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It consisted of a three-inch long splint of wood with a tip made of antimony sulfide, chlorate of potash, gum arabic and starch. When drawn against a piece of sandpaper, a series of small explosions ensued, which would shower the user with sparks and debris and sometimes start the wooden splint burning.
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John Walker and Samuel Jones in England
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Joshua Pusey invented book matches in 1889.
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The non-toxic French formula for matches was finally adapted to work in the North-American climate, and matches continue to be a cheap, safe, fast way to start fires even today.
