IMPROVEMENTS IN LUCIFER MATCHES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marc Antoine François Mennons, of the British and
Foreign Patent Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of
France, and of 4, South St, Finsbury, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LUCIFER MATCHES."-A communication.
Sealed the 7th May 1858, and dated the 5th December 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marc Antoine François
Mennons at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 5th December 1857.
I, MARC ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British & Foreign Patént
Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, & of 4,
South Street, Finsbury, London, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LUCIFER MATCHES," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is the production of a match which although
instantaneously inflammable can only be ignited voluntarily. "
Tho matches are covered at one end with an inflammable substance, and
at the other with a substance causing ignition. When required to light the
match it is broken in the middle, and the two extremities being brought in
contact a light is at once produced.
The matches are cut into square packets in the ordinary way, one end of
which is covered with a coating of wax or sulphur to facilitate combustion,
and is then dipped in a preparation consisting of chlorate of potass, two parts;
charcoal, one part; umber, one part. Or, chlorate of potass, two parts; flowers
PP 7

page_text: of sulphur, one part; umber one part. The whole are triturated in a mortar
and mixed with size. The other extremity of the packet is then covered by
means of a brush with amorphous phosphorous in powder also mixed with
Bize.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Marc Antoine François Monnons in the Great Scal Patont
Office on the 27th May 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARO
ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British & Foreign Patent Offices, 39
Rue de l'Echiquior, Paris, in the Empire of France, & 4, South St., Finsbury,
London, E.C., send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Lettors
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto ine, the
said Marc Antoine François Mennons, Her special licence that I, the said
Marc Antoine François Mennons, executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, 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 ex-
pressed, should and lawfully night, make, use, exorcise, and vond, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LUCIPER MATCHES," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, tho said Marc Antoine François
Mennons, 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 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 Marc Antoine François Mennons, 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 :-
The Invention consists in an improvement in the manufacture of lucifer
matches, with a view to obviate the risks of accidental ignition.

page_text: To attain this end I proceed as follows:-The matches are first cut by
known means from cubes of wood, the cut being stopped at a short distance
from the end of each cube, so as to leave the lower extremities adherent.
The upper or free extremity of each packet of splints thus formed being
coated with wax or sulphur is dipped in one of the following preparations-
2 parts,
Chlorate of potass
Pulverised charcoal
Umber
Or,
Chlorate of potass
1 part,
1 part.
One part,
One part,
One part,
Sulphur
Umber
thoroughly mixed with size or glue.
The opposite extremity or "cut" of each packet is then painted over with
amorphous phosphorous blended with size, so that on separating the matches
the phosphorous is only found on the top of each. The matches thus pre-
pared are ignited by breaking off a small piece of the phosphorised end and
rubbing it on the opposite extremity covered with the inflammable preparation.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the most
obvious method of carrying it out, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details above given, either with regard to the
preparation of the inflammable compounds, which may be modified at will, or
to the employment of wood, which may be replaced when required by other
combustible matters; but what I claim is, the peculiar system of manufacture
of lucifer matches, by the application to their exposed extremities of inflam-
mable substances, which thus isolated are unaffected by friction, and can on'v
be ignited by contact with each other as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marc Autoine François Mennons, ha
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of April,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
M. F. MENNONS. (L.S.)