Match Making Plant

Abstract

The development of matches was preceded by centuries of experiment with many methods of fire making, but the production of fire by spontaneous chemical reaction was unknown until the 17th century. A variety of experiments continued until the friction match, introduced in the 19th century, provided a means of making fire that was pocketable, reliable, safe and speedy. With early methods of fire production it was common to use specially made splinters tipped with some combustible substance, such as sulfur, to transfer the flame.