Improvements in Matches, and Striking Surfaces for Use in connection therewith.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1894-Accepted, 22nd Sept., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Matches, and Striking Surfaces for Use in
connection therewith.
I, WILHELM HERZ, of 1, Schattengasse, Vienna, in the Empire of Austria,
Doctor of Medicine, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to the manufacture of matches free from poison and
without heads, both ends of the matches being capable of ignition. These
improved matches possess the advantage that they have no heads to fly off, that
they take fire in either direction without noise, that they do not explode by mutual
friction, and that, even after long keeping, they are unaffected by atmospheric
conditions, and are not damaged by damp.
In manufacturing my improved matches I employ splints of wood, free from
resin, and well dried and having their ends rounded off with the object of allowing
the matches to ignite easily in any position. To effect a slow combustion and to
prevent the ends of the matches from glowing, the splints are subsequently
steeped in a solution composed of about 1000 parts of water, 30 parts of phosphate
of ammonia and 5 parts of alum and thoroughly dried.
The igniting composition is advantageously composed of a solution consisting of
about 280 parts of water, 120 parts of chlorate of sodium, 14 parts of sulphate of
alumina, 24 parts of sulphate of potassium, 12 parts of hyposulphite of sodium,
and 10 parts of saltpetre in warm water; to this solution I add tragacanth, gum
arabic, and dextrine in such proportion as to form an adhesive, gelatinous mass
from which the salts cannot separate out, and into which both ends of the matches
are dipped.
In order to protect the matches, thus twice dipped, against damp and atmospheric
action, they are coated with india-rubber by means of a solution containing about
70 parts of india-rubber, 1000 parts of benzine, 5 parts of camphor, and 10 parts
of paraffine, in which solution they are dipped and then dried.
These matches are adapted to be ignited on a specially prepared friction surface,
consisting of a mixture of about 10 parts of amorphous phosphorus with 7 parts
of water, 2 parts of glue, (fish-glue,) 4 parts of sulphide of antimony, 1 part of
chalk, and 2 parts of manganese, well triturated together, painted upon the box,
and thoroughly dried.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. Matches free from poison, and without heads, manufactured by treating splints
of wood having rounded ends with a solution of phosphate of ammonia, and alum,
subsequently drying them, and then dipping their two ends in an ignition mass, of
a gelatinous consistency, composed of a solution of chlorate of sodium, sulphate of
alumina, sulphate of potassium, byposulphite of soda, and saltpetre to which is
added tragacanth, gum arabic, and dextrine, again drying them, and then coating
them with a solution of india-rubber, benzine, camphor and paraffine, and once
more drying them substantially as herein before described.
2. A friction surface for igniting matches forming the subject of the first claim,
such friction surface consisting of a mixture of amorphous phosphorus with water,
fish-glue (syndeticon) sulphide of antimony, chalk, and manganese which are well
triturated together and then painted upon the box, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. The manufacture and use of the improved matches and friction surface
therefor substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated the 21st day of July 1894.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.