{"id":4341,"date":"2026-01-20T17:49:56","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T17:49:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/?page_id=4341"},"modified":"2026-05-29T07:46:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T07:46:59","slug":"on-line-exhibit-novelties","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/on-line-exhibit-novelties\/","title":{"rendered":"Novelties"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Novelty matchboxes, made from plastic and cork<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Exhibitor : Phil Stringer<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Once matches became a common item in most people\u2019s homes the marketing people really got to work to design new, innovative, attractive products which people would be unable to resist buying.<\/p>\n

Why stick with a boring old stick of wood with a match head on one end ? Why not have double-ended matches, glass matches, sweet matches, matchboxes that contained books, alcohol or something else.<\/p>\n

Matchboxes don\u2019t just come in wood or cardboard, they come in all manner of materials and designs, which are commonly known as “Novelties”. Here is a selection of some of my favourite Novelties in my own collection.<\/p>\n

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Block Matches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Block matches<\/strong> \u2013 ca. 1860\u2019s these were typically produced in America and were often referred to as percussion matches. Made from a solid block of wood which was cut through leaving a thin connected portion at the base from which the individual matches could be snapped off.<\/p>\n

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Comb matches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Comb matches<\/strong> \u2013 these were produced and used during the American civil war (1861 \u2013 1865) and onwards, probably made by the Portland Match Company, latterly absorbed by Diamond Match Co.<\/p>\n

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Perfumed Fusees matchbox<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Perfumed fusees<\/strong> box \u2013 Fusees were made from cardboard steeped in potassium nitrate. They were intended for outdoor use and would smoulder rather than burn with a flame. Noted for their unfavourable odour, this Hynams box presents a solution.<\/p>\n

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Amadou fusees<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Amadou fusees<\/strong> as an alternative to cardboard this specimen was made from a natural fungus Fomes Fomentarius a spongy material that was often employed as tinder, prized for its slow burning properties.<\/p>\n

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Bengal matches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bengal matches<\/strong><\/a> would burn for a sustained time with a coloured flame. Several examples are shown here some which would burn with a green flame and some with a red one.  The Brilliant and the Chinese Cracker Matches, top left and top right, are another type that would burn like a sparkler firework. A province in the Indian state of Bengal served as a source for Potassium Nitrate which was used in fireworks known as Bengal Lights. In 1880 the first coloured matches appeared taking on the Bengal name.<\/p>\n

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Wax vestas tin and match<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Wax vestas<\/strong> had stems made from cotton strands coated with wax negating the need for an intermediary agent.<\/p>\n

These waterproof versions from Bell and Co also had their heads externally coated with wax to prevent the ingress of moisture, popular in Australia.<\/p>\n

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Water-resistant matches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Water resistant matches<\/strong> \u2013 made by the American Diamond Match Company these waterproof matches employ the slogan \u201csheds water like a ducks back\u201d suggesting the hunting\/outdoor environment they were usually employed in. Today this type are often referred to as survival matches and used by campers.<\/p>\n

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Ships Lifeboat matches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ships lifeboat matches<\/strong> \u2013 held in a waterproof container this type of match with a long head is generically known as a windproof\/waterproof match. The first designs contained a standard box of Cigar Lights each match being wrapped in greaseproof paper, this was held in a tin sealed with a removable strip around the side edge. These tins, one of which is shown on the left were probably in use between 1910 \u2013 1930. The second container, made from Bakelite, can be found with several different varieties that spanned a period from the 1930\u2019s to the 1970\u2019s. The aluminium containers probably date from the 1980\u2019s and the plastic type from the 1990\u2019s onwards.<\/p>\n

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Double-headed Ducal match<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Double headed matches<\/strong> \u2013 Made by the Ducal Light Company Ltd 1941 -1949. With materials hard to come by during WW2 these were intended to save on wood.<\/p>\n

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Smoke matches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Smoke matches<\/strong> \u2013 A modern match type that contains a smoking agent designed to produce 2 to 3 cubic metres of smoke for 20 to 30 seconds. They can be used by professional people like plumbers or heating engineers to test the air flow in flues or the effectiveness of smoke alarms.<\/p>\n

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Permanent Match and advert<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The Permanent Match<\/strong>, in the manner of its function, sits between the Friction Match and the petrol lighter. A cotton wool filled receptacle absorbs lighter fuel from the case, it has a steel tip which when drawn across the pyrite striker causes sparks to ignite the fuel. This example dates from the 1960\u2019s.<\/p>\n

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Self extinguishing matches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Self Extinguishing match<\/strong> \u2013 a safety feature to make sure that a match will not continue to burn is to infuse the stem with a chemical flame retardant. In 1912 Hendrick and Son patented a mechanical solution, the image shows a spring drawn back to light the match, releasing it put the flame out.<\/p>\n

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Pullmatches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pullmatch<\/strong> \u2013 (top left) this invention involved a match where the head was enclosed within the striking material, when withdrawn it would automatically ignite. This idea can be traced as far back as 1836, almost a century later in 1934 the British Pullmatch Co. started production of this brand. (bottom left) A more recent version from Saudi Arabia. (right) A version from the 1980\u2019s made from plastic, it has a self adhesive surface on the back, designed to be fixed to a cigarette packet for convenience.<\/p>\n

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Firestarter matches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Firestarter matches<\/strong> \u2013 a more modern invention where firestarters have their own striking composition negating the need for a separate box of matches.<\/p>\n

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Cigarette packet with matches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Cigarette packet with matches<\/strong> \u2013 produced by the Berkos Cigarette Co Ltd which was registered in 1923. Machette Cigarettes were produced in 1926, with a wooden match comb on the reverse of the inner sleeve and a striker on the outside of the carton. Their slogan was \u201cA matchless cigarette with matches\u201d.<\/p>\n

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Self-lighting cigarettes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Self-Lighting cigarettes<\/strong> \u2013 this idea has been presented several times over the years, Noakes Brothers Tobacco Company issued a self-lighting cigarette as far back as 1908. The Deca brand was released in 1962, the red patch was rubbed against a striking surface on the box to ignite it. Their slogan was \u201cthere is no match for Deca\u201d.<\/p>\n

In 1964 the Commissioners of Customs and Excise asserted that it should be liable to match tax as well as tobacco tax. A high court ruling said the tax was not payable because they were not matches as they didn\u2019t actually produce a flame.<\/p>\n

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Self-Lighting cigarette papers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Self-Lighting cigarette papers<\/strong> \u2013 Taking the self-lighting cigarette one step further French manufacturer A Lejeune produced self-igniting cigarette papers.<\/p>\n

Instructions on the packet show how to use it and state how much was saved by not having to buy matches.<\/p>\n

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Bryant & May Ark boxes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Four Bryant and May Ark<\/strong> brand matchboxes from the 1930\u2019s the largest one at the top has matches that measure 292mm long, often referred to as barbecue matches. The large Ark lower left has matches that are 57mm long. The one in the middle is of the regular size with matches measuring 44mm in length. The smallest box on the right has matches that are 35mm long.<\/p>\n

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Below left probably the tiniest box<\/strong> of functional matches which can actually be ignited, measuring just 23mm in length. Next two miniature boxes each measuring 21mm long with associated clay pipe used for advertising W G Ingram Gramwell rubber products. The next piece has been made for a dolls house or diorama display and measures 42mm wide. Finally a tiny individual box of Swan Vesta matches measuring 12mm in length with a sliding drawer and individual matches that can be removed (not functional).<\/p>\n

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Tiny box<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Joke matches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Many types of joke matches<\/strong> were produced, some using genuine recognisable brands like the Bryant & May example where a fake sheet of matches spring up when the box is opened. Some employed convincing designs like the box in the middle. This is completely made from metal with a clockwork mechanism that sends a spark from a lighter flint shooting up when opened. The box on the right declares its joke on the label where it states that the matches \u201cWon\u2019t Strike Anywhere\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Consumables in matchboxes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Consumables<\/strong> in match boxes \u2013 Top left a tiny bottle containing drinkable beer with a miniature glass. Below – four samples of chilli powder produced by Marvling Bros the name derived from \u201cMarvellous Thing\u201d they produce a wide range of products to fit in their matchboxes. Right \u2013 tinplate vesta case. Many of these were produced with a sample product such as tobacco or cocoa powder. When consumed a tin with a striking surface was left that could be used to hold matches. This example from the Great Eastern Railway came with a biscuit which still remains in place.<\/p>\n

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Look like matches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Look like matches?<\/strong> – Top left and below \u2013 BOAC, a cover with printed matches concealing a fold out advertising what they have to offer. Next – Matchless Dartmoor as it says no matches but a selection of photographic views. Next –  Advertising product for Sanfire with printed match effect. Next – A  Bryant and May produced bookmatch like cover advertising McEwan\u2019s lager with nail filing boards inside. Next – Betterwear advertising item in the shape of a bookmatch cover with match like strips designed to glue the ends of a ladder in a stocking to stop it lengthening. Next \u2013 Mamo the moth killer that is \u201ca match for a moth\u201d the strips to be torn off and placed in the pockets of clothes. Far right Matchstick Garden each stick holding a seed to be planted. Bottom left Haemostyl an Estonian product containing sticks coated in a substance designed to staunch the blood from a shaving cut. Below right a Bryant and May box produced for Maynards for match-like sweets not for matches.<\/p>\n

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Vesta Cases<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Vesta cases<\/strong> were made from all sorts of materials and featured all sorts of subjects. Top from left to right Tortoise shell, palm nut, lizard skin, metal and glass, agate, Vulcanite, wood, cardboard and below far right vegetable ivory. Bottom row left to right a pair of breeches, horse shoe, owl, horses head, stag beetle, bomb, Gladstone, shoe.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/strong><\/a> to return to the Exhibition Catalogue.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Exhibitor : Phil Stringer Once matches became a common item in most people\u2019s homes the marketing people really got to work to design new, innovative, attractive products which people would be unable to resist buying. Why stick with a boring old stick of wood with a match head on one end ? Why not have […] Read more<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4341","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4341","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4341"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4341\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7387,"href":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4341\/revisions\/7387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/phillumeny.com\/johnwalker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}