Thank you for the fascinating information, David. I don’t wish to sound pompous but I already knew the details. In the UK, there were (still are!!) two types of phosphorus (allotropes) used in the production of matches. The type you mention has all the chemicals in the head, including a minute amount of yellow phosphorus and simply requires a bit of friction to ignite the match. A very British match. The second type has some of the chemicals in the head and some red phosphorus on the friction paper - called ‘safety matches’ because they won’t catch fire by friction alone, they need to strike the red phosphorus paper. The latter are to be found here and are the main type on the continent. As an aside, in the early 60s my late father used to invite his good friend around to watch ‘Maigret’ on a Saturday night. Mum would make sandwiches and we had tea and biscuits to watch this excellent series with Rupert Davies as the star. Why am I waffling on?? My dad’s friend was French and as the opening credits were running, showing Rupert Davies (‘Maigret’) lighting his pipe by striking a match on a wall, both my dad and his friend would ALWAYS say out loud “you can’t do that in France, they only have safety matches.” Over 60 years later the series, as good as ever, ‘Maigret’ was repeated on ‘Talking Pictures TV’ and as I watched, I mentally repeated that ‘mantra’ from all those years ago.
@@OriginalNethead Recommended viewing. Also (was on ‘Talking Pictures TV recently) the French version with Bruno Cremer as Maigret. It’s with English subtitles and is an excellent series that ran from 1991 to 2005. Try and see that if you can.
IIRC, before Walker's serendipitous discovery and subsequent invention of his 'Congreve' match, the normal method of lighting a fire would normally have involved a tinder-box which would have contained flint and steel or flint and pyrites*, as well as tinder. However the sparks obtained from such substances are not particularly hot and therefore need skill and special care and suitable materials to get them to cause something to first smoulder, which is where the tinder is involved. Tinder is something like char-cloth, or a certain type of bracket fungus (specially prepared) [Note I am not being specific about the fungus because there is a risk of over collection]. From this a suitably skilled person can ignite kindling, and ultimately light a fire. In comparison, matches are quite amazing. In a damp climate like the UK, lighting a fire with flint and steel (or flint and pyrites) can be fairly challenging. *I am ignoring other methods of fire lighting, including the amazing fire-piston, invented in South-East Asia. Please note, I am no expert in this, I only know this from research.
I know it was a long time ago and it worked out, but he could have patented it and ripped it up and never chased up others. I guess my worry would have been someone else could have patented it.
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
Bryant and May once grew their Poplars at a plantation in Willington, Bedfordshire!
Thank you for the fascinating information, David. I don’t wish to sound pompous but I already knew the details.
In the UK, there were (still are!!) two types of phosphorus (allotropes) used in the production of matches.
The type you mention has all the chemicals in the head, including a minute amount of yellow phosphorus and simply requires a bit of friction to ignite the match. A very British match.
The second type has some of the chemicals in the head and some red phosphorus on the friction paper - called ‘safety matches’ because they won’t catch fire by friction alone, they need to strike the red phosphorus paper. The latter are to be found here and are the main type on the continent.
As an aside, in the early 60s my late father used to invite his good friend around to watch ‘Maigret’ on a Saturday night. Mum would make sandwiches and we had tea and biscuits to watch this excellent series with Rupert Davies as the star.
Why am I waffling on??
My dad’s friend was French and as the opening credits were running, showing Rupert Davies (‘Maigret’) lighting his pipe by striking a match on a wall, both my dad and his friend would ALWAYS say out loud “you can’t do that in France, they only have safety matches.”
Over 60 years later the series, as good as ever, ‘Maigret’ was repeated on ‘Talking Pictures TV’ and as I watched, I mentally repeated that ‘mantra’ from all those years ago.
Excellent information, thank you Derek
I never saw the series, but did read the books.
@@OriginalNethead Recommended viewing.
Also (was on ‘Talking Pictures TV recently) the French version with Bruno Cremer as Maigret. It’s with English subtitles and is an excellent series that ran from 1991 to 2005. Try and see that if you can.
Very interesting and informative David.
A most striking video!
Of matchless value
Thanks for that interesting information, David. I learn a lot from watching your videos.
Very welcome Joan, thank you
Well strike a light! This has ignited my interest in pyrotechnics!
IIRC, before Walker's serendipitous discovery and subsequent invention of his 'Congreve' match, the normal method of lighting a fire would normally have involved a tinder-box which would have contained flint and steel or flint and pyrites*, as well as tinder. However the sparks obtained from such substances are not particularly hot and therefore need skill and special care and suitable materials to get them to cause something to first smoulder, which is where the tinder is involved. Tinder is something like char-cloth, or a certain type of bracket fungus (specially prepared) [Note I am not being specific about the fungus because there is a risk of over collection]. From this a suitably skilled person can ignite kindling, and ultimately light a fire. In comparison, matches are quite amazing. In a damp climate like the UK, lighting a fire with flint and steel (or flint and pyrites) can be fairly challenging.
*I am ignoring other methods of fire lighting, including the amazing fire-piston, invented in South-East Asia.
Please note, I am no expert in this, I only know this from research.
Interesting. She probably just read the date letter wrong on the hallmark. Sometimes they’re not easy to decipher.
Them about 100 years later around 1914 the safety match was developed.
I know it was a long time ago and it worked out, but he could have patented it and ripped it up and never chased up others. I guess my worry would have been someone else could have patented it.
I see what you’re saying, but yes it all worked out well in the end. He gave the world instant light and heat !