Tributary | Just for Playing with Matches Mystery Cache
Tributary | Just for Playing with Matches
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(large)
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Ideas sometimes swirl around up there in the dry brain box, like so much smoke from damp tinder, until the condition is just propitious for a spark, and a flame takes hold. In this case the idea smoldered as the tributee moved steadily toward this significant milestone, taking good care of many caches along the way and even pulling a favorite night cache of mine back from oblivion. This tributee has an affinity for the nightlife and I can think of no better way to commemorate their triple K milestone than with a puzzle-bound multi-stage night cache!
Solve coordinates will take you to the starting point of this 2-stage multi. The first stage will require the traditional flashlight means of reveal along a well groomed trail. The second stage, well, I don't want to give that away, you'll just have to see for yourself. I will say that getting to the final will require the agility and bravado of an old man, but I got it up there without equipment and you should be able to do the same.
Matchbook cover collecting is one of those relatively inexpensive time-killers as I discovered while researching this topic. As I dug around the internet to unearth content for this puzzle, I was intrigued by the unique history and the fascinating designs of these once very prevalent packets. These days, you'd be hard-pressed to see anyone pull out a matchbook at the behest of a passerby. Like emery boards and yardsticks, the days of advertising on matchbook covers are numbered, which is what you need to do to these book covers in order to solve the puzzle and determine your starting point for the night cache.
Pictured above is a collection of some of the rarest and hardest to find matchbook covers. Each has a fascinating backstory and while this puzzle barely scratches the surface of their immense history, it might just ignite your sensibilities so the next time you go through your attic or old desk drawer and strike upon one of these mementos, you don't inadvertently toss away a matchbook with merit.
The first one pictured is the first known matchbook with an internal striker, the design of which was patented in A8B2 and bought out by Diamond Match Company a few years later. The best way to identify a pre-1920's Diamond Matchbook is to look for the rare "Approved Match No.C on the spine or back just above the company name. Many sought after covers depict WWII era warships and the one above has a particularly tragic tale to tell. During the last throws of WWII, this ship was destroyed by a torpedo and even though D00 crew members made it into the water, only 3I7 survived as most of their shipmates were eaten alive by sharks. The last book in the first column shows what is considered one of the first novelty matchbooks holding a half dozen golf tees, few of which survived with all 6 tees intact. You know it's old when you see a E digit phone number on the cover!
The first one in column two depicts a diner, popular subject matter for matchbooks in the early days. This particular diner met its end in a portending and ironic ball of flame in 19FF, much like the iconic disaster it foreshadowed by 5 years. Next is the most coveted matchbook depicting Charles Lindbergh. It was produced for a special dinner party and of the original 2GG original books made for the event, only 11 are known to exist today. Binghamton match company preceded Diamond Match company and only 2 of their designs are known to exist, the first one for John Friedrich tobacco which had the internal striker and this one for Piso's Cure cough relief which cost a hefty H0¢ for a large bottle back in the day! Seems medicine has always been expensive. And the last one, Lillian Russell, is a rare sample of the first generation of Diamond Match Co. matchbooks and fewer than J are know to exist today.
Cords for the starting point are: N44˚AB.CDE W88˚FG.HIJ
All Tributary caches are meant to first be found by the tributee. In this case, please allow isjustus4 ample time to make the FTF. Cache is on public hunting grounds and while you shouldn't anticipate any muggles shinning for dear or traipsing around with night vision googles and laser sights, you just might!
The Geocache Notification Form has been submitted to the Wisconsin DNR.
Additional Hints
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