Fire has always had great importance for human development. In all cultures, fire is linked to religious beliefs.
A predecessor to the matchstick was used in China in the late 6 th century. It was made from pine and used sulfur for ignition.
J.S. Bagge Co:s Kemiska fabrik för Elddon was founded in 1836 in Stockholm. It was the first matchstick factory in Sweden.
The average worker at a matchstick factory up until the late 1800s is either a woman or a child. The reason women and children are preferable as employees is because their wages are much lower than for men.
Matches of the 19 th century are a product marked by a time of optimism and hopes for the future. The world is getting smaller and, with the help of the telegraph, the telephone and railroads, news travels fast. Impressions are pouring into people’s everyday lives and are converted into images, logotypes and brands.
Many make their attempt at matchstick manufacturing during the 1800s. It is a business that does not require large investments to get started, as for much of this time, manufacturing takes place in the homes of the workers. It is a line of work that often employs women and children.
When Ivar Kreuger is born in Kalmar in 1880, his father is managing director of the Fredriksdahl Matchstick Factory and within a few years the family goes on to found several more factories. Ivan Kreuger graduates from secondary school at age 16 and four years later he receives a degree in mechanical technology and road- and waterway construction at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.
Since 1936, Solstickan has been a symbol for the foundation of the same name. Since its starting year, Solstickan has donated more than 70 million SEK to benefits for children and the elderly.
