The invention of safety matches

How to use the material

This post for social media is about the invention of safety matches by Swedish chemist Gustaf Erik Pasch and Sweden's most classic matchbox label, Solstickan.

You can download images from Image Bank Sweden and use in your post. Please make sure to include the names of the photographers of the photos you use.

Images

Image by Sweden.se

Captions

Every second, countless safety matches are struck worldwide. But did you know this everyday essential has Swedish roots? 🇸🇪

🔥🔥🔥 In the early 1800s, the first self-igniting matches were invented, but these were far from safe. They contained white phosphorous – an extremely flammable substance that brought the risk of ignition by simple air contact. White phosphorous is also health hazardous.

💡!! Enter Swedish chemist Gustaf Erik Pasch, whose invention would come to change fire safety forever in 1844. That’s when he introduced matches that would not self-ignite.

🧠 Pasch’s solution was to remove the white phosphorus from the match and instead incorporate red phosphorus – not quite as flammable – into a striking surface on the outside of the matchbox. His innovation laid the foundation for matches as we know them today.

💸 Swedish chemist and inventor Johan Lundström and his entrepreneur brother Carl went on to take Pasch’s innovation to the next level with large-scale production – and by creating a matchbox with a sliding drawer.

In 1936, Sweden's most classic matchbox label, Solstickan, was introduced. Featuring the walking boy drawn by artist Einar Nerman, the label quickly became a household icon. Since day one, a small portion of each purchase has gone to the Solstickan Foundation, supporting children and the elderly.

💙💛 Even today, Solstickan products contribute to charity, generating around SEK 1.5 million annually. Over the years, the foundation has donated more than SEK 100 million.

Photos:

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                            "children": "Every second, countless safety matches are struck worldwide. But did you know this everyday essential has Swedish roots? 🇸🇪"
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                            "children": "🔥🔥🔥 In the early 1800s, the first self-igniting matches were invented, but these were far from safe. They contained white phosphorous – an extremely flammable substance that brought the risk of ignition by simple air contact. White phosphorous is also health hazardous."
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                            "children": "Every second, countless safety matches are struck worldwide. But did you know this everyday essential has Swedish roots? 🇸🇪"
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                            "children": "🔥🔥🔥 In the early 1800s, the first self-igniting matches were invented, but these were far from safe. They contained white phosphorous – an extremely flammable substance that brought the risk of ignition by simple air contact. White phosphorous is also health hazardous."
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                            "children": "💡!! Enter Swedish chemist Gustaf Erik Pasch, whose invention would come to change fire safety forever in 1844. That’s when he introduced matches that would not self-ignite."
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                            "children": "🧠 Pasch’s solution was to remove the white phosphorus from the match and instead incorporate red phosphorus – not quite as flammable – into a striking surface on the outside of the matchbox. His innovation laid the foundation for matches as we know them today."
                        },
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                            "children": "💸 Swedish chemist and inventor Johan Lundström and his entrepreneur brother Carl went on to take Pasch’s innovation to the next level with large-scale production – and by creating a matchbox with a sliding drawer."
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                            "children": "In 1936, Sweden's most classic matchbox label, Solstickan, was introduced. Featuring the walking boy drawn by artist Einar Nerman, the label quickly became a household icon. Since day one, a small portion of each purchase has gone to the Solstickan Foundation, supporting children and the elderly."
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                            "children": "💙💛 Even today, Solstickan products contribute to charity, generating around SEK 1.5 million annually. Over the years, the foundation has donated more than SEK 100 million."
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