Pocket Match Safe

[Sgt Major Barber]

Hey all. Five straight days of sunshine here on the Orygun coast....must be the end of the world.

Does anyone out there have a website that would show CW era (reproduction) pocket match safe?  Or does anyone have one that they would recommend.

Thanks
Sgt Major Barber

[River City John]

I believe River Junction Trade shows some on their website.

www.riverjunction.com/catalog/saloon/matches.html

[Delmonico]

If you can scrounge up a paper 10 gauge shell and a paper 12 gauge one the two slipped together make a pretty cool one and I bet somebody did it in the time period.

[Texas Lawdog]

Del, That's what I call "field expedency"!

[Delmonico]

Del, That's what I call "field expedency"!

And in the day it would be free.

[Texas Lawdog]

Yessir!

[Dr. Bob]

Learned from Trap that a 44WCF slips into a 45-70 case and makes a pocket sized one.

[Sgt Major Barber]

Hi.  Those items at River Junction are really neat, but out of the price range for my use.  It will be a show and tell item at my presentations to the local schools.  I have all my "stuff" now and just wanted to add some little stuff for flavor.  I will get some pictures taken here one of these days and when I do, I will inquire for help in posting a few.
Thanks.
SM Barber

[Niederlander]

Sergeant Major,
      I may have one I'd sell fairly cheap.  Let me check and I'll get back to you.

[St. George]

You'll find them in antique shops and the like.

Originals are often less expensive than the reproductions.

Here's a bit more information...

******

St. George's Notes X - The Matchsafe...
« on: October 11, 2004, 11:19:50 PM »     

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One thing about the Old West - Politically Correct, it wasn't.

Men (and some women) used tobacco in its many forms - pipe, cigar, snuff, plug and cigarette.
Obviously some of these forms didn't require smoking, but most did and in order to light one of the things - you needed fire.

The earliest matches were invented in 1827 - in England - by a druggist named John Walker.
Their Trade name was "Lucifer", and due to the phosphorous and sulphur involved - smelled a bit like Hell.

Later on, "Strike Anywhere" matches arrived on the scene in America around 1836, or so.

These more closely resembled what we use today - with yellow or white phosphorous heads, mixed with sulphur and other ingredients.
These were also somewhat poisonous and some folks committed suicide by eating the match heads - an interesting concept.

In 1855 - safety matches were a Swedish invention - but were rare on the Frontier - though available.
Paper book matches came about in 1892.

What this has to do with your Old West impression is this...

You needed to carry the things - and a matchsafe was the ideal method of doing so.

Match safes were relatively waterproof containers for small wooden matches.
They were often an advertising item - given by tobacconists and saloon owners as well as by harness makers, dry goods stores and in fact - anyone who had an advertising message to impart.

They existed in hard rubber (Gutta Percha), plated metal, sterling silver - a real "Gent's" item - and with celluloid panels featuring advertising, World's Fairs or Expositions and pictures.
Some were leather-wrapped and embossed.

You'll usually see them in rectangular form - with a hinged lid and a serrated bottom that acted as a striking surface (think "Zippo" construction - as far as the spring closure arrangement goes, and you'll have a good idea of what they looked like and how they operated).

You'll also see them in "figural" form - featuring perhaps a Dog's or a Horse's Head, a Deer's Hoof, a well-filled Lady's Corset - and many more.
These were commonly carried in the vest pocket and also on the watch chain.

Another name for these cases is "Vesta" case - Vesta matches being quite popular.

There's a variety that's "dual-purpose" - one that not only holds matches, but has a sliding box that doubles as an ashtray.
And one that has a cigar cutter included.
Apparently - Great-Grandpa liked nifty little gadgets...

Later - after 1892 and the availability of matchbooks - you may encounter the matchsafe that was designed for book matches, and that one hinges at its top, with the striking surface displayed at the bottom of the inside of the metal case.

Of course - you can use a plain wooden matchbox - and I'm sure that many did - but the inclusion of a nice matchsafe to your vest pocket adds to your overall impression nicely.

Scouts Out!

[Cutter Carl]

There is usally a good selection of originals and reproductions in a wide price range on E-Bay.