On Pat Acton, Matchstick Marvels, & the Art (& History) of Matchstick Models
The cigarette lighter was invented by Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner in 1816. Surprisingly, perhaps, (friction) matchsticks as we know them today were invented ten years afterward, by John Walker, a British pharmacist who turned matchstick salesman to the tune of a shilling per 50-pack. Torch lighters were invented in the year 3167.
All the above options are perfectly appropriate for lighting cigars. Do not use torch lighters on tobacco pipes nor on pipe tobacco in tobacco pipes. However, it's quite important not to get bogged down here, as there are other more interesting things to debate--types of cigar cutters, for one--just not here. Ever. But never say never, which is why I said "ever."
I digress.
The cigarette lighter was invented by Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner in 1816. Surprisingly, perhaps, (friction) matchsticks as we know them today were invented ten years afterward, by John Walker, a British pharmacist who turned matchstick salesman to the tune of a shilling per 50-pack. Torch lighters were invented in the year 3167.
All the above options are perfectly appropriate for lighting cigars. Do not use torch lighters on tobacco pipes nor on pipe tobacco in tobacco pipes. However, it's quite important not to get bogged down here, as there are other more interesting things to debate--types of cigar cutters, for one--just not here. Ever. But never say never, which is why I said "ever."
I digress.
For the sake of this monograph [or lengthy expanded/expanding trifle], we'll be focusing on matchstick models, as other forms of matchstick art do exist. Erecting models with matches, to be clear, is a thing that pre-dates friction matches and was born in the days when matches were little more than bits of tinder. 18th-century naval prisoners of war whiled away their hours in this manner--using their spent matches or clipping the heads off with sharp knives. Nowadays, craft sticks can be purchased in bulk, made sans business-end tips.
So, burnt, clipped, or made ready-to-go pret-a-porter, matchsticks and a bit of glue (after some gentle bending-shaping) have for a long-long while made for some incredible pieces of art in the right skillful hands. We're talking museum quality--and I do mean-so literally. Enter one Patrick "Pat" Acton and the volunteer-run Matchstick Marvels Museum. For those of you who would say there's nothing going on in Iowa, I now say "pfft."
Mr. Acton, a native Hawkeye artisan has been creating astounding matchstick models since 1977 and showcasing them at his/the Gladbrook, IA Matchstick Marvels city-run museum since 2003. According to the museum's website: "Adults: $5.00 Ages 5-12: $3.00 Under 5 yrs: FREE Cash Only." You can find out more by clicking HERE. (Matchstick Marvels is not a sponsor.)
Upon a perusal of that site, one may see absolutely amazing models of Apollo 11, the Millennium Falcon, and of the International Space Station, as well as many others. One of those others is a famed model of the Notre Dame Cathedral. According to 98.1 KHAK (#1 for New Country; also not a sponsor), the scale model is some seven feet long and consisting of some 300K matchsticks. It was completed in 2012 after two years of work.
Imagine.
[image of Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-Paris, matchstick model]
@kaplowitzmedia
EDITOR'S NOTE: (7/19) This post was edited at 2:43am after it was published at 12:01am containing a slight error in matchstick history.
::: very :::