Our history
Tordenskjold is Denmark's leading brand of matches
and has been around since 1865.
1831
The first matches were invented and could be lit by striking the match head against any surface. The risk of spontaneous combustion was high, and the match head contained substances that were very harmful to health.
1836
The first Swedish Match factory opened in Stockholm.
1844
Swedish professor Gustaf Erik Pasch invented an ironing surface placed on the outside of the box.
1864
An enterprising gentleman named Heinrich Eduard Gosch arrived in Denmark. He was sent to Copenhagen by his boss, match manufacturer Ludvig Hintze, to investigate the possibilities of starting a match factory. Gosch found a suitable lease and was put in touch with an enterprising gentleman named Anders Sørensen. Sørensen took over the lease at Bådsmandsstræde 79 and established the company Ludvig Hintzes Efterfølger.
Once the formalities were in place, production could begin at the factory immediately. Sørensen and his wife were responsible for operations, while Gosch traveled around selling the products.
1865
The Swedes were leaders in the global market and equally strong in their domestic market. Anders Sørensen's wife, Ane Margrethe, had the brilliant idea of putting a portrait of Tordenskjold on the matchboxes. The motto was that if he had beaten the Swedes before, he could do it again.
1878
Gosch took over the factory along with the exclusive right to use Tordenskjold as a trademark for all time.
1880
Gosch & Co was approved as the owner of the trademark featuring "Tordenskjold in an upright oval frame." The approval was registered as number 9 with the Danish Trademark Office, making it one of the oldest trademarks in Denmark.
1972
For more than a hundred years, Tordenskjold matches were produced in Denmark. But with inventions such as the electric stove and the lighter, market conditions became difficult. Swedish Match Industries bought Tordenskjold in 1972, and today all matches are produced in Sweden.
