WORTMAN (WORTMANN), IGNATZ and ADOLPHUS (fl.1842-1857), match manufacturers and
exporters, came from the northern Hungarian town of Nyitra (now Nitra in
Czechoslovakia), where Adolphus was born in 1825. Ignatz arrived in Sydney in
November 1842 and in April 1843 announced in the press that he had 'commenced
manufacturing lucifer matches and cigar lights of every description'. The
advertisement added 'matches packed with care for any part of the world', a
reference to the export activities of the firm which was to be emphasized during
fifteen years of business. The first match factory was in Pitt Street South,
whence it was moved to King Street and later to York Street. In March 1847
Adolphus arrived from Hungary, bringing from London phosphorus, nitric acid and
matchwood. Ignatz handed over the factory to Adolphus, and probably left the
colony. Adolphus moved the factory to Campbell Street, where he manufactured
matches for ten years and then sold his business to A. Blitz, under whom the
establishment prospered for several decades.
View the full record at
Australian Dictionary of Biography
Show comments and reviews from Amazon users