Hey Buddy Got a Match?

[Jimmayo]

These came from a collection which originated in the Bannerman's era. These are the only matches I have seen which are positively Identified to the CW era. Looks similar to some sold on sutler row or on e-bay (can't remember where I have seen them) but I have always had my doubts. From the qualitity of other items in the collection I am confident they are right. The stamp is "US" but almost appears to be "CS"

[tmdreb]

Re: Hey Buddy Got a Match?

I have yet to see anything like that on sutler's row.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Hey Buddy Got a Match?

I agree with Phil. Wouldn't small-headed strike-anywhere sheets of matches like that pretty much be the holy grail of match reproductions? People make non-functioning ones for show, but I'd sure like to know what sutlers are selling functioning repros like that. Or are you talking about the originals that sometimes come up for sale?

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[Jimmayo]

Re: Hey Buddy Got a Match?

I agree with Phil. Wouldn't small-headed strike-anywhere sheets of matches like that pretty much be the holy grail of match reproductions? People make non-functioning ones for show, but I'd sure like to know what sutlers are selling functioning repros like that. Or are you talking about the originals that sometimes come up for sale?

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

I think I saw them on e-bay not at sutlers.

[BobSullivanPress]

Re: Hey Buddy Got a Match?

I picked up mine at a Richmond Civil War Show many years ago.

matches

[edgeinwi]

Re: Hey Buddy Got a Match?

I began a thread about reproducing match cards a couple of years ago. This is my winter project. I'm actually in the process of putting together a die that will cut out the cards as shown above. I already have the red phosphorous, sulphur, gypsum and binder. Once I have the die perfected, I will begin reproducing match cards. So far, the ones I've made seem to separate too easily at the base. I think pine was the wood of choice, but I'm experimenting with different species to determine which (ie red pine, white pine, jack pine, etc) will give the best results. I have found no reference as to which species of pine was used.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Hey Buddy Got a Match?

So far, the ones I've made seem to separate too easily at the base. I think pine was the wood of choice, but I'm experimenting with different species to determine which (ie red pine, white pine, jack pine, etc) will give the best results. I have found no reference as to which species of pine was used.

Ironically, I've been able to get the wood, but not the chemical part of it. What I started with was the thin end of some sawn wood shingles we had lying around. It's just the right thickness, and the taper isn't noticeable over the short length of the matches. They happened to be white cedar shingles, and I cut them with a fine-bladed saw across the grain, and an exacto knife with the grain. I scored between the matches almost all the way through in depth, though of course some split through as I was doing it, leaving the normal amount of base uncut.

They function great with tips dipped in red paint, except for that little detail of lighting. :) They hold together under normal conditions, and break off one by one when you want, and look like vintage ones I bought on eBay a while ago. The cutting method I used would be too cumbersome for commercial production, and using only the bottom quarter of shingles would be too wasteful unless you could get scraps, but maybe there's something useful there that you could adapt to production.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[JohnTaylorCW]

Re: Hey Buddy Got a Match?

Surprisingly, I had a similar set a few years ago (no more than 2-3) from a high end Toronto restaurant (novelty sovenier.) If you took off the paper cover, they would be identical, (wood, narrow heads, joined at the base) except for the US mark. So somewhere they are still being made. Unfortunately, the remaining matches are in Toronto, and I'm in Japan for several months, so I can't track down who made them at this time....

[flattop32355]

Re: Hey Buddy Got a Match?

Looks like a definite C.S. rather than U.S. to me.

But then, I was wrong once before... :)

[Bushrod Carter]

Re: Hey Buddy Got a Match?

Surprisingly, I had a similar set a few years ago (no more than 2-3) from a high end Toronto restaurant (novelty sovenier.) If you took off the paper cover, they would be identical, (wood, narrow heads, joined at the base) except for the US mark. So somewhere they are still being made. Unfortunately, the remaining matches are in Toronto, and I'm in Japan for several months, so I can't track down who made them at this time....

Yes, someone out there IS making these. I saw some that were given out as "perks" by a tobacco company while I was living in Wales. As John said, they were EXACTLY like the originals pictured above (minus the US stamp). My one flat mate that smoked had them and when questioned couldn't remember where he got them other than "some bloke with the tobacconist gave them to me as a promo."

Anyway, that was 12 years ago. However, there HAS GOT to be someone out there making these.

[Chuck A Luck]

Re: Hey Buddy Got a Match?

I began a thread about reproducing match cards a couple of years ago. This is my winter project. I'm actually in the process of putting together a die that will cut out the cards as shown above. I already have the red phosphorous, sulphur, gypsum and binder. Once I have the die perfected, I will begin reproducing match cards. So far, the ones I've made seem to separate too easily at the base...

Well, I for one would be interested in buying some from you -- should you ever succeed in this "project" and be interested in selling the product. Using individually boxed wooden matches is one of the non-realistic parts of my impression I've been wanting to better.

So, at the very least, you have at least one buyer waiting impatiently in the wings!

[CeeBeeRebel]

Re: Hey Buddy Got a Match?

Charles,

Have you tracked down any of that twist? I am out now and no longer in the same location where I found it the last time. I might be going there to visit sometime but was wondering if you had found any stores that carry it.

Brandon Sollars

[Canton Zouave]

Re: Hey Buddy Got a Match?

The Yankee Cartridge Company used to make matches very similar to these, though the match head was larger. Chris Sedlac was the maker, but since his deployment to Iraq and subsequent return, his small works has been set aside....for a 12 pound Napoleon. I will look for my set to post an image.

[PieBoy96]

Re: Hey Buddy Got a Match?

I have a handful of functioning matches that are VERY close to these originals. Only thing different is that they are the proportions of a standard book of matches and a hair wider per match. I got them (of all places) in Rome, Italy at a hotel. Of course, I snatched up as many books as I could find.

I am in Chicago right now, but when I get home I will scan them.

[Western Blue Belly]

Re: Hey Buddy Got a Match?

Well, I for one would be interested in buying some from you -- should you ever succeed in this "project" and be interested in selling the product. Using individually boxed wooden matches is one of the non-realistic parts of my impression I've been wanting to better.

So, at the very least, you have at least one buyer waiting impatiently in the
wings!

I too would be interested in buying some.