In Memoriam – Denis Alsford, 1929-2004
Match Holders, an introduction
A
long-sought-after means of instanteous light eluded man for centuries
until English chemist John Walker accidentally discovered the secret and
went on to make the first friction matches (1826). Earlier matches had to be
dipped in a vial of sulphuric acid, igniting when withdrawn -- a dangerous
method. Walker retained their form (a flat splint, about 8 cm. long, by
half a cm. wide, and a millimetre thick) when he produced his friction
matches; to ignite they were placed in a folded piece of sandpaper and
withdrawn sharply. He failed to patent his invention, which was copied
by others. As the match industry grew, however, the flat splints were
discarded in favour of shorter rectangular or round stems, called
"Lucifers". By 1832 white phosphorus was being used for the heads,
resulting in more reliability for ignition; it was later superseded
by red phosphorus, which was safer and still more reliable. These
matches became cheap to purchase -- 1d. a box -- and affordable for
most people.
It
has been said that the match was one of the greatest inventions for
women. In most households it was a woman who was first out of bed,
often when it was still dark and cold. The match permitted her
instant light for a candle, which could in turn provide ignition for
other sources of light or heat. Men could carry a box of matches and
light their pipes, cigars and later cigarettes, outdoors. Where flame
was required periodically in the work-place, the match could provide
this without loss of time that other meethods required. Boxes of matches,
or special containers to hold matches, could be put in convenient
locations about the home, place of work, or centres of social gathering
(e.g. bars, clubs, hotels).
From
the time that matches were first sold, in shops or by street vendors,
manufacturers put them in thin wood chip or cardboard boxes, much like
those still sold today. Although cheap and convenient, they provided
little protection from accidental ignition and lacked aesthetic appeal.
It was not long before special fancy containers were being produced.
Inventive European craftsmen created a wealth of decorative match
holders; mass production methods made these affordable to the middle
classes. Snuff being commonly carried at that period, the addition of
a striker to a snuff box converted it to a match box, and this began
the development of pocket boxes. Decorative trends did not catch on in
North America until the second half of the 19th century.
The
development of match holders not only reflects the development of
the match, but also the changing art styles of the period between about
1840 and 1930. Their styles also reflect or document social changes
and practices, historical events, local and national business interests,
and places of popular appeal.
Essentially
there are three main types of match holder: wall-mounted
holders, stand-alone holders, and pocket holders. Within these three
types are a variety of subcategories; occasionally a piece may fit
two of the main types. Quite often a match holder was combined with
some other function; some which are logical, such as a cigar cutter,
and others less easy to rationalize, such as pin cushion or mouse trap!
Match holders might also have components holding stamps, coins, whistles,
tickets, corkscrews, candles, dice, pen knives, pencils, or toothpicks.
The variety of materials used covers a wide spectrum. Precious and
base metals are common. Glass and ceramic were also often used. Organic
materials such as wood, leather, the early plastics, and paper also abound.
It
is against the background of the appalling social conditions of the
times, including many fatalities from the accidents and diseases caused
by the noxious chemicals used in the manufacture of matches, that the
history of the match holder unfolds. It came into use as a novel form
of expression of the wealth and lifestyles of the more affluent and
privileged members of Victorian society, before eventually becoming a
commonplace item in almost every household.
For further information,
you may be interested in my publications
ISBN 0-88740-633-5
You can obtain this book from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.,
77 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310, USA. Or you can buy a copy online
from Amazon.com
or via Epinions.com
You can obtain these CD-ROMs from the
International Match Safe Association,
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