater body or toughness imparted to. the com-
position, the friction surfaces will be more durable when in use and
the composition upon the matches less liable to rub off without igniting
the match.
I further improve boxes when made of wood, paper, or other similar
substances for containing and igniting matches by forming the same
with flanged metal ends or lids pressed to the required shape in a
die for being coated with igniting composition, and for protecting the
matches from injury when placed upon a damp surface.
For dispensing with the use of solder in the manufacture of metal
boxes for containing and igniting matches and for other useful purposes,
still using ends formed as last above mentioned, I make the bodies
of blank pieces of tin or metal of a perfect rectangular shape with
four sides only, and turn down the two opposite ends or sides so as
to form an interlapping joint when brought together and beaten up
on a mandril or drawn through a die of the required shape.
I hereby declare that what I more particularly claim and desire to
secure by the before mentioned in part recited Letters Patent is,--
First. The manufacture of match igniting chemicals and ingredients
with anti-hydro matter so as to render the same and the igniting
surfaces and matches prepared therewith wet and damp proof.
Secondly. The manufacture of friction-igniting chemicals and in-
gredients for safety matches and their igniting surfaces with the anti-
hydro matter or compound herein mentioned, and applying the same
directly to or upon the natural surface of the material of boxes,.

page_text: match containers, or match igniters of metal, stone, china, or earthen-
ware or other similar materials.
Thirdly. The manufacture of match igniting chemicals with the anti-
hydro matter or compound herein mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Austin, have hereunto 5
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.