The Curious Case Of Which Came First Lighter, Or Matchstick

Which came first, lighter or matchstick? Seems like a simple question, right? And no, this isn’t one of those existential riddles like the chicken or egg.  

When you think about it, the common and more intuitive answer is going to be: matchstick. After all, matchsticks seem simple and primitive. 

Due to the simplicity and the primitive nature of some objects, it’s natural to assume that it must have been the starting point of an invention. Then comes the more complex, modern looking device that people assume were built after technological advancements. 

But what if we question that very logic? As strange as it may sound, the deeper you dig into this, the more it will start making sense. 

Let’s discuss the history of the invention of the lighter and the history of matchstick to answer this simple question.

When Were Lighters Invented?

The first lighter was invented in 1823 by a German chemist named Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner. This first lighter came to be known as the Döbereiner’s lamp.

This lamp used the same mechanism that a converted flintlock pistol used. Pistols using gunpowder have been around existence since the early 16th century, way before lighter was invented. So naturally, using that same mechanism to create fire, a big necessity in those times, made sense. 

Now, this lamp looked very different from today’s modern handheld lighters. It quickly became very popular and reportedly sold over a million units in the 1820s. 

The design of these lamp lighters changed a bit over the years. However, it was not until World War I that the shape and size really started to change. Soldiers had to be creative and find discarded items to replicate the same mechanism to create portable lighters. 

It was not until 1903 that a man named Carl Auer Von Welsback patented the ferrocerium, which went on to be really successful. Ferrocerium is a synthetic flint material that produces sparks when struck against a rough surface. This is the same thing you see in clipper lighters. 

Fun facts about lighters: 

• George G. Blaisdel founded the world’s most famous Zippo lighters  in 1932, almost a century after the first lighter was invented. These became so popular that the design is still relevant today, with only minor alterations. 
• BIC lighters introduced a child-safety feature in 1998. They used a metal shield over the flint wheel that is still followed today. 
• Disposable lighters can produce up to 3,000 lights before it runs out of fuel. That’s enough to light a cigarette every day for over eight years!

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When Was The Matchstick Invented?

Matchstick, the most common tool to ignite a fire, was invented in 1826. John Walker, an English chemist, created the first friction match by accident. He only discovered the fire when a stick coated with chemicals burst into flames as he was scraping it off a sand paper. 

He quickly understood the value of his discovery and went on to create an improved version of this accidental stick. This went on to be one of the most useful inventions of its time. 

So, what was used before matchsticks? The answer is simple. People did have fire burning techniques for centuries before the invention of matchsticks. Primitive forms of matchsticks even existed in different forms before the invention of the more sophisticated sticks. 

If you’re wondering where were matchsticks first used, the earliest record is in China around 6th century AD. They were known as the flame sticks but were not self-igniting like modern matches. They weren’t technically matchsticks as they required an external flame to be ignited. 

If you have a look at the matchstick timeline, you’ll see that at first ancient matchsticks were used, then came acid-dipped sticks and then friction matchsticks. 

These were all non-safety matches. It was not until 1844 that safety matches were developed. These safety matches only ignited when stoked at a specific place and contained safer chemicals. 

Fun facts about matches:

• The oldest matchstick dates back to 3,500 BC where Egyptians used a stick coated with sulphur. This was not technically a matchstick but a stick that was fired to burn other things. 
• Matchsticks were called ‘lucifer matches’. Nobody called them just matches until 1830.
• Before boxes, matchsticks were sold individually. It was not until 1855 that mass production of match boxes started. 

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Which Came First Lighter Or Matchstick

Did lighters come before matches? Yes! Although more primitive in nature, matchsticks required the need of modern chemistry to really work. These tiny sticks were coated with chemicals that only ignited a tiny amount of controlled fire with the right amount of friction. This required a specialised set of advancements in modern chemistry. Although it may seem otherwise, the science behind matchsticks was much advanced.

Lighters, on the other hand, were nothing more than converted pistols. They are certainly more portable and modern looking but the technology behind it was far ancient.

Today, matchsticks are more popular as they are cheaper and easy to use. Lighters too have become an everyday item. They have certainly evolved a lot over the years and have even found their way in automobiles as car cigarette lighters.

In conclusion, the question: which came first lighter or matchstick, is a fascinating exploration of history and technology. While it may seem intuitive to assume that the simpler matchstick came before the complex matchstick, the truth may surprise and challenge our assumptions.