Manufacture Of Wax Matches To Cease

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30121, 3 May 1963, Page 12

Manufacture Of Wax Matches To Cease

Within a few months there will be no wax matches available in New Zealand Bryant and May, Bell and Company, Ltd., of Wellington, report that a “continued decline in sales has shown that the decision to cease manufacture was fully justified.” The distributors of the wax matches in New Zealand have advised that adequate stocks remain for all merchants to receive about one month’s supply, based on previous deliveries New Zealand is the las’, country in the Commonwealth to produce wax matches

The wax vesta was produced in 1839, nine years after the lucifer —the match resembling a wooden splinter with a large head of inflammable material The lucifer held its own with the vesta up to World War I. and was mentioned to the well-known war song

’.‘Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag” (“While there’s a lucifer to light your fag, smile boys, that’s the style ”)

The introduction of the small, sulphur bead to the wax vesta, about the turn ol the century, and the cotton strands to stiffen the wax stem, made the wax match very popular. In New Zealand. the

oblong tins and the pill box carton-type containers (known as plaids) for wax matches were a familiar sight, particularly in the country The wax match did not blow out so readily as the wooden safety, and for this reason was popular with farmers and farm workers lighting cigarettes and pipes in the open Working men also took advantage of the fact that the vestas could be lit with a flick of tihe thumb, on the seat of the trousers, a plough handle, or side of the fireplace, so that a container was superfluous. Another habit of wax match users was the waxing of the tip of cigarettes, particularly “roll-your-own” —the forerunner of cork tips Children stripped the wax end of a vesta down round the head of it. put it in an empty .22 shell case, gave the shell a sharp blow and enjoyed a smoky, smelly, harm less "explosion." The advent of the safety match gradually spelt death for the wax one The United Kingdom ended manufacture of the wax vesta after World War II and Australia in 1957 The New Zealand Fores: Service will not mourn the passing of “Royal Wax Vestas” after a century of manufacturing.