MADE THE FIRST MATCH.

North Otago Times, 26 July 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

MADE THE FIRST MATCH.

.—i— THE INVENTION OF'AN ENGIISII CHEMIST.

In the nineteenth century—the century in ' which so many wonderful things were done—the fourth step in the development o( the match' was taken. In 1827 John Walker, a chemist in a small town, tipped a splint with sulphur, chlorate of potash, and sulphide'ot antimony, and and rubbed it on sandpaper and 'it burst into flame. ..

The druggist had discovered, the first, friction chemical nmtch-the i kind'.wo use to-day. It is called' friction chemical because it is inndo by mixing certain chemicals' together and rubbing them,'. Although Walkers match did not require the'bottle of acid, .it nevertheless was not a good one, It could bo. lighted only by hard nibbing, and it sputtered and threw fife in all directions, ■, .. . I In a few years, however, phosphorus was substituted on ; the,.top of antimony, and the change worked wonders, ." Tho match could now- bo , lighted with very little, rubbing, and it was 'no longer necessary to havo sandpaper upon, which to rub it, It l-would' ignite when rubbed on any dry surface, and there-was no longer any sputtering, This Was the phosphorous match—the - match with which we are"all familiar..;• ■ ./After the'invention of tho easilylighted phosphorus : match there was no.longer use for the dtp-splint or the strikc-a-light. The old mtthods of getting a ■ blaze. were gradually: laid ? aside and forgotten, The first phosphorus matches were, sold at a shilling, fr gross,. anil; they were used by but few, Now 1,000 matches -can be bought for a penny....