# How matches work. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 24, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-matches-work/746979 "2016-02-24T15:56:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-matches-work/746979/1 "2016-02-24T15:56:09Z")
Taken for granted by many today. Matches brought a portable fire source to us all. I was deeply involved in [Phillumeny](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillumeny)as a kid. I collected matchbooks any time my parents visited a new motel or restaurant or any place that gave them away… I had easily over 600 matchbooks from 15 or more states. All given to me free as promotional items from businesses. I sold the collection after college. I also collected vintage Vesta cases (match safes). People today don’t realize early matches were very volatile and unstable. They could spontaneously ignite and cause fires. They had to be stored and carried in a match safe aka a [Vesta case.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesta_case) I still have 14 vintage Vesta cases in my collection and don’t plan to ever sell them. I had 30 before I slimmed down my collection. Modern safety matches made Vesta cases obsolete. Hallmarked silver Vesta cases are very collectible and valuable. They can be dated precisely from the hallmark. > **[Vesta cases for sale | eBay](https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=match%2Bsafes&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR1.TRC0.A0.H1.XVesta%2Bcases.TRS0&_nkw=Vesta%2Bcases&_sacat=0)** > > Get the best deals for Vesta cases at eBay.com. We have a great online selection at the lowest prices with Fast & Free shipping on many items! A fascinating article and slo-mo video on how a safety match ignites. Did you know ground glass was used? I didn’t. > **[What REALLY happens when you strike a match](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3461935/What-REALLY-happens-strike-match-Video-explains-chemical-reactions-place-create-flame.html)** > > A video by the American Chemical Society, based in Washinton DC, details the processes that are required to ignite a match, drawing on a beautiful slow-motion video. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-matches-work/746979/2 "2016-02-24T16:14:40Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I sold the collection after college. What’s a collection of 600+ promotional matchbooks fetch? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-matches-work/746979/3 "2016-02-24T16:47:42Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > What’s a collection of 600+ promotional matchbooks fetch? I got $125 for mine in 1992. Not bad since all the matchbooks were given to me free. I’m sure a collection like mine, that covered many different states, and were in prime condition would fetch several hundred today on Ebay. It’s something that can’t be replicated today. Very few businesses give away promotional matchbooks with their name,address and logo anymore. A lot of the businesses on old matchbook covers don’t even exist anymore. I always thought how cool it would be to retrace my childhood steps. Visit the addresses on my matchbooks again. See how many are open. How many even have the same building at that address. But I sold the collection. We were afraid our young kids would find it. :eek: 600 matchbooks would make a big ass fire. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-matches-work/746979/4 "2016-02-24T17:52:10Z")
Theo Gray shows you how to make your own matches at home on his **Mad Science** website. as he says, you probably SHOULDN’T try this at home. [http://graysci.com/chapter-two/making-a-perfect-match/](http://graysci.com/chapter-two/making-a-perfect-match/)