Matches can be attributed to relatively recent inventions. Before the modern match flared up in human hands, a wide variety of discoveries took place, each of which made its significant contribution to the evolutionary path of this subject. When were the matches? By whom were they created? What path of formation did you overcome? Where were matches first invented? And what facts are still hidden by history?

The meaning of fire in human life

Since ancient times, fire has been given a place of honor in Everyday life person. He played an important role in our development. Fire is one of the elements of the universe. For ancient people, he was a phenomenon, and about his practical application did not even guess. The ancient Greeks, for example, protected fire as a shrine, passing it on to people.

But cultural development did not stand still, and people learned not only to use fire properly, but also to produce it on their own. Thanks to the bright flame, the dwellings became warm all year round, the food received heat treatment and became tastier, the smelting of iron, copper, gold and silver began to develop actively. The first dishes made of clay and ceramics also owe their appearance to fire.

The first fire - what is it?

As you already understood, for the first time fire was produced by man many millennia ago. How did our ancestors do it? Simple enough: they took two pieces of wood and began to rub them, while the wood pollen and sawdust were heated to such an extent that spontaneous combustion was inevitable.

The "wood" fire was replaced by a flint and flint. It is a spark produced by striking steel or flint. Then these sparks were ignited with some combustible substance, and the same famous flint and flint was obtained - a lighter in its original form. It turns out that the lighter was invented before matches. Their birthdays were three years apart.

Also, the ancient Greeks and Romans knew another way to produce fire - by focusing the sun's rays with a lens or a concave mirror.

In 1823, a new device was invented - the Deberyer incendiary apparatus. Its principle of operation was based on the use of the ability to ignite upon contact with spongy platinum. So after all, when were modern matches invented? Let's look at this issue in more detail.

A significant contribution to the invention of modern matches was made by the German scientist A. Hankvatts. Thanks to his ingenuity, matches with a sulfur coating appeared for the first time, which was ignited by rubbing against a piece of phosphorus. The form of such matches was extremely inconvenient and required rapid improvement.

Origin of the word "match"

Before we figure out who invented matches, let's find out the meaning of this concept and its origin.

The word "match" has old Russian roots. Its predecessor is the word "knitting needle" - a stick with a pointed end, a splinter.

Initially, needles were called nails made of wood, the main purpose of which was to attach the sole to the shoe.

The history of the formation of a modern match

When modern matches were invented is a rather controversial moment. This is due to the fact that before the second half of XIX there was no International century as such, and various countries of Europe were the basis of various chemical discoveries at the same time.

The question of who invented matches is much clearer. The history of their appearance owes its beginning to the French chemist C. L. Berthollet. His key discovery is the salt, which, when in contact with sulfuric acid, releases huge amount heat. This discovery later became the basis scientific activity Jean Chancel, thanks to whose labors the first matches were invented - a wooden stick, the tip of which was coated with a mixture of Berthollet salt, sulfur, sugar and resin. Such a device was ignited by pressing the match head against asbestos, which had been previously impregnated with a concentrated solution of sulfuric acid.

Sulfur matches

John Walker became their inventor. He slightly changed the components of the match head: + gum + antimony sulfide. To set fire to such matches, interaction with sulfuric acid was not necessary. These were dry sticks, for ignition of which it was enough to strike on some rough surface: paper with an emery coating, a grater, crushed glass. The length of the matches was 91 cm, and their packaging was a special pencil case, in which 100 pieces can be placed. They smelled terrible. They were first produced in 1826.

Phosphorus matches

In what year were phosphorus matches invented? Perhaps it is worth linking their appearance with 1831, when the French chemist Charles Soria added to the incendiary mixture. Thus, the components of the match head included Berthollet salt, glue, and white phosphorus. Any amount of friction was enough to light the improved match.

The main disadvantage was high degree fire hazard. One of the shortcomings of sulfur matches was eliminated - an unbearable smell. But they were harmful to health due to the release of phosphorus fumes. Employees of enterprises and factories were exposed to serious diseases. Given the latter, in 1906 it was forbidden to use phosphorus as one of the constituent components of the match.

Swedish matches

Swedish products are nothing more than modern matches. The year of their invention came 50 years after the very first match saw the light. Instead of phosphorus, red phosphorus was included in the incendiary mixture. A similar composition, based on red phosphorus, was also used to cover the side surface of the box. Such matches caught fire only when interacting with the phosphorus coating of their container. They did not pose any danger to human health and were fireproof. The Swedish chemist Johan Lundström is considered the creator of modern matches.

In 1855, the Paris International Exhibition took place, at which Swedish matches were given highest award. A little later, phosphorus was completely excluded from the components of the incendiary mixture, but it has remained on the surface of the box to this day.

In the manufacture of modern matches, as a rule, aspen is used. The composition of the incendiary mass includes sulfur sulfides, metal paraffins, oxidizing agents, manganese dioxide, glue, glass powder. In the manufacture of the coating for the sides of the box, red phosphorus, antimony sulfide, iron oxide, manganese dioxide, calcium carbonate are used.

You will be interested!

The first match container was not a cardboard box at all, but a metal box-chest. There was no label, and the name of the manufacturer was indicated on the stamp, which was placed on the lid or on the side of the package.

The first phosphorus matches could be ignited by friction. At the same time, absolutely any surface was suitable: from clothes to the match container itself.

Matchbox made according to Russian state standards, has a length of exactly 5 centimeters, so it can be used to accurately measure objects.

A match is often used as a determinant of the overall characteristics of various objects, which can only be seen in a photograph.

The indicators of the dynamics of the production turnover of matches in the world are 30 billion boxes per year.

There are several types of matches: gas, decorative, fireplace, signal, thermal, photographic, household, hunting.

Matchbox advertising

When modern matches were invented, at the same time a special container for them - boxes - came into active use. Who would have thought that this would be one of the promising marketing moves that time. Advertisements were depicted on such packages. The first commercial advertising on a box of matches was created in America by the Diamond Match Company in 1895, which advertised the Mendelson Opera Company comic troupe. On the visible part of the box was a picture of their trombonist. By the way, the last remaining promotional matchbox made at that time was sold just recently for $25,000.

The idea of ​​advertising on a matchbox was accepted with a bang and became widespread in the business field. Milwaukee's Pabst Brewery, King Duke Tobacco Products, and Wrigley's Chewing Gum were advertised using matchboxes. Looking through the boxes, getting to know the stars, national celebrities, athletes, etc.

Ever since Prometheus gave fire to people, humanity has faced the task of extracting the received gift exactly when it is needed. In ancient times, this task was solved by patiently rubbing dry pieces of wood against each other, and later by flint flint. Then splinters coated with gray appeared, but not yet as a means of making fire, but only as kindling - fire was needed to ignite them. The first mention of such chips dates back to the 10th century (China). However, primitive matches ignited from the slightest spark, and it was so convenient for lighting lamps that the Chinese poet Tao Gu called them "light-bearing servants" in his book.

The history of matches as a means of making fire began with the discovery of phosphorus in 1669 by the alchemist Brandt. In 1680, the Irish physicist Robert Boyle (the same one after whom the Boyle-Mariotte law is named) covered a strip of paper with phosphorus and, striking it with a wooden match with a sulfur head, got fire ... but did not attach any importance to this. As a result, the invention of matches was delayed by more than a century - until 1805, when the French chemist Jean Chancel proposed his version of a match with a head made from a mixture of sulfur, potassium chloride and sugar. The kit included a bottle of sulfuric acid, where matches had to be dipped to light them.

Until recently, a box of matches was an absolutely necessary item in every home without exception.

In 1826, British apothecary John Walker invented the first friction-ignited matches. He made a match head from a mixture of sulfur, potassium chlorate, sugar and antimony sulfide, and ignited it by striking on sandpaper. True, Walker's matches burned unsteadily, scattering the burning mixture, which often led to fires, and therefore their sale was banned in France and Germany. And in 1830, the French chemist Charles Sauria replaced antimony sulfide with white phosphorus.

Such matches burned perfectly, ignited with one movement of the head on any rough surface, but ... the smell of white phosphorus burning and splashing around was terrible. In addition, white phosphorus turned out to be very toxic - "phosphorus necrosis" quickly became an occupational disease of match factory workers. A single pack of matches at that time contained a lethal dose of white phosphorus, and suicide by swallowed match heads became common.

A replacement for the toxic and flammable white phosphorus has not been easy to find. This was done by the Swedish chemist Gustav Erik Pasch, who in 1844 understood one simple thing: if a match lights up due to mechanical contact of sulfur and phosphorus, it is not at all necessary to place phosphorus in the match head - it is enough to put it on a rough surface that is being struck! This decision, together with the discovery of red phosphorus (which, unlike white, does not ignite in air and is much less toxic), came to the rescue just in time, and formed the basis of the first truly safe matches. And in 1845, two other Swedes - the brothers Johan and Karl Lundström - founded a company that made safety matches a mass product, and the name " swedish matches"- a common noun.

The match is not now perceived as an amazing and useful invention of mankind.

The box of matches has become so commonplace that it is a common item in any home.

And how long have matches existed in the form in which we are accustomed to seeing them?

Modern matches packed in a small box appeared at the end of the 19th century.

The basis for the use of a match is receiving fire.

In ancient times, people received fire from burning trees during a thunderstorm and tried to keep it as long as possible.

A little later the fire got through friction of two pieces of wood, or hitting one stone against another with the formation of a spark.

The ancient Greeks and Romans knew about another way to make fire in sunny weather - with the help of concave lens they focused the sun's rays.

The history of the first matches begins in late 17th century.

At that time chemist Hankwitz, based on the discovery of the chemist Hinningom Brandom, applied sulfur to a wooden stick and, by rubbing against a piece of phosphorus, got fire.

This method resembled tarred sticks - the torches of the ancient Romans.

The disadvantage was that such wooden sticks did not burn for a long time and exploded when ignited.

In 1805 French Jean Chancel invented the incendiary device. It was a stick coated with a mixture of sulfur, resin and bartholite salt. It was enough to moisten such a stick with concentrated sulfuric acid and fire was obtained.

But this invention did not gain popularity, since carrying sulfuric acid it was not very convenient, besides, the reaction was violent, and it was possible to get burns.

English pharmacist John Walker in 1826 he tried to light a stick with sulfur and bartolet salt by striking it on sandpaper.

Such a stick had a length of about a meter, and it was not very convenient to light it.

The size of such a wand was reduced by a certain Jones and, having appropriated the invention, set up production.

The disadvantage of such matches was the explosion when ignited and poisonous smoke.

At that time, it was possible to get fire by chemical means, but the task remained to do it conveniently and safely.

The problem with explosiveness when the wand caught fire was solved 19-year-old Frenchman Char Soria in 1830, who added white phosphorus to a mixture of sulfur and bartolet salt.

Now such a mixture caught fire when rubbed against any object and burned evenly and for a long time.

But Saria was unable to patent his invention due to lack of money.

A year later, the German Kammerer made the same discovery, and soon match factories began to appear in European countries.

But this invention was not ideal either, since the match easily ignited as a result of friction with any object, which led to fires.

In addition, the composition included white phosphorus, which was very poisonous, and because of this, match factory workers died en masse.

Solved this problem Swedish chemist Johan Lundstrom, who in 1855 decided to replace white phosphorus with the newly invented red phosphorus. Red phosphorus burned in the same way, but was not poisonous.

Moreover, he applied red phosphorus to the sandpaper, on which the match was struck, and the stalk itself was soaked with ammonium phosphate, so that the match would not smolder after attenuation.

For his invention Lundstrom received a medal at the World Exhibition in Paris. This gave impetus to the spread of such matches around the world.

Such matches were safe, harmless and not expensive to produce.
So Sweden turned into a match state.

Subsequently, matches began to be purchased modern look.

The wooden stick was made from white pine in the USA, linden in Germany, and aspen in Russia.

Sulfur, bartholite salt, speckle powder and iron oxide were applied to its head. This composition allowed the match to burn evenly and slowly.

The strip against which the match is rubbed to light it contained a mixture of red phosphorus, manganese oxide and crushed glass.

In Russia, matches began to be produced around 1833-1837.

Moreover, the matches themselves and the strips for their ignition were sold separately for a long time.

And only at the end of the 19th century they began to be produced in boxes decorated with labels with information about the manufacturers.

These labels have become a collector's item.

The very word "match" in Russia came from the diminutive word " spoke". It was originally wooden nail, which was used to attach the sole to the head of the shoe.

Like this Short story making matches. And lighting another match, we don’t even think that some 150-200 years ago ordinary people there was no such easy possibility of obtaining fire.

With the advent of the first matches, humanity has finally mastered the ability to control fire like never before. With instant access to fire, cheap price, small size and reliable use, matches and lighters have enriched our history and lifestyle. The people who invented these wonderful devices were few and far between, but their efforts are still remembered in history as very important moments that changed the path of society, allowing it to develop more successfully. But not many people know the story of when matches were invented, who invented them today. This article aims to fill a knowledge gap.

The first matches ever made did not have the ability to create fire on their own, but were instead used to quickly increase smaller fire sources. Capturing the smallest spark, Chinese sticks covered with sulfur burned brightly, which made it possible to quickly form traditional fire. However, this method did not develop into something that can be used today.

Hennig Brandt

Hennig Brandt was the first chemist (he called himself an alchemist) to discover the properties of phosphorus in 1669. By discovering this substance and registering its properties, he allowed future scientists to use it in their projects and tests. Brandt himself was disappointed with the discovery of phosphorus and did not seek to develop it, instead wishing to find the secret to turning various metals into gold.

However, the young Parisian chemist Jean Chancel was very interested in inventing an easy and safe way to produce wooden matches. In 1805, he came up with a method to cause a strong chemical reaction that creates fire. For the reaction, it was necessary to dip a wooden stick, which was coated with a mixture of potassium chlorate, sulfur, sugar and rubber, into an asbestos bottle, which was filled with sulfuric acid. Although his dangerous and toxic invention did not find much commercial use, it opened the door for other inventors to step up and try to find a more chemically acceptable solution to the match improvement problem.

This solution came from John Walker, an English chemist and apothecary, who in 1826 invented sulfur matches. He combined a mixture of sulfur and other materials that coated a wooden stick and strong phosphorus-coated paper. Striking a match between the folded paper, the sulfur ignited and the wand caught fire. Over the next few years, he managed to sell numerous matches of this design, but it became apparent that his chemical formula not suitable for general use. Matches invented by Walker, burning out, left behind an unpleasant sulfur dioxide, while burning a whole sheaf of sparks flew out of them, and they were almost a meter (90 cm) long. The wand's gray tip often burned so intensely that it managed to detach itself from the wand, setting fire to the carpets and dresses of the people who used it.

John Walker

The invention did not bring Walker any money or fame. He did not want to patent his sulfur matches, although even Michael Faraday urged him to do this, but there was a resourceful boy Samuel Jones who managed to see that you can make good money here. He attended Walker's demonstrations and, based on them, created his own matches, which he called "Lucifer" and began to sell them. Matches, for all their shortcomings, were a success. They were packed in tin cases of 100 pieces each.

Matches "Lucifer"

Another great improvement in the history of matches came from the exploits of Charles Sauria, the chemist who was the first to introduce mixed white phosphorus into the match industry. Despite the fact that its mixture, created in the 1830s, was incredibly strong and highly flammable (even self-igniting), the toxicity of white phosphorus caused outrage among people and government officials who, after several decades of use, declared it banned. It got to the point that match factory workers acquired bone tissue necrosis. In those days, suicidal people even came up with a way to quickly commit suicide, they simply ate a few heads from Sauria's force matches.

Charles Sauria

The most popular match design was created by Swede Gustaf Eric Pasch (1788-1862), who, together with Johan Edvard Lundström, managed to create a safe design - an easy-to-use, cheap and non-toxic match that did not have the ability to self-ignite. By placing the phosphorus coating in a separate place, the little matches with their famous red heads instantly amazed the whole world.

Swedish matches

More than 500 billion matches are used every year, which would not have been possible without the efforts and ingenuity of all these scientists from our past.

In the video below you can see how modern matches are made:

This video explains and shows in detail how the combustion reaction of a match occurs:

Also, beautiful fiery dominoes are obtained from matches:

Matches were invented in 1680

Matches are a more remarkable invention than it might seem. The very first matches, invented in the 17th century, meant that a person began to use fire easily and simply, because he had fast way get it in a couple of seconds. In 1680, the Englishman Robert Boyle invented primitive matches coated with sulphur, which ignited on contact with phosphorus. However, these matches were impractical due to the volatility of phosphorus.

It took 150 years before another Englishman, chemist John Walker, invented the first matches that flash when rubbed, but not for the convenience of smokers, but for hunting rifles.

Discovery of John Walker

Walker made this discovery by accident: he said that he mixed potassium chloride with antimony sulfide, and then scratched the stones with a stick that interfered with them to clean it, and the stick flared up. In Walker's hand was the very first match in the world that broke out when rubbed. It ignited because enough heat was generated by friction to bring the resulting compound up to its ignition temperature (which is relatively low).

Walker did not patent his invention, and soon many chemists began to produce their matches, improving Walker's recipe by adding white phosphorus to the compound. The matches usually came with a strip of sandpaper to light the matches, but it was not uncommon for them to ignite on their own, simply by rubbing against each other.

The solution to this problem was found in 1855, when a decade after the discovery of the more stable red phosphorus, Swedish scientist Johan Edvard Lundström added it to the very first safety matches in the world.

Elena Polenova, Samogo.Net