“cheap, readily made, convenient in use, and efficient” — Barber Silver Dime Coin

Today, the Barber Silver Dime Coin remembers when the Patent Office approved a patent for Mr. Pusey’s improved friction-matches on September 27, 1892.

From the files of the United States Patent Office:

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Joshua Pusey, of Lima, Pennsylvania. Flexible Match.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,166, dated September 27, 1892. Application filed August 6,1889, Renewed March 17, 1892, Serial No, 425,274 (Model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Joshua Pusey, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lima, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction-Matches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which—

The object of this invention is to provide a friction-match device which shall be cheap, readily made, convenient in use, and efficient, and which may be handily and safely carried in the pocket.

The invention consists, first, in a friction-match device consisting of a series of splints or strips of thick inflammable paper, wood, or like material tipped with an ignitable composition and attached to and enclosed by a suitable cover folded and adapted to be opened and closed as the covers of a book, said cover being preferably provided with an igniting surface or composition, where by the “match-book” may be conveniently carried in the pocket, and when it is desired to light any one of the splints the same is torn or broken off, and the ignitable composition may then be brought into frictional contact with the igniting-surface;

Secondly, in the particular construction of the friction-match book, consisting of a sheet of thick paper, wood veneer, or other suitable pliable and inflammable material of suitable dimensions, the end portions of which are divided into a series of splint-strips, the same being tipped or provided with an ignitable composition, while the other part of the sheet is left plain or undivided and provided with a suitable igniting surface or composition, and the splint-strips are folded over upon the said plain portion, toward the middle thereof, and the latter is then folded so as to enclose the series of splints as between the covers of a book, and when a splint is to be lighted it is broken or torn off from the cover and its tipped end brought into frictional contact with the igniting-surface;

Thirdly, in a particular construction or arrangement whereby the portion of the splints provided with the ignitable composition of the one series is kept normally out of contact with the like portion of the opposite series, as arranged in the book form hereinbefore mentioned;

Fourthly, in certain details of construction hereinafter pointed out.

Although not limited thereto, my invention is especially useful in what are known as “safety-matches,” wherein the splints are provided with a chemical composition which is readily ignitable by friction only when brought into contact with another suitable chemical composition. These different compositions are well known to those skilled in match manufacture.

Referring to the drawings, in which Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 represent the preferred form of the invention, a is a sheet of strong thick paper or the like, preferably charged with an inflammable material, so as to burn readily, and which sheet is also preferably made practically waterproof.

A convenient pocketsize for the sheet, before folding, is about eight inches long and, say, three inches wide. The ends of the sheet are provided or tipped with a suitable ignitable composition b, well known in match manufacture, and are divided into strips s, which constitute splints, say, about two inches in length. The free ends I usually make pointed, as shown.

Near the line of connection of the splints I provide a line c of igniting surface composition. The connected ends of the splints may also be perforated, as on the line p, so that they may be readily detached. The sheet is now ready for folding.

The divided or splint portions are folded over, as seen in Fig.2, and then the sheet is folded inwardly at the middle, as seen in Fig. 3, thus forming a “book,” with the splints and compositions protected by the uncut portion, which constitutes a cover or back a1 a2.

The device is now ready for use in the following manner: When a light is desired, the book is opened, one of the splints torn or broken off, and the end provided with the ignitable composition is placed between the folds, with the line of igniting-surface back of the latter.

The book is held between the thumb and finger with pressure to cause sufficient friction and the splint is sharply withdrawn. The friction causes the ignition of the match or splint as the ignitable composition comes into contact with the igniting-surface; or, the book being opened out, the tipped end of the splint may be struck against the igniting-surface, as is done with ordinary matches.

If to be used in this manner, the material of which the splints are made should be comparatively stiffer than when they are to be drawn out.

Having thus described my invention, I claim, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth—

1. The improvement in friction-matches, consisting of the series of splints placed edge to edge and their sides respectively in the same planes and provided with an ignitable composition at their free ends and at their opposite ends frangibly attached to, so as to be enclosed by and between, the sides of the cover and so as to be practically integral with said cover, whereby the latter may be opened out like a book and any one of said splints be torn or broken off, substantially as described.

2. The improvement in friction-matches being a new and complete article of manufacture, consisting of the series of splints placed edge to edge and their sides respectively in the same plane and provided with an ignitable composition at their free ends and at their opposite ends frangibly attached to, so as to be enclosed by and between, the sides of the cover and so as to be practically integral with said cover, and which cover is provided with an igniting surface or composition, whereby said cover may be opened out like a book and any one of said splints be torn or broken off and struck against the said igniting-surface, substantially as described.

3. A friction-match device consisting of a series of splints provided with an ignitable composition, placed edge to edge and their sides respectively in the same plane, and frangibly secured to and within a flexible water proof cover of paper or the like, which cover is adapted to be opened like a book, whereby when said cover is opened out anyone of said splints may be broken or torn off from its attachment to the cover.

4. The improvement in friction-matches, consisting of a sheet of inflammable paper or other like pliable material having its end or ends divided into a series of splints having their ends provided with an ignitable composition, the remainder of the sheet being left plain and the said splints folded over upon the plain portion, which latter is again folded over so as to enclose the series of splints, and is adapted to be opened out as a book in order to detach said splints.

5. The improvement in friction-matches, consisting of a sheet of inflammable paper or other like pliable material having its end or ends divided into a series of splints having their ends provided with an ignitable composition, the remainder of the sheet being left plain and provided with an igniting surface or composition and the said splints folded over upon the plain portion, which latter is folded over so as to enclose the series of splints, and is adapted to be opened out as a book in order to detach said splints.

6. In a friction-match device consisting of two opposite series of splint-strips provided with an ignitable composition and enclosed and secured to and between the sides of a common cover, the said composition of the one series of splints out of line or contact with that of the other series, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 1st day of August, A. D. 1889.

Joshua Pusey.

Witnesses:
John Nolan,
Francis S. Brown.

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The Barber Silver Dime Coin shows with Mr. Pusey’s images for his invention of the friction-match book patented in 1892.

Barber Silver Dime Coin