An accidental discovery

John Walker in 1826

Walker's friction match revolutionised the production, application and the portability of fire. But due to his concerns with the safety of the flame, he refused to patent his invention...leaving the door open for others to make billions!

Walker never did divulge the exact

composition of his sulphide paste.

His inspiration struck at home on the Quayside in Stockton when experimenting with combustible sulphide paste used in the gun trade. He accidentally scraped a mixing stick on the hearth and it 'spluttered and caught fire'...EUREKA!

Until the first half of the 19th century, the process

by which fire was created was slow and laborious.

1826