64. This, though a larger firework than the single, is quite as easily
made, and is more effective. It consists of two cases attached to a
wooden centre, such as is represented at fig. 95. It is simply a turned
piece of light wood, having ends of such a size as will fit tightly into
the Saxon cases. It is about five inches and a-half long, and four
inches and a quarter between its shoulders. You can procure these in any
quantity of Mr. Darby or Mr. Newman.
The cases for double Saxons are made in the same manner as described
above for the single Saxons, but are of a different length. The
following directions for the division of paper and board will give you
cases of a size proper for double Saxons:—
Cut your 60lb. brown paper lengthwise into three equal strips, as
represented at the annexed fig. 96. By this division your cases will be
about seven and a-half inches in length. Your imperial board must be
cut, as shown in the illustration at fig. 97, into twelve equal pieces;
so that four sheets of 60lb. brown paper, and one of imperial board,
will give you material enough for twelve cases, and therefore enough for
six double Saxons.
[Illustration:
Fig. 96.
]
The cases are to be filled in the same way as directed above under the
head of single Saxons. After placing your case upon the settle, drive in
as much clay as will, when compressed, occupy a quarter of an inch, and
see that it is very firm and secure. Then drive in your composition
(made from one of the formulas given above) a ladleful at a time, until
you have filled the case to within an inch of the end. Drive in another
small quantity of clay, and you will then have three-quarters of an
inch, or thereabouts, of unoccupied space at the end of the case. This
is to be filled with the end of the wooden centre represented at fig.
95. When your two cases are filled, _glue them on to the centre_, taking
care that they are not likely to come unfastened by any fair means. You
will have no trouble in boring the central hole for these, for you buy
them already bored in the right manner.
[Illustration:
Fig. 97.
]
But you will have to bore through the case to the composition, to make a
vent for the fire. The holes are to be made about half-an-inch from each
end, and on opposite sides, as represented at A and B in fig. 98. After
boring the holes, be careful to fill them up again with some of the same
composition, leaving only room enough to receive the ends of the
quick-match, which should be pressed in with the little instrument
represented at fig. 94. This quick-match is first to be put into the
hole at A and secured there, and then carried over that end of the case
and down the other side to the hole at B, where it is to be secured in
the same way. Over the quick-match is to be pasted a piece of thin
paper. A strip an inch wide and twenty inches long is what is required
for this purpose. This strip is to be pasted all along the match. This
will prevent its being injured or ignited at the wrong time.
It is hardly necessary for me to state that the same plan must be
adopted with regard to the quick-match that is put to single Saxons. The
paper is simply to be pasted over the match in the same way as is done
in the case of tourbillons.
A wider strip of paper is next to be cut, which is to be pasted round
the end A of the double Saxon, and to project beyond the end, in order
to receive the quick-match from other pieces.
In order to attach a colour to the centre of these double Saxons (and
they should never be used without a colour), a nail may be driven into
the wooden centre, in the position indicated at C, in fig. 98, and the
coloured fire case bound to the nail with a round or two of fine wire.
The case at C must then be connected by quick-match with the end at A.
All the double Saxons that I have seen have been made in this manner,
but there is no reason why they should not burn one end at a time, like
the single Saxons. The difference will be that if both ends take fire at
once, the pieces will last just half the time that they would otherwise
take. The compositions that I have recommended for filling them are
quite strong enough to make them revolve well, if only burning at one
end; but if the two ends are arranged to burn simultaneously, a much
more perfect circle of white fire is produced, and this, I presume, is
the object of their always being made to burn double.
In deciding whether they shall burn singly or not, you must take into
consideration the questions, How are they to be used? and, With what
other pieces are they to burn? You will, no doubt, have plenty of
devices of your own making into which these illuminated Saxons will
enter. A very little experience will show you their effect, and teach
you how long they last, and how to regulate their use.
And here let me give you a hint that you will find very useful with
regard to these, and to all fireworks which can be used in combination.
Whenever you ascertain the length of time that any piece—say a Roman
candle, a brilliant gerbe, a Saxon, or a wheel-case—is in burning, make
a note of it in a book kept for the purpose. It will save you much
trouble and calculation, and will add very much to the beauty of your
compound pieces, to have a written statement of the duration of any
component part of them, so that you may have no excess in any
particular, and that it may appear that your design has been made with
judgment, and is not the result of a chance mixture of pieces.
I trust that I have left no particular unnoticed in my directions for
making these single and double Saxons. If I have, I hope that the
principle on which they are constructed is laid down with sufficient
clearness to put the mode of its working out beyond a doubt.