Single flame

[brynbach]

I've used reeds soaked in animal fats or vegetable oils as candles. Just take the reed and peel off all but a thin strip of the green outside which holds the pith together. Then soak in animal fat (I've used lamb and beef) and leave to harden. Light from your fire made by bow drill...

It also works with cordage in a container of fat that is liquid at room temp.

Any good :?:

Cheers
BB

 

[KIMBOKO]

A sulphur covered coctail stick (sulphur match) will flame direct from an ember in charcloth.
I have also had a piece of very dry punky wood go directly to flame from a spark. But only once and the punk had been oven dried.

 

[Keith_Beef]

Sorry. Matches came along after 1800...

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blmatch.htm

):

Tinder pistol.

http://www.stories.historians.co.uk/matches.html


Keith.

 

[Jeff Wagner]

Yes, very clever. Dixie Gun Works has them.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/produc...=1220&osCsid=c9a3e8fe217693e5cec105c72b62c679

 

[Realgar]

Jeff

Same site, another answer:

9. Matches: China, Sixth Century AD. The first version of the match was invented in 577 AD by impoverished court ladies during a military siege. Hard pressed for tinder during the siege, they could otherwise not start fires for cooking, heating, etc.
Paul

They're also not matches in our sense - they have to be lit from another source. they were just easy to light from a piece of smouldering tinder. More like a taper if anyone remebers those from chemistry....

 

[Jeff Wagner]

I hate the very term 'primative'

Cheer up there Chris. The word is much less offensive when spelled correctly... Just teasing...