1866-8
Was this the first match factory in Jamaica?
problems with the match factory -
[account of previous day's meeting.]
A. T. Morton moving on -
- and I have found nothing further on A. T. Morton's Match Factory. The question left, though, is - Who was A. T. Morton?
And the answer to that question is quite remarkable - as A. T. Morton was one of the stage names of the well-known Jamaican actor, Morton Tavares -
Some references to A. T. Morton, the actor, in Jamaica -
Daily Gleaner, March 11, 1869
A complimentary benefit was given to Mr. A. T. Morton on Tuesday evening, on the eve of his departure for Europe, under the patronage of His Excellency the Governor, who was present, and the Major General Commanding the Forces. The house was crowded in every part. Mr. S. Levien delivered an opening address, which was well received, after which a distinguished Cuban Amateur executed on the Pianoforte, a selection "Souvenirs de Trovatore," in a thrilling manner which was greatly applauded. Next came Bulwer's play of "Richelieu," Mr. Morton appearing in the leading character, supported by several amateurs of this city. This is one of Mr. Morton's happiest efforts, and he did not fail to meet with unbounded applause throughout the entire piece; he was loudly called for at the end of the fourth act and acknowledged the compliment. He was very ably supported by the Amateurs, who contributed much to the success of the evening. At the fall of the curtain, Mr. Morton was again loudly called for, and in returning thanks for the liberality extended him intimated that his intention was to follow the profession in England, where he hoped to break a lance with some of the actors there. He was heartily cheered at the close of his remarks. The evening's entertainment was brought to a close with a solo on the Violin by Senor Fuentes, and other musical selections. Altogether the performance was a great success. |
Tracing his career presented special problems for the researcher. He would disappear entirely or turn up in unexpected places. He changed his name two or three times, first from Aaron Tavares to Tavares Morton, then to Morton Tavares. In addition, he was sometimes billed as A. Tavares Morton or A. T. Morton . . . .
The Jamaican Stage, 1655-1900: Profile of a Colonial Theatre
By Errol Hill, 1992
The Jamaican Stage, 1655-1900: Profile of a Colonial Theatre
By Errol Hill, 1992
for an account of the life of Morton Tavares check The Jamaican Stage, 1655-1900: Profile of a Colonial Theatre, by Errol Hill, 1992, on Google books, - pages 143 - 155,
so, after that, most matches continued to be imported -
Further attempts at producing matches locally -
1881-7
an advertisement for two people to run a match factory -
and advertisements referring to a match factory -
then reference to two match factories -
but by early 1887 one of the match factories was closed down -
and in early 1889 the business at 19½ Port Royal Street was sold to James Jesurun, the nephew of the previous owner, Jeos Gomes Casseres, with no mention of any match factory -
- oddly, however, in an Editorial entitled 'The March of Improvement' published on December 23, 1887, and repeated in the 'Packet Edition', January 4, 1888 - the Editor of the Gleaner wrote -
'A Match Factory has also now been successfully established, after long and continuous ill-fortune, and the Jamaican can light his pipe or his bedroom candle with the proud satisfaction that the Pyrogension is the product of his own country. Thus e Tenebris oritur lux.'
'A Match Factory has also now been successfully established, after long and continuous ill-fortune, and the Jamaican can light his pipe or his bedroom candle with the proud satisfaction that the Pyrogension is the product of his own country. Thus e Tenebris oritur lux.'
The match factory on Port Royal Street, operated by Gomes Casseres & Co, gets no further mention, so it is not clear what factory is referred to in the editorial.
and on into the 1890s -
1891 - 'In Kingston there are three or four factories, one for soap, one for matches, and several for canning fruits and turtle.' (from many foreign publications in the 1890s.)
Daily Gleaner, Saturday, January 11, 1890
Our Home Industries We paid a visit the other day to the works of one of the very few manufacturing industries that exist in Kingston, we might say, in Jamaica, -- the Jamaica Match Factory. The factory is situated the extreme west end of North Street, near to the Spanish Town Road. We started out without a thought of difficulty or danger in accomplishing the journey, but as we turned into the Spanish Town Road and our horse plunged into the ocean of dust, the buggy wheels sinking several inches and clouds of the horrible stuff enveloped us and shut out everything, our heart almost failed us. But we commended ourselves to a kind providence and struggled on, eventually arriving at our destination, looking as though we had beenturned out from a flour barrel. The works are situated away from the roadie a large open space, and are well removed from all other buildings so as to minimize the possibility of fire, all other precautions to the same end being taken, and the risk is practically nil. An inspection of the process of making matches proved a most interesting experience to us. The wood is cut into the size and shape of the ordinary square match and then placed in large quantities into a machine which arranges them in rows in a frame, all the sticks being a certain and regular distance apart and projecting for about half their length on one side. There are two machines for performing this operation, quite different in mode of operating and both very ingenious and quick working contrivances. The sticks held firmly in the frames, are sensitized by being dipped in a paraffin bath and then laid on a table covered with the brown composition which forms the head of the match, and which adheres to the sticks, the process of properly fixing the composition being helped by a contrivance which applies an even pressure to each stick. The frames are then placed on stands to dry and when dry are taken to the packing room where a large number of girls take the matches from the frames and pack them in boxes. The boxes are also made in the factory. The filled boxes are next taken to another room where the composition forming the igniting surface is applied to one of the sides of each box. To accomplish this the boxes are are placed in long frames and the composition is carefully brushed over the sides. After this has dried the matches are put up in large zinc-lined packages and cases and are ready for the market. The matches made at this factory are the "safety matches," and there is none of the danger, to work people or to property, attendant on their manufacture that there is with the common sulphur and "parlor" matches. About ninety or more hands are employed in the factory, which turns out about 800 gross a week. |