IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry White, of Huntsville, Alabama, United States
of America, now of 8, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry White at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th August 1878.
JOHN HENRY WHITE, of Huntsville, Alabama, United States of America, now of
8, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
MATCHES."
My Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of matches, whereby
I obtain advantages not possessed by any of the matches heretofore in use.
By my Invention the cost of production is greatly lessened, and matches can
therefore be supplied to the public at reduced prices.
A given number of matches made according to this Invention will be of much
less weight than the same number made according to any of the usual methods as
heretofore practised, the flame produced or lighting capacity of the match being
taken into consideration in making the comparison. They therefore take up much
less space, and are consequently capable of being packed into smaller boxes than
ordinary matches, and therefore may be more conveniently conveyed or transported
in quantities from the manufactory to distant places. This feature is also an
advantage to the consumer in many cases, as the same amount of lighting power
can be carried in the pocket in a much smaller space than with matches as
ordinarily made.
In practising my Invention I form the match splints in such manner that the
transverse section of each splint is an equilateral triangle, the cutters in the
machine or apparatus by which the splints are made being so set as to produce
the splints in this form. The splints so made are of the strongest possible form,

page_text: and this result is obtained with the least expenditure of wood, the sharp angles
formed by this mode of cutting the wood presenting also a better medium for com-
municating the flame from the igniting composition to the body of the match or
splint.
The following results have been proved in practice, and will serve as examples
of the economy of wood obtained by practicing my Invention, that is to say:
With a quantity of wood which will produce, according to the usual method,
eighty-one square-shaped match splints, the four flat surfaces being each one-ninth
of an inch measured transversely across the splint, I can produce in practising my
Invention one hundred and eighty-seven match splints, the three surfaces of every
splint each measuring also one-ninth of an inch across; also the quantity of wood
required to produce one million of matches, each one being 21/4 inches long, and cut
square according to the ordinary method, each flat surface measuring transversely
one-ninth of an inch, is one hundred and ninety-two feet. But by my Invention I
produce the same number of match splints, cach flat surface of which measures also
one-ninth of an inch across, using only eighty-three feet of wood, the matches being
also 21%, inches long.
It will be seen from the above description that by practicing my Invention a
great economy in material is ensured; and that the cost of production is thereby
much reduced.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry White in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
February 1879.
JOHN HENRY WHITE, of Huntsville, Alabama, United States of America, now of
S, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
MATCHES."
My Invention relates to an improved manufacture of matches, whereby I obtain
very important advantages not obtainable by any of the methods of manufacture
heretofore in use.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which,―
Figure 1 is an end view of a bundle of matches.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a single match drawn to an enlarged scale, and
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the same.
In practising my Invention I form the match splints in such manner that the
transverse section of each splint is a triangle, and preferably an equilateral triangle.
This section gives to the splints the strongest possible form that can be obtained
with any given quantity or sectional area of wood, and presents an equal or nearly
equal resistance in all directions in which strain or pressure will be applied to the
natches; the surface to which the chemical substance or composition of the match
adheres is large in proportion to the sectional area of the splint, so that the said
substance or head is very securely attached to the splint, and a comparatively large
surface which may be coated with any suitable combustible material will be
presented to the flame produced by striking the match; while the sharp angles
presented by this section of the wood serve as a better medium than can otherwise
be obtained for communicating the flame from the igniting substance or composition
to the body of the match or splint.
Moreover, by my Invention the cost of production is greatly diminished, and the
matches can therefore be supplied to the public at reduced prices.
A given number of matches made according to this Invention will have con-
siderably less weight than the same number made according to any of the usual
methods heretofore practised, the flaming or lighting capacity of the match being
taken into consideration in making this comparison. The said matches therefore
take up less space, and are consequently capable of being packed into smaller boxes
than ordinary matches, and may be more conveniently conveyed or transported
from the manufactory to distant places. And the same amount of lighting power
can be carried in the pocket in a much smaller space than would be practicable with
matches as ordinarily made.
The following results afford examples of the economy of wood obtained by my
Invention, that is to say:-With a quantity of wood which will produce when cut
according to the usual method of manufacture eighty-one square match splints,
each side of whose square section measures one-ninth of an inch, I can produce one
hundred and eighty-seven of my improved match splints, each side of whose
triangular transverse section will also measure one-ninth of an inch. Furthermore,
the quantity of wood required to produce one million of matches, each one being 2
inches long, and cut square according to the ordinary method with each side or flat
surface, measuring transversely one-ninth of an inch, is one hundred and ninety-
two feet. But by my Invention the same number of triangular match splints of
the same length, and each side or flat surface of which measures also one-ninth of
an inch across, can be obtained from only eighty-three feet of wood.
It will be obvious that the great economy of material ensured by the use of my
Invention permits the cost of production of the matches to be greatly diminished.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same,
I wish it understood that I claim, the improved manufacture of matches

page_text: consisting in the triangular transverse sectional formation of the splints, for the
purposes above specified. *
In witness whereof; I; the said John Henry White, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
JNO: H; WHITE. (L.S.)