n
n
n
n – 1826
n
n
n
n
n
nOnnthis date in 1826, English chemist and apothecary John Walkerninvented the first friction match. Walker coated the tips ofnthree-inch splints of wood with a mixture of antimony sulfide,npotassium chlorate, arabic gum, and starch. After the matches dried,none could strike them on any rough surface and start a fire. n
n
n
n
nWalkerncalled his invention “Congreves,” and he sold some…but hendidn’t patent the matches, and he made little money on his idea. n
n
n
n
nLaterna man named Samuel Jones marketed Walker’s Congreves – but henchanged the name to “Lucifers.” Even though these matchesnproduced a bad burning odor, they became quite popular.
n
n
n
n
Later,npeople tried to improve on the invention. In 1830, a French chemistncame up with an odorless match—which sounds great—but it turnednout to be poisonous! The chemist had used white phosphorous as partnof the mixture, and that made people sick with something calledn“phossy jaw.” In 1855, safety matches were patented by JohannEdvard Lundstrom of Sweden. Lundstrom used phosphorous, too—but henused red phosphorous, not white, and he put it on a strip ofnsandpaper on the outside of the match box. When the match was strucknacross the surface of the rough sandpaper, the chemicals on the matchntip were able to ignite—but the red phosphorous itself didn’t burn!
Later,npeople tried to improve on the invention. In 1830, a French chemistncame up with an odorless match—which sounds great—but it turnednout to be poisonous! The chemist had used white phosphorous as partnof the mixture, and that made people sick with something calledn“phossy jaw.” In 1855, safety matches were patented by JohannEdvard Lundstrom of Sweden. Lundstrom used phosphorous, too—but henused red phosphorous, not white, and he put it on a strip ofnsandpaper on the outside of the match box. When the match was strucknacross the surface of the rough sandpaper, the chemicals on the matchntip were able to ignite—but the red phosphorous itself didn’t burn!n
n
n
nYearsnlater, in 1910, the Diamond Match Company patented the firstnnonpoisonous match in the United States. The U.S. president, WilliamnH. Taft, asked Diamond Match to release their patent for the good ofnhumankind, and the company did! Then all the match companies couldnmanufacture non-poisonous matches!
n
n
