Matches and Tins

[JCbluegrassrifles]

I know this topic has been brought up before. Where is the best place to find period matches and correct match tins? Any help would be appreciated.

[MarkTK36thIL]

Re: Matches and Tins

Unfortunately, period matches are not available. I have heard of some pretty cool ways in which people have substituted for this;most notable was a guy who cut matchsticks to a correct point and then glued them together. Any period vendors could hit a potential jackpot in this area. I don't remember the rest of the discussion from last summer, but others may still.

[DixieLand1859]

Re: Matches and Tins

Don’t have much to say regarding the period matches, but I have known a few guys who have had good luck finding period match safes at local antique stores / shows, but as with anything it all depends on knowing what your looking for and what your willing to pay.

[Jonah Barleycorn]

Re: Matches and Tins

Howdy Comrade,

Brass matchsafes can be found on ebay every once in a while. I picked up an original over there a while back that had a engraved federal eagle motif that was the spittin' image of one as shown in EOG.

They do have a lot that are decidedly post-period, so watch out for them also.


Bully,

[RyanBWeddle]

Re: Matches and Tins

My personal belief is that match safes are too common in the 'authentic' ranks. Probably too many people in general carry them in the field.

You could just wrap them in paper. Here is a great quote:

"One day while we were marching through Georgia, or some other State south, the writer and possibly a score of others were surprised to see Dick step quickly out of ranks, and without a word fling his trusty old Springfield onto the ground. Before a stuttering boy could count to ten he had unburdened himself of knapsack and accoutrements, tossing them in a promiscuous heap, and then, in one time and two motions, off came his blouse.
We looked on in astonishment, and while cogitating in our own minds as to whether he had suddenly made up his mind to muster himself out and quit the service, or was getting ready to climb some fellow's frame, the sight of smoke issuing from the inner folds of the blouse, and the odor of "fried wool" and brimstone, revealed pretty clearly to our bewildered minds the true status of the case, accounting for Dick's strange actions, the only time we had ever known him to become "rattled."
A bunch of matches, rolled in paper and placed in the inside pocket of his blouse, from friction or outside pressure, had been ignited, and were making things hot in that locality.
The whole scene from beginning to end occupied less time than required to write this, and Dick was back in ranks and cool as a cucumber. The only serious results were a red spot on his left side and a partially-consumed blouse pocket, the latter a total loss, for Uncle Billy's boys didn't care to assume the additional burden of carrying a fire or life insurance policy, particularly when the other fellows were the ones who needed such things most. "

From The National Tribune, by J. Ross, 78th Ohio Vols. Courtesy Larry Stevens

Some matches came in the 'fence row' style, other loose.

So my advice is:

A. Don't Carry Matches (everyone else does - why should you?)
B. If you must carry them, use a proper match box or wrap them in paper.

[HOG.EYE.MAN]

Re: Matches and Tins

Ryan,

Wow, great quote!

Next time you see me taking my poop off real fast, you'll know why.... :confused_

[58 lorenz]

Re: Matches and Tins

I'm reviving this older thread on the topic of matches. I needed matches for an upcoming event,and had to go all over the area before I was able to locate "strike anywhere" wooden kitchen matches. All the big places like grocery stores and WalMart only had the "strike on box" variety. Is this just a local thing,or have others found this type of match becoming scarce?


Doug Price

[KathyBradford]

Strike anywhere matches

A quick internet search showed they are becoming rare. A few Y2K-type and camping sites advertised them for $5.49/box, and there are some mentioned on e-bay. The place we last bought them now exclusively carries the strike on box type.

This is the company that makes the Blue Diamond brand of matches. They mention the difference between the strike anywhere and strike on box types.

http://www.diamondbrands.com/contact.html

Email to Diamond/Forster Brand - diamondinfo@alltrista.com

From their website:

"Match History
In the 1870’s the predecessor to the safety match was appropriately called “Lucifer”. This was made with white or yellow phosphorous and sulphur. These were dangerous chemicals to work with and proved dangerous even in the final product.

Lucifers many times ignited with a series of explosions that scattered dangerous bits of fire over the carpet. They would also explode when trodden upon, which increased the danger of having them around. Nevertheless, they were used considerably among the wealthier classes in the Southern and Western states, though little more is known outside of the US.

The production of matches in that day was filled with dangers and ailments that sometimes led to death. Most problems were caused by the extremely flammable white and yellow phosphorous, which emitted noxious fumes that would infect and decay the mouth and jaw."


Please let us know what you find if you follow up on this.

Thanks,

[Enfilade]

"Cool as a cucumber"

And finally I have seen the statement, "cool as a cucumber".

Thanks.

Mark Berrier
North State Rifles
combinations@northstate.net

[markj]

Re: Matches and Tins

Hi,

Here is another idea, depending on your needs, which has also been discussed previously: namely, use a "burning glass" (i.e., magnifying glass). These are definitely documented and were used for lighting pipes, cigars, etc. on sunny days to save matches.

Try contacting Blue Heron Mercantile (located right here in Lafayette IN) as it sells burning glasses for about $3 apiece + shipping:

http://www.blueheronmercantile.com/

Good luck,

Mark Jaeger

[theknapsack]

Re: Matches and Tins

Hi,

Here is another idea, depending on your needs, which has also been discussed previously: namely, use a "burning glass" (i.e., magnifying glass). These are definitely documented and were used for lighting pipes, cigars, etc. on sunny days to save matches. . . Mark Jaeger

Did I miss something on the old forum? Could you provide any documentation, or at least recommend a source where I may find it? I am intrigued, but I've never heard of a "burning glass". Any help would be appreciated, but I'll see if I can find something in a source.

Riley Ewen

[fidlr1]

Re: Matches and Tins

I'm reviving this older thread on the topic of matches. I needed matches for an upcoming event,and had to go all over the area before I was able to locate "strike anywhere" wooden kitchen matches. All the big places like grocery stores and WalMart only had the "strike on box" variety. Is this just a local thing,or have others found this type of match becoming scarce?


Doug Price

I've found 'em in my local natural foods co-op, oddly enough...try locally owned hardware stores & groceries, (these are becoming increasingly rare
these days), I guess the mass-market stores don't want to risk liability or
something...

[markj]

Re: Matches and Tins

Did I miss something on the old forum? Could you provide any documentation, or at least recommend a source where I may find it? I am intrigued, but I've never heard of a "burning glass". Any help would be appreciated, but I'll see if I can find something in a source.

Riley Ewen

Hi Riley,

I know it was a Confederate post-war memoir--possibly "Rebel Private, Front and Rear" (I'm writing this from work). However, I distinctly remember the writer referred to his company commander's habit of hauling out his "glass" to light his pipe on sunny days, the better to save precious matches.

Documented use of "burning glasses" by settlers and woodsmen dates back to at least the 18th Century. These were used in addition to the usual "flint and steel" or friction-rubbing techniques of fire-making.

Hope this helps,

Mark Jaeger

[KathyBradford]

Re: Matches and Tins

Mark,

You piqued my curiosity. The history is certainly there, and the reference to the officer lighting his pipe is fascinating.

Found in a quick search -

http://www.namweb.com.na/wiki/wiki.phtml?title=Burning-glass

"A burning-glass is a large convex lens, which can focus the sun's rays on a small area and so ignite materials. Used in 18th century chemical studies for burning materials in closed glass vessels where the products of combustion could be trapped for analysis. A useful contrivance in the days before electrical ignition was easily achieved.

The technology of the burning glass has been known since antiquity. Aristophanes mentions the burning-lens in "The Clouds," and Archimedes, the renowned mathematician, was said to have used a burning glass in 212 B.C. when Syracuse was besieged by Marcellus. Archimedes constructed a burning-glass on a scale of such magnitude that by means of it the Roman fleet was set aflame, though eventually when the city was taken, he was found among the slain. The legend of Archimedes gave rise to a considerable amount of reseach on burning glasses and lenses until the late 17th century.

Recent excavations at the Viking harbor town of Fröjel, Gotland in Sweden have revealed that this technology of fire-starting was known in the Viking Age as well. Rock crystal lenses produced at Fröjel in the 11th to 12th century via turning on pole-lathes have been found that have an imaging quality comparable to that of 1950's aspheric lenses. The Viking lenses quite effectively concentrate sunlight rapidly enough to ignite fires."

[KathyBradford]

Strike Anywhere Matches

From the company that makes "strike anywhere" matches (formerly Diamond brand)

"A case of penny matches has 240 packages of 32 count each. I can sell direct to you by the case only. The total cost for one case is $57.94. We accept Visa, Mastercard or Discover. If you would like to order a case, our phone is 800-777-7942."

According to the company, they do not sell to any store in our state. However, they do sell to some stores in nearby Pennsylvania. Their hours are 8-5 CST.