65. I now wish to supply a few designs for combinations in which these
Saxons, together with other pieces, find a place. The first that I shall
give will be that which is called a Saxon wheel. It consists of a wooden
framework about three feet in diameter, having six spokes, and into
three of these spokes the spindles are driven on which three double
Saxons are to revolve. On the circumference of the wheel, cases are tied
filled with brilliant fire made from the following formula:—
Meal-powder 4 parts.
Steel filings 1 part.
These cases may be of the one-ounce size, and must burn _two_ at a time.
This is easily effected by connecting the mouths of the cases, _on
opposite sides of the wheel_, with quick-match, and then from the tails
of these cases carrying leaders to the heads of the next two, and so on.
The number of cases on the circumference is not a matter of importance.
I have drawn six in the sketch at fig. 100. In the centre should be
placed a single triangle wheel, the cases on which may be of the “fixed
case” size, spoken of in paragraph 41, but not quite so long—five and
a-half inches will be found long enough. The cases on this triangle
wheel may be filled with the brilliant fire. The piece will then
require—
6 one-ounce wheel-cases in brilliant fire.
3 triangle wheel-cases in brilliant fire.
3 double Saxons, illuminated with colours.
You may make this wheel perform in any manner that you choose. I may,
however, suggest one order for its performance. I should first light the
triangle wheel, and let its three cases expend themselves. This central
triangle must revolve upon the same axis on which the larger wheel
turns. Then I should advise you to fire the two connected cases on
opposite sides of the large wheel, and let these convey their fire to
the other cases which follow them. When four of these cases are consumed
(or rather, I should say, when _two couples_ of these cases are
consumed), fire the quick-match which connects the illuminated Saxons.
You will see that the central triangle is a separate piece, and will not
require to be connected with the other part of the design. The Saxons
must be connected by quick-match with one another, and must have a
leader left by which to fire them. The outside wheel-cases must also
have a leader by which they can be ignited at the proper moment.
Especial care must be taken that these leaders are not too near one
another, or you will probably find your whole piece ignited at one time,
and not in the order which you had intended it to observe. The triangle
wheel will, of course, be in front of the other wheel, and so the fire
from it will not start the other pieces before their time. The best plan
for igniting the Saxons at the right moment is to make a fuze to last
just the time that the two first couples of wheel-cases take to burn
out, and so to convey its fire to the Saxons. These fuzes are a larger
sort of portfire, primed at both ends, with a quick-match leading to and
from them. The fuze must be lighted by the same leader which fires the
wheel-cases, and if it be only of the proper length, will when consumed
pass its fire on to the Saxons at the proper time.
[Illustration: [Fleuron]]
In the sketch at fig. 100 it will be seen that the cases at A A are to
burn together; those at B B will follow them; and while A A and B B are
burning, the fuze at D is also burning, and should last precisely the
same time. Then when C C take their fire from B B, the Saxons take their
fire from the fuze at D. I hope this is intelligible. I can answer for
the beauty of the design if properly carried out. You may put on the
three Saxons a red, a green, and a purple fire, which will make a good
contrast, and you will further improve your piece by putting a
changeable colour on the centre of the triangle wheel. Put the end of
the leader E in such a position that it is not ignited by the fire from
the triangle.
There is also a very pretty fixed piece, of more simple construction
than the above, in which you may use three single Saxons. It consists of
three Saxons illuminated, and three fixed cases of brilliant fire. A
fuze will be found useful in this piece as in the last, but you can do
without it here. Connect the three Saxons with leaders; connect also the
three fixed cases with leaders, and carry from these another leader to
some point where you can conveniently light it with a portfire. Fire the
Saxons (which we will suppose are single ones) and let them burn until
one end of each is consumed; then fire the fixed cases of brilliant
fire, which should each have a report at its end. A sketch of the shape
of this piece is given at fig. 101.