Fire was a basis of modern humankind and a catalyst for the expansion of our ancestors beyond the borders of Africa. It gave us the power to survive in harsh environments, process food, an change the shape of the environment we live in. As millennia’s went on, and human race started developing advanced tools and form first Neolithic civilizations, ability to create fare became commonplace all around the world. Safety Matches manufacturers. However, that process was still slow, unreliable and dependent upon many conditions (rain, wind, low portability). Because of those problems, many scientist, chemist and engineers of the early human civilizations (Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China, Greece and Rome) tried to find some way to make fire easy to create, portable and reliable. Because they lacked the knowledge of the chemistry and physics, their early efforts were unsuccessful. Safety matches. The only relatively successful example of the early control over fire came from 5th century AD China, where sulfur coated wooden sticks was used as a catalyst of creating fire. By 10th century manufacture of these "light-bringing slaves" or “fire inch-sticks” could be found in all parts of china, but the self-igniting match stuck was not found.

With the rise of the modern chemistry, it was not strange to see that first lighter was created before the first friction match. Famous German chemist Johann Wolfgang Dobereiner created his “Döbereiner's lamp” in 1823, which used chemical reaction between zinc and sulfuric acid to create very flammable hydrogen gas. Even though this invention was truly remarkable and has fueled many other inventors to start developing new lighter designs, it was 1826 introduction of first friction match by English chemist and druggist John Walker that truly managed to change the way we create fire. After him, many other inventors added their contributions and advancements, eventually leading to the worldwide phenomenon of white phosphorus matches created by Frenchman Charles Sauria. Even though this type of matches was very popular, white phosphorus was eventually banned from public usage because of its toxic properties.Matchbox manufacturers.