tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post8564067386932492550..comments2023-10-12T02:21:40.102-07:00Comments on English Historical Fiction Authors: Strike a light!Debra Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03256313302199653185noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-43021074131679503002013-06-29T06:23:30.819-07:002013-06-29T06:23:30.819-07:00I have an antique, ornate silver box like the one ...I have an antique, ornate silver box like the one in the last picture. I didn't even know what it was for, I just bought it at a flea market because I thought it was neat. So now I know. Teresa Thomas Bohannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07168835091832993119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-60151439224940285712013-06-26T19:59:01.759-07:002013-06-26T19:59:01.759-07:00I am extremely sorry for the discourtesy in not ge...I am extremely sorry for the discourtesy in not getting your prior approval - my apologies. We live and learn.<br />MikeMike Rendellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17426662566641071103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-54081975378079097532013-06-26T17:07:09.080-07:002013-06-26T17:07:09.080-07:00There are many mistakes in this article, but I wil...There are many mistakes in this article, but I will not try to correct them here. You need to do more research. Thank you for linking to my blog, but I would prefer it if you asked permission to use my copyright images beforehand.<br />Keith.<br />http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com.au/Keithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12562001301604097606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-16654494771058671412013-06-26T13:32:07.084-07:002013-06-26T13:32:07.084-07:00This sounds like boasting but it's more sad hi... This sounds like boasting but it's more sad historian experimenting/affectation but using punk touchwood for tinder and a flint and steel I used to be able to light a ciggy as quickly as using a zippo.Grymmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14555916297487206078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-64220857960664615402013-06-26T11:43:58.752-07:002013-06-26T11:43:58.752-07:00Interesting, although I must admit I haven't c...Interesting, although I must admit I haven't come across any tinderboxes later than the 1840's. But then, I come from a family of arsonists so matches were always handy.....Mike Rendellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17426662566641071103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-36070947156913337152013-06-26T11:36:29.371-07:002013-06-26T11:36:29.371-07:00I apologise for the gibberish, a combination of bi...I apologise for the gibberish, a combination of big fingers, teeny phone keyboard and an over zealous autofill/correct.Grymmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14555916297487206078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-32641385950891752922013-06-26T11:32:41.928-07:002013-06-26T11:32:41.928-07:00Using flint and steel isn't as tricky as you m...Using flint and steel isn't as tricky as you might think, practice is the key, plus people practiced fire management like banking or your fire overnight to save relighting. Matches ,the striking variety, were regarded as parlour tricks for a long time as everyone knew how to use flint and steel, plus a steel would last a lifetime, flint is laying around free and charcloth is recycled from worn out cloth. Matches need new one every time. Tongs were handy for lighting your pipe, just grab an emberand puff.Grymmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14555916297487206078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-50499696051334090242013-06-26T09:01:51.092-07:002013-06-26T09:01:51.092-07:00I have no knowledge of the Scottish crofters who, ...I have no knowledge of the Scottish crofters who, I suspect, were a law unto themselves! But abrasive matches, quickly followed by numerous other copy-cats, and finally the safety match, meant that tinderboxes went out of fashion remarkably quickly. I have an old matchbox, with wax matches, and a sort of woven length of rope which you set alight, and could them pass around as a glowing ember from which others could light their cigarettes. Mike Rendellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17426662566641071103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-39726381532619430242013-06-26T08:03:29.736-07:002013-06-26T08:03:29.736-07:00Fascinating article. Thank you!Fascinating article. Thank you!Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12429730420678601455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-89512593342344756052013-06-26T05:00:49.175-07:002013-06-26T05:00:49.175-07:00Hi Mike. Fascinating article and relevant to my ow...Hi Mike. Fascinating article and relevant to my own fiction.<br />When you say the tinder boxes become museum pieces 'overnight' did that apply across all stratas of society? In other words, were matches cheap enough and so much more convenient that everyone started using them or did the poor (and very poor) continue with their tinderboxes for a few generations? I'm asking because my alternate history novel is partly set in a crofting community on the Isle of Skye in 1860 and I would love the convenience of matches when my MC lights up his pipe. <br />ColinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-77352697467325760992013-06-26T03:43:05.669-07:002013-06-26T03:43:05.669-07:00Fire and Brimstone! (and, who would have thought, ...Fire and Brimstone! (and, who would have thought, mushrooms. Mushrooms? It never fails to amaze me, the myriad uses things can be put to.) One can understand why snuff became so popular - no fiddling about to get one's nicotine hit. Thank you Mike for such an entertaining and informative post.Octavia Randolphhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09280624466763859908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-85460452253381750802013-06-26T02:10:08.718-07:002013-06-26T02:10:08.718-07:00Fascinating pst! You know, I remember Poul Anderso...Fascinating pst! You know, I remember Poul Anderson's The High Crusade, in which mediaeval villagers take over an alien spaceship. It doesn't take them long to get the hang of it, because with all the complex things they have to do even to light a fire, all this button pushing is child's play!Sue Bursztynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-53002316355128352522013-06-26T01:16:09.170-07:002013-06-26T01:16:09.170-07:00Yes, we have to be careful how we imagine such a &...Yes, we have to be careful how we imagine such a "simple" activity as creating fire. http://regencyredingote.wordpress.com/2009/01/09/the-tinderbox-the-primary-regency-fire-source/ and http://regencyredingote.wordpress.com/2009/01/02/the-matchless-regency/ (2009 posts) went into even more detail! Sue Millardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09022262338933600748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-61422104647766930072013-06-25T22:28:11.121-07:002013-06-25T22:28:11.121-07:00This was so interesting. What a lot of trouble to ...This was so interesting. What a lot of trouble to go to just to light a cheroot in those days. I'm sure, too, that the charwomen lighting the morning fire were very grateful for the invention of matches.Elizabeth Varadan, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708206753256682635noreply@blogger.com