IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Heinrich Hochstaetter, of Darmstadt, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES."
Sealed the 27th October 1857, and dated the 28th April 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Heinrich Hochstaetter
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 28th April 1857.
I, HEINRICH HOCHSTAETTER, of Darmstadt, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES," to
be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the manufacture of matches by dipping the ends
of the same in a composition formed of the following ingredients, viz*:-
chlorate of potash, chromate of potash, binoxide of lead (plumbum hyper-
oxidatum), red sulphate of antimony, gum, oolitic sandstone or powdered
glass.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Heinrich Hochstaetter in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 28th October 1857.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Heinrich Hochstactter, Her special licence that I, the said Heinrich
Hochstaetter, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Heinrich Hochstaetter, 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 MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Heinrich Hochstactter, 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 Great Scal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Heinrich Hochstaetter, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the samo
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by tho
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists of an improved mode of manufacturing matches,
which contain no poisonous matter, and which are not injurious to the health
of the workmen, as is the case with ordinary phosphorous matches, by dipping
the ends thereof in an igniting mixture or composition, made by combining
together the following ingredients, namely, chlorate of potash, chromate of
potash, binoxide of lead (plumbum hyperoxidatum), red sulphate of antimony,
or sulphur of antimony, or any other metallic sulphur, gum, or wheaten or
other starch, pumicestone or manganese, flower of sulphur, or milk of
sulphur, and the addition of chlorite of lead (Pbo, Clo, 3,) causes the matches
to ignite more readily.
The following proportions of the above ingredients I have found answer
well in practice, that is to say:-To 18 parts of chlorate of potash, I add 4
parts of chromate of potash, or 3 parts of chlorite of lead, 9 parts of binoxide
of lead, 18 parts of red sulphate of antimony, or sulphur of antimony, 5 parts
of gum, or 6 parts of wheaten starch, 2 parts of manganese or pumicestone,
and 2 parts of flower of sulphur, or milk of sulphur. When chlorite of

page_text: lead is used the chromate of potash should be omitted. The process of mixing
the above ingredients may be conducted in an earthenware or metal vessel.
The ingredients should be first mixed together, and afterwards the gum or
starch dissolved in water should be added, and the whole finely ground, the
stirring being conducted by a piece of wood or metal; the material composing
the body of the match may be of the ordinary kind, or of wax, or other
material, and the process of dipping or coating the ends thereof with the
above improved composition or mixture may be performed in the manner
commonly practised of coating matches with an igniting composition.
Having now fully described the nature and object of my said Invention of
"Improvements in the Manufacture of Matches," together with the best
means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, I
hereby declare my Invention to consist in, and I claim, manufacturing
matches by dipping the ends thereof in an igniting mixture or composition
formed of the above-mentioned ingredients.
In witness whereof, I, the said Heinrich Hochstaetter, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
HEINRICH HOCHSTAETTER. (L.S.)
ALEX. PRINCE, Patent Agent,
4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross.