Committee’s Award winner 2024
Exhibitor : David Figg
During World War II, four of Australia’s match manufacturers issued box labels bearing patriotic war slogans and maxims. The firms were : Bryant & May (Melbourne), W. A. Match Co. (Perth), Federal Match Company (Sydney) and Duncan’s (also of Melbourne).
As well as the box size labels shown here, there was one dozen packet label issued by Bryant & May which encouraged the population to “Eat, Drink, Wear, Use – Australian Made Goods”.
Naturally, this was in the days when a box of matches contained 60 sticks, the box was made of wood instead of cardboard, and the product itself was also 100% made in Australia, a “striking” contrast to the situation today where all are now imported.
