Whether you're "Movin' On Up" like the Jeffersons, "Movin' Out" like Billy Joel, or even "Moving Right Along" like The Muppets, any move from here to there is a pivotal moment in life.
For philluminists (serious matchbook collectors) the pivotal moment was when the match striker was moved from the front of the cover to the back. While the industries involved did so for improved safety, the necessary change became the ballywick that helps collectors date how old a matchbook is. In fact, there are collectors that only seek "front strikers" and practically disdain "back strikes" even though in some cases the matchbook has an identical design- but the slightly newer version has the backside striker.
This "announcement" design, produced by the Diamond Match Corp. highlights that moment when the striker was officially moved from the front to the back. While it's not dated, the change was mandated in 1973, thus giving collectors a median for determining the age of the matchbook.
This design is one of a series of at least four styles produced that addressed match safety - Don't smoke in bed, Keep matches from children, Keep matches and medications from children. (See blog post "Safety First", April 2015) Inside, they all have the same message balloon about safe usage- kind of like the industry saying "Hey, matches aren't dangerous unless you use them wrong!"
The KC Matchgirl has thousands of complete matchbooks, and she is merely a collector, not an arsonist.
Note: In addition to the striker location, the digits on a phone number or zip code can help determine the age of the cover, in addition to design styles.
Matches and fire seem to be a necessary danger. We need matches to quickly bring forth a flame, which can be either useful or deadly.
This matchbook, produced by Diamond Match International Corporation has the unique, but important message about the safe use of matches.
Ever since the first matches (congreves) were invented in 1827, the populous has found the phosphorous match to be dangerous. Improvements to lessen the various dangers have come in baby steps. An early salesman for Diamond Match suggested moving the enclosed striker to the outside cover and the "close cover" wording we now take for granted. In 1973, manufacturers moved the striker from the front cover to the back, hence older matchbooks are often called "front strikers".
No matter the precautions taken by manufacturers, ultimately the final step in safety comes from the user.
In this promotion, adults are reminded to keep safety first in this cover's chiastic message. Use of the chiasmus ( ky-AZ-mus, n. a reversal in the order of words in two otherwise parallel phrases) imparts an added impact to a simple message.
Take it from the match, it knows-
Note: The KC Matchgirl is going to take an educated guess that this public service message was produced as a direct result of industry changes in 1973, when the striker switched from front to back covers. For other covers in this series, see the post from June 2018, On The Move.
