Bryant & May ‘Brymay’ safety matches, London, England, 1890-1940
- maker:
- Bryant and May Limited




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
- Object Number:
- A655257
- Materials:
- wood, cardboard, base of inner container and wood, chipboard
- type:
- match box
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- container - receptacle
- storage box
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