Name/Title
MatchboxEntry/Object ID
2026.12.3Description
Three-Legged Pot MatchboxContext
Before the 1830s phosphorus matches were common but dangerous. They could be struck against any type of surface, so they burned too easily, causing many accidents.
In 1844, the Swede Gustaf Erik Pasch succeeded in separating the components required for ignition between box and matchstick, and the world's first safety match was patented Oct 30, 1844. The Swedish safety match perfected and patented in 1852 by Johan Edvard Lundström and his brother Carl Frans Lundström was a further improvement on Pasch's invention.
Swedish matches were recognized throughout the world as market leading in quality and safety. The Vulcan match factory was founded in Tidaholm, Sweden in 1868, everything changed. What had previously been a large country estate quickly grew into an industrial community and eventually into a city.
Vulcan became the world's largest match factory and put Tidaholm on the world map. The factory is still there today, now under the name Swedish Match.Acquisition
Accession
2026.12Source or Donor
Stuart KuzminskyAcquisition Method
GiftCredit Line
Gift of Stuart and Anna KuzminskyMade/Created
Manufacturer
Jönköping & Vulcan MatchesDate made
1880 - 1900Lexicon
LOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials
MatchesSearch Terms
Safety Matches; HalloweenDimensions
Width
1 inDepth
1 inLength
2 inReproductions
Notes
Reproduction of the Museum's archives for publication, commercial use, or distribution requires written permission.
