Early Matches.

Northern Advocate, 17 February 1912, Page 6

Early Matches.

EVOLUTION OF THE LUCI-

FER.

Chemical matches, compounds | like sulphuric acid and chlorates, which would ignite on being mixed, I were used, says " Engineering," j more than a hundred years ago ; a j phosphorus compound, ignited by friction, is supposed to have been introduced by Derosne, of Paris, in 1816. Mr E. G. Clayton, in a lecture recently, spoke of matches which he had been able to analyse, and he considered many generally accredit - ed statements as inaccurate. Samual Jones introduced his "Prometh* can" matches in 1828. They were chemical matches containing chlorate, sulphur, and lycopodium, and in the small glass tube sulphuric acid. He also made " friction lights " in 1832, containing sulphur, antimony sulphide, chlorate, iron oxide and gum, and called them " lucifers.' But friction lights were previously made in 1826 by John Walker ; these were coated with sulphur, and ignhN I ed by being drawn through sandpaper. Phosphorus matches ignited , by being struck on the box, so-called " congreves," were probably intro diiced by Sir W. Congreve, the in-, ventor of the war rocket, early in the thirties. They were chiefly taken up under that name in Germany and Austria, and contained, in addition to ingredients already mentioned, frequenty nitrates powdered glass, chalk, starch, and a blue dye. Phos phoric cigai lighters came from Vienna early in the the fifties. The chlorate, " Engineering" adds, was, about 1835, replaced by lead oxide, which Preshel (Vienna) mixed with nitric acid and dried ; and strips of red phosphorus paper were manufactured by Bottger in 1848 ; but they did not find favour until reintroduced from Sweden.