Elm board anybody?

[tombear]

I'm looking for a bit of elm board, a foot long by five or six wide and between a inch and three quarters of a inch thick.

I fancy making a fireside sulphur matrch holder, something that used to be found in most houses but which are extremely rare now. Theres a couple in the Bryant and May Collection but the pics are copyright so I can't post.

Basically it's a board with a means of hanging it up and with 4 holes (like the 4 on a dice) in it that 2 cords or light chains run out and into and the matches are held behind the cords. On some a weight conected to both cords/chains provides the tension that holds the matches in place.

I've had no joy finding a bit of elm like the one I want to copy is made from and the lumber yard will think I'm taking the p*ss if I go in asking for a foot of it!

Cheers

Tom

 

[launditch1]

I have some 'liberated' elm boards.Must be over 50 years old..ill have a look at the condition of them and get back to you.

 

[tombear]

Cheers!
PM sent of pic from science museum of the sort of thing I'm after making.

ATB

Tom

 

[QDanT]

Hi Tom I keep my home made sulphur matches in an old coffee tin with the paint burnt off, and polished up, I would like to see the traditional holder you have in mind from the Elm board Google images are not bringing any up. I can remember half cones with a flat back and made of brass hung up by the fire for spills
cheers Danny

 

[nitrambur]

One of these?

http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/results.asp?image=10276318&wwwflag=2&imagepos=25

I don't think I'm breaking any copyright by supplying the web address of a publicly available page that I found via a google search.

 

[QDanT]

cheers nitrambur and I didn't even need the print screen key
thanks Danny

 

[tombear]

Cheers! good thinking! thats the puppy! Theres also one made from a old lock plate that uses two thin chains with a weight to hold the matches, I can't find a pic of that one now.

Just ordered a pound of sulphur from these guys

http://www.hobbychemicals.co.uk/index.php

It's also occured to me that pet shops sell rock sulphur to put in dogs drinking water bowls in the summer. If this is unrefined sulphur I may try using that.

ATB

Tom

 

[QDanT]

thanks for the link I buy mine from any of the local garden centers £2-45 for 225gm ( at Riggs Walsden) Yellow Sulphur 97.5% w/w for control of powdery mildew on fruit flowers and vegetables
just a random link to show packaging
works fine but will try some from hobby chemicals probably purer
cheers Danny