IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES FOR CONTAINING AND IGNITING MATCHES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Dowler, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BOXES FOR CONTAINING AND IGNITING MATCHES."
Sealed the 28th June 1858, and dated the 6th May 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Dowler
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 6th May 1858.
J, GEORGE DOWLER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES FOR CONTAINING AND IGNITING MATCHES" to be
as follows:-
Fig. 1, represents in vertical section a match box constructed accord-
ing to my Invention; and Fig. 2, represents in plan a portion of the
The apparatus for igniting the matches (by friction) I gene-
rally place on the top or lid of the box, but I do not confine myself to

page_text: that position. The said apparatus consists of a circular plate or disc
of metal a, fixed on the bottom of the rod b, and situated between the
top c, of the lid d, and the diaphragm or partition e; the said plate or
disc is covered with concentric lines, as shown in the plan of the same,
Fig. 2. f, is a spring of any convenient kind, situated between the
plate or disc ", and the diaphragm or partition e, which said spring
presses the said plate or disc a, against the top c, of the lid. By
pressing the knob g, the plate or disc a, may be depressed, and a match
introduced at the hole h, between the said plate or disc, and the top c;
on removing the pressure from the knob g, the spring f, presses the
plate or disc a, upwards, and compresses the match between it and the
top by then withdrawing the match from the hole h, the friction of
the said match against the grooved surface of the plate or disc a,
ignites the said match. The diaphragm or partition e, prevents any
detached and ignited portions of the composition on the match from
falling into and igniting the matches in the box i. When one portion
of the rubbing surface of the plate or disc a, becomes clogged and
inoperative, the partial turning of the knob g, brings another portion
of the said plate or disc into operation. The mechanism described for
igniting the matches inay, with slight modification, be placed at the
bottom of the box; and the diaphragm or partition e, may be used in
the lids of match boxes, in which the mechanism for igniting the match
is different from that I have described.
Although I prefer the use of concentric rings on the disc a, for
igniting the match, the said disc may be made rough in various ways,
so as to effect the ignition of the matches.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Dowler in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 28th October 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
GEORGE DOWLER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
aud grant unto me, the said George Dowler, Her special licence that
I, the said George Dowler, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said George Dowler, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, shonld 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 Chan-
nel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BOXES FOR CONTAINING AND IGNITING MATCHES," 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 the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
Figure 1, represents in vertical section a match box constructed
according to my Invention; and Figure 2, represents in plan a portion
of the same. Figure 3, represents a plan, and Figure 4, a side eleva-
tion of a modification of the same. The apparatus for igniting the
matches (by friction) I generally place on the top or lid of the box,
but I do not confine myself to that position. The said apparatus con-
sists of a circular plate or disc of metal a, fixed on the bottom of the
rod b, and situated between the top c, of the lid d, and the diaphragm
or partition e; the said plate or disc is covered with concentric lines, as
shewn in the plan of the same, Figure 2. f, is a spring of any con-
venient kind, situated between the plate or disc a, and the diaphragm
or partition e, which said spring presses the said plate or disc a, against

page_text: the top c, of the lid. By pressing the knob g, the plate or disc a, may
be depressed, and a match introduced at the hole h, between the said
plate or disc a, and the top c; on removing the pressure from the
knob b, the spring f, presses the plate or disc a, upwards, and com-
presses the match between it and the top c; by then withdrawing the
match from the hole h, the friction of the said match against the
grooved surface of the plate or disc a, ignites the said match. The
liaphragm or partition e, prevents any detached and ignited portions of
the composition on the match from falling into and igniting the
matches in the box i. When one portion of the rubbing surface of
the plate or disc a, becomes clogged and inoperative, the partial turning
of the knob g, brings another portion of the said plate or disc into
operation. The mechanism described for igniting the matches, with
slight modification, may be placed at the bottom of the box; and the
diaphragm or partition e, may be used in the lids of match boxes, in
which the mechanism for igniting the match is different from that I
have described. Figures 3, and 4, represent a rectangular box for
containing matches, provided with mechanism for igniting the matches.
similar in principle to the mechanism described with reference to
Figures 1, and 2. k, is a strip of metal having transverse grooves, or
made otherwise rough; one end thercof is fixed to the side of the box
at 7. The stud m, projects through a hole in the side of the box. n, is
a diaphragm which separates the igniting mechanism from the interior
of the box. By pressing the stud m, and placing a match between the
plate k, and the side of the box, and then removing the finger or thumb
from the stud m, and drawing out the match, the said match will be
ignited.
Although I prefer the use of concentric rings on the disc a, and
transverse lines on the plate k, for igniting the match, the said disc
may be made rough in various ways, so as to effect the ignition of the
matches.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, I wish it to
be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise methods of
carrying my Invention into effect herein described, as the same may
be varied without departing from the nature of my said Invention;

page_text: but I claim separating the igniting mechanism connected with match
boxes from the interior of the said boxes by means of a partition or
diaphragm.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Dowler, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
diaphragm.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Dowler, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
GEORGE DOWLER. (L.S.)
Witness, GEORGE SHAW.