Bryant & May ‘Brymay’ safety matches, London, England, 1890-1940

Made:
1890-1940 in London
maker:
Bryant and May Limited
Cardboard and chipboard safety matchbox, Brymay' trademark Cardboard and chipboard safety matchbox, "Brymay" trademark Cardboard and chipboard safety matchbox, "Brymay" trademark From the top, 1st and 3rd box - A655224

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Cardboard and chipboard safety matchbox, Brymay' trademark
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Cardboard and chipboard safety matchbox, "Brymay" trademark
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Cardboard and chipboard safety matchbox, "Brymay" trademark
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

From the top, 1st and 3rd box - A655224
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Cardboard and chipboard safety matchbox, "Brymay" trademark, made by Bryant and May, 1920-1960

Match-making was a particularly dangerous job in the 1800s. Workers – mainly women – employed by companies such as Bryant & May to make matches commonly experienced a condition known as phossy jaw. This was caused by poisoning from the yellow phosphorous used in the head of the match.

Phossy jaw was a terribly disfiguring and sometimes fatal condition. Eventually, a combination of this health danger, poor pay and long hours led to the formation of a trade union for the workers. The Match Girls Strike of 1888, led by social activist Annie Besant (1847-1933), was a landmark industrial action and led to better pay. In 1901, Bryant & May finally stopped using yellow phosphorous in their matches.

Details

Category:
Smoking
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A655257
Materials:
wood, chipboard and wood, cardboard, base of inner container
Measurements:
overall: 17 mm x 59 mm x 36 mm,
type:
match box