THE LUCIFER MATCH.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume XII, Issue 46, 14 April 1910, Page 3

THE LUCIFER MATCH.

ITS INVENTOR.

About half a century ago there died John Walker, the inventor of the lucifer match.

He was in business as a chemist at Stockton-on-Tees when, more or less accidentally, he discovered that sulphide of antimony and chlorate of potash formed a mixture which was ignitable by friction. He made this discovery about 1825, and, turning it to account, began to make up boxes of fifty matches, which he sold at Is. 4d. In the box was a folded piece of sandpaper, and to strike a light one of the “friction lights” was placed in the sandpaper and drawn smartly down.

So trivial did Walker deem his invention to be that he did not even go to the expense of taking out, a patent.

A few years later more public attention was drawn to the tinder box’s successor by Isaac Holden.

The year 1832 saw the manufacture of the lucifers started upon a commercial basis.

Though he possessed no patent for his invention, John Walker spent the fast few years fn retirement on the competency his discovery made him.—‘Liverpool Post.”