Diamond Strike

The Diamond Match Company has its roots in a business started in 1853 by Edward Tatnall in Wilmington, Delaware. Ownership passed to William H. Swift and Henry Courtney, operating under the name Swift & Courtney, and marketed their product as Diamond State Parlor Matches. Experiencing a boost in business during the American Civil War, Swift & Courtney would acquire other match manufacturers to become the largest match company in the United States. Swift & Courtney was itself acquired by O. C. Barber in 1880 who rebranded the company Diamond in 1881. 

Throughout the twentieth century, Diamond would expand into the forestry business and manufacture other wood and paper products including cotton swabs, ice cream sticks, toothpicks, paper plates, and playing cards. Private equity firm Seaver Kent acquired Diamond Match Company in 1998 until their bankruptcy in 2001. It became a revolving door of acquisitions with Diamond being purchased by Jarden in 2003 and Newell Brands becoming the owner in 2016 after the merger of Jarden with Newell Rubbermaid. In 2017, Newell sold Diamond (except the cutlery line) to Royal Oak Enterprises. The Diamond brand remains America's leading producer of matches, producing some twelve billion a year. 

Note: A 1956 advertisement above