Pollak von Rudin, Adolf M.#

b. Všeradice, Czech Republic (then Wscheraditz), May 18, 1817, d. Baden (Lower Austria), June 1, 1884, industrialist, pioneer in the production of matches. 1836 founded his 1st match and sealing-wax factory in Vienna. Established a company with several factories in various countries of the Austro-Hungarian empire (3,000 employees) and branches worldwide. P. v. R. introduced the colour coatings of the match heads (1847) and the form of match boxes still in use today. His success is also based on the discovery of red, non-toxic phosphorus by A. Schroetter von Kristelli.

Literature#