This Week In Cigar History November 19–25

Moses F. Gale received the first U.S. Patent (#121,049) for a cigar lighter on November 21, 1871.

Inspired by the massive increase in domestic consumption of cigars, the Brooklyn resident’s “Improvement in Cigar-Lighters” was an ornamental device consisting of a flexible tube attached to a gas supply, regulated by a hollow metal device shaped like a bird. An internal valve controlled the flow of gas. It resembles something a savvy fifth grader in today’s world can put together with parts bought from an Internet science supply store. Production and sales figures of Gale’s lighter were unavailable.

Fortunately, cigar smokers had other means to lighting up. In 1827, Englishman John Walker discovered the lightening ability of a reportedly smelly concoction of chemicals left to dry on the end of a stick. But genuine improvements to lighting up occurred in 1830 when French chemist Charles Sauria invented a match sparked by non-odorous white phosphorous. Unfortunately, some smokers developed phossy jaw, an illness caused by the poisonous white phosphorous.

Swedish inventor Johan Edvard Lundstrom patented safety matches that eliminated the use of white phosphorous matches in 1855. Safety matches used red phosphorus on a strip of sandpaper outside a box of matches, creating a safe striking surface and ridding smokers of the dreaded phossy jaw.

news@doubledownmedia.com

11/19/07

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