Lighters - Europe Match Gmbh

The history of fire
In the history of the human race the fire has played an important role as an origin of light and warmth.
The evolution was influenced by the fire as well as the development of science and technique.
Due to fire caused by nature related events such as volcano eruptions or lightning activities, humans realized the
meaning of flames (fire) and they learned to care and save it. The competence to handle the fire and use it reasonably
let the importance of fire grow in the daily life. Survival often relied on the skill to make fire and save it.
In the primeval times fire gave heat and protection against wild animals. An additional step of development was
made in preparing food, because it became more digestible and longer durable. Sparks were created with a flint
stone in order to ignite tinder. This is the oldest way of fire ignition.
In the Stone Age humans ignited fire by hitting two stones or rubbing two boughs together. Now humans were
able to ignite fire whenever and wherever they needed it. During the time the use of fire opened humans more
and more possibilities. Not only in domestic daily life or for protection but fire became important in magical and
symbolical rituals as well.
Today fire is part of our culture and it's incredible when not impossible to live without. As before fire is used for
cooking and heating. The light of a burning candle is used to light up a room not only in the case of festivities.
The symbolism of fire at Easter or other pre-Christian traditions is conveyed into the present time.
The development of the match
The development of the match at the end of the 17th century, the first "ignition medium" was an incredible break
through. The English physicist Robert Boyle covered a small piece of paper with phosphor and a small piece of
wood with sulphur.
From 1785 the precursor of the matches became known when phosphor was filled in small bottles in which a stick
was dipped that ignited on contact with oxygen. The French Jean Louis Chancel invented 1805 the first matches,
which were coated by a mix of potassiumclorate, sulphur, sugar and gum arabicum. The ignition occured by dipping
the sticks into sulphuric acid, which was filled in small bins. This invention was named "Dip lighter".
John Walker, English chemist and apothecary from Stockton-on-Tees, invented the first friction matches 1827,
before 1830 the French chemist Charles Sauria created matches with white phosphor.
2 Fire&Flame