THE SAFETY MATCH

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 6, 2 October 1937, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE SAFETY MATCH

Its Invention

The first chemical match, which depended upon friction methods for ignition; was discovered by Godfrey Hawkwitz in 16S0. It was after the discovery of phosphorus by Robert Boyle, the English physicist, that the inventor utilised the element, coating a wood splint with sulphur and tipping it with a bit of the low-kindling phosphorus. Later, improvements over Hawkwitz’s brain-child, were made. For example, in 1805 a Frenchman used sulphur as the coating and tipped it with a mix-

ture of chlorate of potash and sugar. This was brought into contact with sulphuric acid when a light was required. The first really practical match was produced by John Walker, an English pharmacist, in 1827. He called them “friction lights,” and made them of wooden splints or cardboard, also coated witli sulphur and tipped witli a mixture of antimony sulphide, chlorate of potash and some adhesive gum. Accompanying each box of them was a piece of glass paper, and in order to light them it was necessary to fold this paper and draw them between it while great pressure was exerted upon them. One can well imagine the danger involved in such a procedure, for

long before they would catch fire large sparks would fall in all directions. Since Walker’s day the “strike anywhere” match, consisting of phosphorus with potassium chlorate or saltpetre or red lead, bound together with glue, were in vogue. The whole was mixed witli ultramarine (blue) or even vermillion (red), with the addition of ground glass or powdered sand. The objections of the “strike anywhere” have been met by our present-day “safety” type of match. In place of the ordinary yellow or white phosphorus the red form of phosphorus is now widely employed. It is relatively non-poisonous and has a higher kindling point, which tends to its great safety.