Ballóóns filled with crackers, reports, and marrons, make no great
show of themselves, nor are they very pleasing to the eye, for they
represent nothing more than a number of pale white flashes, followed
by a variety of reports; which altogether make but a very indifferent
appearance when fired with illuminated ballóóns, which are so
beautiful and brilliant, as to cast forth such lustre that will dazzle
the eyes of the spectators for some time; on this consideration, I do
not think it worth while loading shells of a large nature, with things
that afford so little pleasure: but they have a pretty good effect in
royal shells, when thrown among a number of air works, such as pots
des brins or flights of rockets, in order to alarm the people with a
thundering in the air. For they will not know from whence the reports
came, if fired exactly at the same time with the other works, and the
fuze made to carry a small fire. But if any one thinks proper to make
large ballóóns of this sort, it is only observing a proportion of the
blowing and firing powder, and the length of the fuze, for shells of
the same dimensions as those you intend to make. These kind of
ballóóns are lighter than any other sort, by reason of the crackers
being light of themselves, and not lying close in the shells. It must
be observed, when you fire light ballóóns, not to put so much powder
in the mortar as for heavy ones.
Compound Eight-inch Ballóóns.
oz. dr.
Meal powder 2 8
Corn powder 1 12
Powder for the mortar 9 4
Length of the fuze composition one inch one eighth; four ounce cases
drove with star composition three eighths of an inch, and bounced
three diameters, sixteen. Two ounce tailed stars, sixteen. Two ounce
drove brilliant stars, twelve. Silver rain-falls, twenty. One ounce
drove blue stars, twenty: and one ounce cases drove and bounced two
diameters, as many as will fill the shell.
Another of Eight-inches.
oz. dr.
Meal powder 2 8
Corn powder 1 12
Powder for the mortar 9 4
Length of the fuze composition one inch one eighth; crackers of six
reports, ten. Gold rains, fourteen. Two ounce cases drove with star
composition three eighths of an inch, and bounced two diameters,
sixteen. Two ounce tailed stars, sixteen. Two ounce drove brilliant
stars, twelve. Silver rains, ten: one ounce drove blue stars, twenty:
and one ounce cases drove with a brilliant charge two diameters and
bounced three, as many as the shell will hold.
Another of Eight-inches.
oz. dr.
Meal powder 2 12
Corn powder 2 0
Powder for the mortar 9 0
Length of the fuze composition one inch one sixteenth; crackers of six
reports, ten. Gold rains, twenty. Two ounce cases drove with star
composition half an inch, and bounced two diameters sixteen. Two ounce
drove brilliant stars, two ounce drove blue stars, two ounce drove
coloured stars, two ounce drove tailed stars, large strung stars, and
rolled stars, of each an equal quantity, sufficient for the ballóón.
For a compound Ten-inch Ballóón.
oz. dr.
Meal powder 3 4
Corn powder 2 8
Powder for the mortar 12 8
Length of the fuze composition fifteen sixteenths of an inch; one
ounce cases drove and bounced three diameters, sixteen. Crackers of
eight reports, twelve. Four ounce cases drove half an inch with star
composition, and bounced two diameters, fourteen. Two ounce cases
drove with brilliant fire one diameter and a quarter, and bounced two
diameters, sixteen. Two ounce drove brilliant stars, thirty. Two ounce
drove blue stars, thirty. Gold rains, twenty. Silver rains, twenty:
after all these are put in, fill the remainder of the case with tailed
and rolled stars.
For a Ten-inch Ballóón of three Changes.
oz. dr.
Meal powder 3 0
Corn powder 3 2
Powder for the mortar 13 0
Length of the fuze composition one inch; the shell must be loaded with
two ounce cases, drove with star composition a quarter of an inch, and
on that one diameter of gold fire, then bounced three diameters; or
with two ounce cases first filled one diameter with gold-fire, then a
quarter of an inch with star composition, and on that one diameter and
a quarter of brilliant fire. These cases must be well secured at top
of the charge, lest they should take fire at both ends, but their
necks must be larger than the common proportion.
To make Ballóón Fuzes.
Fuzes for air ballóóns are sometimes turned out of dry beech, with a
cup at top, to hold the quick-match, as you see in Plate II. Fig. 28,
but if made with pasted paper, they will do as well: the diameter of
the former for fuzes for coehorn ballóóns, must be half an inch; for a
royal fuze, five eighths of an inch; for an eight inch fuze, three
quarters of an inch; and for a ten inch fuze, seven eighths of an
inch. Having rolled your cases, pinch and tie them almost close at one
end; then drive them down, and let them dry; before you begin to fill
them, mark, on the out side of the case, the length of charge
required, allowing for the thickness of the bottom; and when you have
rammed in the composition, take two pieces of quick-match, about six
inches long, and lay one end of each on the charge, and then a little
meal powder, which ram down hard; the loose ends of the match double
up into the top of the fuze, and cover it with a paper cap to keep it
dry. When you put the shells in the mortars, uncap the fuzes, and pull
out the loose ends of the match, and let them hang on the sides of the
ballóóns; the use of the match is, to receive the fire from the powder
in the chamber of the mortar, in order to light the fuze: the shell
being put in the mortar with the fuze uppermost, and exactly in the
center; sprinkle over it a little meal-powder, and it will be ready to
be fired. Fuzes made of wood must be longer than those of paper, and
not bored quite through, but left solid about half an inch at bottom;
and when you use them, saw them off to a proper length, measuring the
charge from the cup at top.
Of Tourbillons.
Having filled some cases within about one diameter and a half, drive
in a ladle full of clay, then pinch their ends close, and drive them
down with a mallet; when done, find the center of gravity of each
case, where you nail and tie a stick which should be half an inch
broad at the middle, and run a little narrower to the ends these
sticks must have their ends turned upwards, so that the cases may turn
horizontally on their centers: at the opposite sides of the cases at
each end, bore a hole close to the clay with a gimblet, the size of
the neck of a common case of the same nature; from these holes draw a
line round the case, and at the under part of the case bore a hole,
with the same gimblet, within half a diameter of each line towards the
center; then from one hole to the other draw a right line. This line
divide into three equal parts, and at X and Y, Fig. 29, Plate III.
bore a hole, then from these holes to the other two, lead a
quick-match, over which paste a thin paper. Fig. 30, represents a
tourbillon as it should lay to be fired, with a leader from one side
hole A, to the other B. When you fire tourbillons, lay them on a
smooth table, with their sticks downwards, and burn the leader thro’
the middle with a port fire. They should spin three or sour seconds on
the table before they rise, which is about the time the composition
will be burning, from the side holes to those at bottom.
To tourbillons may be fixed reports, in this manner; in the center of
the case at top, make a small hole, and in the middle of the report
make another; then place them together, and tie on the report, and
with a single paper secure it from sire, this being done your
tourbillon is compleated. By this method you may fix on tourbillons,
small cones of stars, rains, &c. but be careful not to load them too
much. One eighth of an inch will be enough for the thickness of the
sticks, and their length equal to that of the cases.
The Manner of making Mortars, for throwing Aigrettes and loading and
firing the same.
Mortars used for throwing aigrettes are generally made of paste-board,
of the same thickness as ballóón mortars, and two diameters and a half
long in the inside from the top of the foot; the foot must be made of
elm without a chamber, but flat at top, and in the same proportion as
those for ballóón mortars; these sort of mortars must also be bound
round with cord as before mentioned; sometimes eight or nine of these
sort of mortars, of about three or four inches diameter, are bound all
together so as to appear but one; but when they are made for this
purpose, the bottom of the foot must be of the same diameter as the
mortars; and only half a diameter high. Your mortars being bound well
together, fix them on a heavy solid block of wood: to load these
mortars, first put on the inside bottom of each, a piece of paper, and
on it spread one ounce and a half of meal and corn powder mixed; then
tie your serpents up in parcels with quick-match, and put them in the
mortar with their mouths downwards; but take care that the parcels do
not sit too tight in the mortars, and that all the serpents have been
well primed with powder, wetted with spirit of wine; on the top of the
serpents in each mortar lay some paper or tow; then carry a leader
from one mortar to the other all round, and then from all the outside
mortars into that in the middle; these leaders must be put between the
cases, and the sides of the mortar down to the powder at bottom: in
the center of the middle mortar, fix a fire-pump or brilliant
fountain, which must be open at bottom, and long enough to project out
of the mouth of the mortar; then paste paper on the tops of all the
mortars.
Mortars thus prepared are called a nest of serpents, as represented by
Fig. 31. When you would fire these mortars, light the fire-pump C,
which when consumed will communicate to all the mortars at once, by
means of the leaders. For mortars of six, eight, or ten inches
diameter, the serpents should be made in one and two ounce cases, six
or seven inches long, and fired by a leader, brought out of the mouth
of the mortar, and turned down the outside, and the end of it covered
with paper, to prevent the sparks of the other works from setting it
on fire. For a six inch mortar, let the quantity of powder for firing
be two ounces; for an eight inch, two ounces and three quarters; and
for a ten inch, three ounces and three quarters; care must be taken in
these as well as small mortars, not to put the serpents in too tight,
for fear of bursting the mortars. These sort of mortars may be loaded
with stars, crackers, &c.
If the mortars, when loaded, are to be sent any distance, or liable to
be much moved, the firing powder should be secured from getting
amongst the serpents, which would endanger the mortars, as well as
hurt their performance; to prevent which, load your mortars after this
manner; first put in the firing powder and spread it equally about;
then cut a round piece of blue touch-paper, equal to the exterior
diameter of the mortar, and draw on it a circle, equal to the interior
diameter of the mortar, and notch it all round as far as that circle;
then paste that part which is notched, and put it down the mortar
close to the powder, and stick the pasted edge to the mortar; this
will keep the powder always smooth at bottom, so that it may be moved
or carried any where, without receiving any damage. The large single
mortars are called pots des aigrettes.
The Manner of making, loading, and firing of Pots des Brins.
These pots are made of paste-board, and must be rolled pretty thick;
they are usually made three or four inches diameter, and four
diameters long, and pinched with a neck at one end, like common cases;
a number of these are placed on a plank in the following manmer:
having fixed on a plank, two rows of wooden pegs, cut, in the bottom
of the plank, a groove the whole length under each row of pegs; then,
through the centre of each peg, bore a hole down to the groove at
bottom, and on every peg fix and glue a pot, whose mouth must fit
tight on the peg; thro’ all the holes run a quick-match, one end of
which must go into the pot, and the other into the groove, which must
have a match laid in it from end to end, and covered with paper, so
that when lighted at one end, it may discharge the whole almost
instantaneously: in all the pots put about one ounce of meal and corn
powder; then in some put stars, and others rains, snakes, serpents,
crackers, &c. when they are all loaded, paste paper over their mouths.
Two or three hundred of these pots being fired together, make a very
pretty show, by affording so great a variety of fires. Fig. 32, is a
range of pots des brins, with the leader A, by which they are fired.
Of Pots des Saucissons.
Saucissons are generally fired out of large mortars without chambers,
the same as those for aigrettes, only somewhat stronger: saucissons
are made of one and two ounce cases, five or six inches long, and
choaked in the same manner as serpents; half the number which the
mortar contains, must be drove one diameter and a half with
composition, and the other half two diameters, so that when fired they
may give two volleys of reports; but if the mortars be very strong,
and will bear a sufficient charge, to throw the saucissons very high,
you may make three volleys of reports, by dividing the number of cases
into three parts, and making a difference in the height of the charge:
after they are filled, pinch and tie them at top of the charge, almost
close; only leaving a small vent to communicate the fire to the upper
part of the case, which must be filled with corn powder very near the
top; then pinch the end quite close, and tie it; after this is done,
bind the case very tight with waxed pack-thread, from the choak at top
of the composition, to the end of the case; this will make the case
very strong in that part, and cause the report to be very loud:
saucissons should be rolled a little thicker of paper than the common
proportion. When they are to be put in the mortar, they must be primed
in their mouths, and fired by a case of brilliant fire, fixed in their
center.
The charge for these sort of mortars should be one sixth, or one
eighth, more than for pots des aigrettes of the same diameter.
To fix one Rocket on the Top of another.
When sky rockets are thus managed, they are called towering rockets,
on account of their mounting so very high. Towering rockets are made
after this manner; fix on a pound rocket a head without a collar; then
take a four ounce rocket, which may be headed or bounced, and rub the
mouth of it with meal powder wetted with spirit of wine, when done put
it in the head of the large rocket with its mouth downwards; but
before you put it in, stick a bit quick-match in the hole in the clay
of the pound rocket, which match should be long enough to go a little
way up the bore of the small rocket, in order to fire it, when the
large one is burnt out; the four ounce rocket being too small to fill
the head of the other, roll round it as much tow as will make it stand
upright in the center of the head: the rocket being thus fixed, paste
a single paper round the opening of the top of the head of the large
rocket. The large rocket must have only half a diameter of charge
rammed above the piercer, for if filled to the usual height, it would
turn before the small one takes fire, and entirely destroy the
intended effect; when one rocket is headed with another, there will be
no occasion for any blowing powder; for the force with which it lets
off, will be sufficient to disingage it from the head of the first
fired rocket. The sticks for these sort of rockets, must be a little
longer than for those headed with stars, rains, &c.
Of Caduceus Rockets.
Caduceus rockets in rising form two spiral lines, or double worm, by
reason of their being placed obliquely, one opposite the other; and
their counterpoise in their center, which causes them to rise in a
vertical direction. Rockets for this purpose, must have their ends
choaked close, without either head or bounce; for a weight at top,
would be a great obstruction to their mounting; though I have known
them sometimes to be bounced, but then they did not rise so high as
those that were not, nor do any Caduceous rockets ascend so high as
single ones; because of their serpentine motion, and likewise the
resistance of air, which is much greater than two rockets of the same
size would meet with, if fired singly.
By Fig. 33. you see the method of fixing these rockets: the sticks for
this purpose, must have all their sides equal, which sides should be
equal to the breadth of a stick, proper for a sky rocket of the same
weight as those you intend to use, and to taper downwards as usual,
long enough to ballance them, one length of a rocket, from the cross
stick; which must be placed from the large stick, six diameters of one
of the rockets, and its length seven diameters so that each rocket
when tied on, may form with the large stick an angle of sixty degrees.
In tying on the rockets, place their heads on the opposite sides of
the cross stick; and their ends on the opposite sides of the long
stick, then carry a leader from the mouth of one, into that of the
other. When these rockets are to be fired, suspend them between two
hooks or nails, then burn the leader through the middle, and both will
take fire at the same time. Rockets of one pound, are a good size, for
this use.
Of Honorary Rockets.
Honorary rockets are the same as sky rockets, except that they carry
no head nor report, but are closed at top, on which is fixed a cone,
then on the case, close to the top of the stick, you tie a two ounce
case, about five or six inches long, filled with a strong charge, and
pinched close at both ends; then in the reverse sides at each end,
bore a hole, in the same manner as in Tourbillons; from each hole,
carry a leader, into the top of the rocket. When the rocket is fired,
and arrived to its proper height, it will give fire to the case at
top, which will cause both rocket and stick, to spin very fast, in
their return, and represent a worm of fire, descending to the ground.
There is another method of placing the small case, which is by letting
the stick rise a little above the top of the rocket, and tying the
case to it, so as to rest on the rocket: these sort of rockets have no
cones.
There is also a third method, by which these kind of rockets are
managed, which is thus: In the top of the rocket fix a piece of wood,
in which drive a small iron spindle, then make a hole in the middle of
the small case, through which put the spindle; then fix on the top of
it a nut, to keep the case from falling off; when this is done, the
case will turn very fast, without the rocket: but this method does not
answer so well, as either of the former.
Fsg. 34. is a honorary rocket compleat. The best sized rockets for
this purpose are those of one pound.
To divide the Tail of a Sky Rocket, so as to form an Arch when
ascending.
Having some rockets made, and headed according to fancy, and tied on
their sticks; get some sheet tin, and cut it into round pieces, about
three or four inches diameter, then on the stick of each rocket, under
the mouth of the case, fix one of these pieces of tin; sixteen inches
from the rockets neck, and support it by a wooden bracket, as strong
as possible: the use of this, is, that when the rocket is ascending,
the fire will play with great force on the tin, which will divide the
tail in such a manner, that it will form an arch, as it mounts, (and
will have a very good effect if well managed) if there be a short
piece of port-fire, of a strong charge, tied to the end of the stick,
it will make a great addition; but this must be lighted, before you
fire the rocket.
To make several Sky Rockets, rise together, in the same direction, and
equally distant from each other.
Take six or any number of sky rockets, of what size you please; then
cut some strong pack-thread, into pieces of three or four yards long,
and tie each end of these pieces to a rocket in this manner. Having
tied one end of your pack-thread, round the body, of one rocket, and
the other end to another; take a second piece of pack-thread and make
one end of it fast to one of the rockets already tied, and the other
end to a third rocket, so that all the rockets except the two outside
ones will be fastened to two pieces of pack-thread; the length of
thread, from one rocket to the other, may be what the maker pleases;
but the rockets must be all of a size, and their heads filled with the
same weight of stars, rains, &c.
Having thus done, fix in the mouth of each rocket, a leader of the
same length; and, when you are going to fire them, hang them almost
close together, then tie the ends of the leaders together, and prime
them; this prime being fired, all the rockets will mount at the same
time, and divide themselves as far as the firings will allow; which
division they will keep, provided they are all rammed alike, and well
made. These sort of rockets, are called by some, chained-rockets.
Of Signal Sky Rockets.
Signal-rockets are made of several sorts, according to the different
signals intended to be given: but in Artificial Fireworks, two sorts
are only made use of, which are one with reports, and the other
without any thing, except the charge; but those for the use of the
Navy and Army, are headed with stars, serpents, &c.――――Rockets which
are to be bounced, must have their cases made one and a half or two
diameters longer, than the common proportion, and after they are
filled, drive in a double quantity of clay, then bounce and pinch
them, after the usual manner, and fix on each a cap.
Signal sky rockets without bounces, are nothing more than common sky
rockets, closed and caped: rockets of this sort are very light,
therefore do not require such heavy sticks as those with loaded heads,
for which reason, you may cut one length of the rocket, off the stick,
or else make them thinner.
Signal rockets with reports, are sometimes fired in small flights, and
often both these and those without reports, are used, for a signal, to
begin firing a collection of works; and occasionally, for many other
purposes.
How to fix two or more Sky Rockets on one stick.
Two, three, or six sky rockets, fixed on one stick, and fired
together, make a grand and beautiful appearance; for the tails of all
will seem but as one of an immense size, and the breaking of so many
heads at once, will resemble the bursting of an air ballóón; but the
management of this device, requires a skilful hand; therefore for the
encouragement of those who are fond of curious performances, I shall
give such instructions, that, if well observed, even by those who have
not made a great progress in this art, there will be no doubt, of the
rockets having the desired effect.
Rockets for this purpose, must be made with the greatest exactness,
all rammed by the same hand, in the same mould, and out of the one
proportion of composition; and after they are filled and headed, must
all be of the same weight; the stick must also be well made, (and
proportioned) according to the following directions: first supposing
your rockets to be half pounders, whose sticks are six feet six inches
long, then if two, three, or six of these are to be fixed on one
stick, let the length of it, be nine feet nine inches, then cut the
top of it, into as many sides, as there are rockets, and let the
length of each side be equal to the length of one of the rockets
without its head; and in each side, cut a groove (as usual,) then from
the grooves, plane it round, down to the bottom, where its thickness
must be equal to half the top of the round part. As the thickness of
these sort of sticks, cannot be exactly ascertained, I shall give a
rule which generally answers, for any number of rockets above two:
the rule is this; that the stick at top, must be thick enough when the
grooves are cut, for all the rockets to lay, without pressing each
other, though as near together as possible.
When only two rockets, are to be fixed on one stick, let the length of
the stick be, according to the last given proportion, but shaped after
the common method, and the breadth and thickness, double the
dimensions, given in the table page, 94. The point of poise, must be
in the usual place, (let the number of rockets be what they will): if
sticks made by the above directions, should be too heavy, plane them
thinner; and if too light, make them thicker; but always make them of
the same length.
When more than two rockets, are tied on one stick, there will be some
danger, of their flying up without the stick, unless the following
precaution be taken, for cases being placed on all sides, there can be
no notches, for the cord which ties on the rockets, to lay in;
therefore instead of notches, drive a small nail, in each side of the
stick, between the necks of the cases; and let the cord which goes
round their necks, be brought close under the nails; by this means,
the rockets will be as secure, as when tied on singly. Your rockets
being thus fixed, carry a quick-match without a pipe, from the mouth
of one rocket to the other; this match being lighted will give fire to
all the rockets at once.
Notwithstanding the directions already given, may be sufficient, for
the management of those sort of rockets; I shall here add an
improvment, of my own, on a very essential part of this device, which
is, that of hanging the rockets, to be fired; for before I hit upon
the following method, many of my essays, proved unsuccessful; but to
prevent such perplexities, instead of the old and common manner of
hanging them on nails or hooks, make use of this contrivance, have a
ring made of strong iron wire, large enough for the stick to go in, as
far as the mouths of the rockets, then let this ring be supported by a
small iron, at some distance, from the post or stand, to which it is
fixed; then have another ring, fit to receive and guide the small end
of the stick; rockets thus suspended will have nothing to obstruct
their fire; but when they are hung on nails or hooks, in such a
manner, that some of their mouths, are against or upon a rail, there
can be no certainty of their rising, in a vertical direction.
Of Sky Rockets without sticks.
To fire rockets without sticks, you must have a stand made in this
manner; get a block of wood, one foot diameter or there abouts, and
make the bottom of it flat, so that it may stand steady; in the center
of the top of this block, draw a circle two inches and a half
diameter, and divide the circumference of it into three equal parts;
then take three pieces of thick iron wire, each about three feet in
length, and drive them into the block, one at each point made on the
circle; when these wires, are drove in, deep enough to hold them fast,
and upright, so that the distance from one to the other, be the same
at top, as at bottom, the stand is compleat.
The stand being thus made, prepare your rockets after the following
method; take some common sky rockets, of any size, and head them as
you please, then get some balls of lead, and tie to each a small wire,
two, or two feet and a half long, and the other end of each wire, tie
to the neck of a rocket; these balls answer the purpose of sticks,
when made of a proper weight, which is about two thirds the weight of
the rocket; but when they are of a proper size, they will ballance the
rocket in the same manner as a stick, at the usual point of poize. To
fire these sort of rockets, hang them, one at a time, between the tops
of the wires, letting their heads rest on the points of the wires, and
the balls hang down between them; if the wires should be too wide, for
the rockets, press them together, till they sit, and if too close,
force them open: the wires for this purpose, must be softened, so as
not to have any spring, or they will not keep their position, when
pressed close or opened.
Of Rain-falls for Sky Rockets, Double and Single.
Gold and silver rain composition, are drove in cases, that are pinched
quite close at one end; if you roll them dry, four or five rounds of
paper will be strong enough, but if the are pasted, three rounds will
do, and the thin sort of cartridge paper is best for those small
cases; which in rolling you must not turn down the inside edge, as in
other cases, for a double edge would be too thick for so small a bore;
the moulds for rain falls, should be made of brass, and turned very
smooth in the inside; or the cases, which are so very thin, would tear
in coming out, for the charge must be drove in tight; and the better
the case sits the mould, the more driving it will bare. These moulds
have no nipple, but instead of which they are made flat; as it would
be very tedious and troublesome, to shake the composition out of such
small ladles, as are used for these cases; it will be necessary to
have a funnel made of thin tin, to fit on the top of the case, by the
help of which you may fill them very fast; for single rain falls for
four ounce rockets, let the diameter of the former be two sixteenths
of an inch, and the length of the case two inches; for eight ounce
rockets, four sixteenths, and two diameters of the rocket long; for
one pound rocket five sixteenths, and two diameters of the rocket
long; for two pound rockets, five sixteenths, and three inches a half
long; for four pound rockets, six sixteenths, and four inches and a
half long; and for six pounders, seven sixteenths diameter, and five
inches long.
Of double rain falls, there are two sorts; as for example, some appear
first like a star, and then as rain; and some appear first as rain and
then like a star: when you would have stars first; you must fill the
cases within half an inch of the top, with rain composition, and the
remainder with star composition; but when you intend the rain should
be first, drive the case half an inch with star composition, and the
rest with rain. By this method, may be made many changes of fire; for
in large rockets, you may make them first burn as stars, then rain,
and then again as stars, or they may first shew rain, then stars, and
afterwards finish with a report, but when they are thus managed, cut
open the first rammed end, after they are filled and bounced, at which
place prime them; the star composition for this purpose must be a
little stronger than for rolled stars.
Of Strung Stars.
First take some thin paper, and cut it into pieces of an inch and a
half square, or therabouts, then on each piece lay as much dry star
composition as you think the paper will easily contain; then twist up
the paper as tight as you can; when done, rub some past on your hands,
and roll the stars between them, then set them to dry; your stars
being thus made, get some flax or fine tow, and roll a little of it
over each star, then paste your hands and roll the stars as before,
and set them again to dry; when they are quite dry, with a piercer,
make a hole through the middle of each, into which run a cotton
quick-match, long enough to hold, ten or twelve stars, at three or
four inches from one another: but any number of stars may be strung
together by joining the match.
Of Tailed Stars.
Those sort of stars are called tailed stars, because there are a great
number of sparks issue from them, which represent a tail like that of
a comet; of those stars there are two sorts, which are rolled, and
drove; when they are rolled they must be moistened, with a liquor made
of half a pint of spirit of wine, and half a gil of thin size, of this
as much as will wet the composition enough, to make it roll easy; when
they are rolled, sift meal powder over them, and set them to dry.
When tailed stars are drove, the composition must be moistened with
spirit of wine only, and not made so wet as for rolling; one and two
ounce cases rolled dry, are best for this purpose; and when they are
filled, unroll the case within three or four rounds of the charge, and
all that you unroll cut off, then paste down the loose edge; two or
three days after the cases are filled, cut them in pieces five or six
eighths of an inch in length, then melt some wax, and dip one end of
each piece into it, so as to cover the composition; the other end must
be rubbed with meal powder wetted with spirit of wine.
Of Drove Stars.
Cases for drove stars, are rolled with paste, but are made very thin
of paper; before you begin to fill them, damp the composition, with
spirit of wine that has had some camphor dissolved in it; you may ram
them indifferently hard, so that you do not break, or sack the case,
and to prevent which they should fit tight in the mould: they are
drove in cases of several sizes, from eight drams to four ounces; when
they are filled in half ounce cases, cut them in pieces, of three
quarters of an inch in length; if one ounce cases, cut them in pieces
of one inch; if two ounce cases, cut them in pieces of one inch and a
quarter in length, and if four ounce cases, cut them in pieces one
inch and a half in length; having cut your stars of a proper size,
prime them at both ends, with wet meal powder; stars of this sort are
seldom put in rockets, they being chiefly intended for air ballóóns,
and drove in cases, to prevent the composition from being broke by the
force of the blowing powder in the shell.
Of Rolled Stars.
Rolled stars are commonly made about the size of a musket ball, though
they are rolled of several sizes, from the bigness of a pistol ball,
to one inch diameter; and sometimes they are made very small, but then
they are called sparks; great care must be taken in making of stars,
first, that the several ingredients be reduced to a fine powder;
secondly, that the composition be well worked and mixed together.
Before you begin to roll, take about a pound of composition, and wet
it with the following liquid, enough to make it stick together and
roll easy; spirit of wine, one quart, in which dissolve a quarter of
an ounce of isinglass; if a great quantity of composition be wetted at
once, the spirit, will evaporate, and leave it dry, before you can
roll it into stars; having rolled up one proportion, shake the stars
in meal powder, and set them to dry, which they will do in three or
four days. But if you should want them for immediate use, dry them in
an earthen pan over a slow heat, or, in an oven: it being very
difficult to make the stars all of an equal size, when the composition
is taken up promiscuously with the fingers; therefore I shall here set
down a method by which you may make them very exact, which is thus:
When the mixture is moistened properly, roll it on a flat smooth
stone, and cut it into square pieces, making each square, large enough
for the stars you intend; there is another method used by some to make
stars, which is by rolling the composition, in long pieces, and then
cutting off the star, so that each star will be of a cylindrical form;
but this method is not so good as the former, for to make the
composition roll this way, it must be made very wet, which makes the
stars heavy as well as weaken them. All stars must be kept as much
from air, as possible, otherwise they will grow weak and bad.
Of Scrolls for Sky Rockets.
Cases for scrolls, should be made four or five inches in length, and
their interior diameter three eighths of an inch; one end of these
cases must be pinched quite close, before you begin to fill, and and
when filled, close the other end, then in the opposite sides make a
small hole at each end, to the composition, in the same manner as in
Tourbillons; and prime them with wet meal powder: you may put in the
head of a rocket, as many of these cases as it will contain; these
cases being fired turn very quick in the air, and form a scroll or
spiral line. They are generally filled with a strong charge, as that
of serpents, or brilliant fire.
Of Swarmers or small Rockets.
Rockets which go under the denomination of swarmers, are those from
two ounces downards. These small rockets are fired sometimes, in
flights, and in large water-works, &c. Swarmers of one and two ounces,
are bored, and made in the same manner as large rockets, except when
headed, their heads must be put on without a collar; the number of
strokes, for driving one ounce rockets, must be eight; and for two
ounce rockets, twelve.
All rockets under one ounce, are not bored, but must be filled to the
usual height, with composition, which is generally composed, of fine
meal prowder four ounces, and charcoal or steel dust two drams; the
number of strokes for ramming these small swarmers, is not very
material, so as they are rammed true, and moderately hard. The necks
of unbored rockets, must be in the same proportion, as in common
cases.
Of the cause of sky Rockets rising.
[Illustration]
Having promised in the second section, to prove that the effect of sky
rockets, and proportion of their charge, depends on the size of the
cavity in the composition; I shall here endeavour to give a
mathematical demonstration thereof.
Let ABC be the hollow cone for the fire, AYCZB, the superficies of
that cone, all the lines OZ at right angles with BC, all the lines OY
at right angles with AC: now all the angles ZOY being towards R,
whether the angles ZOY are obtuse or acute, but the more acute the
better. The rays of fire ZO and YO issuing from the sides of the cone
BC and AC, and continually acting with the greater force one upon
another at O, forcing the whole BCA upward from the point R; and the
wider the cone is, (so as not to exceed one third at bottom, and one
sixth at top, of the exterior diameter of the rocket,) the greater
velocity will the rocket rise with.
Of Stands for Sky Rockets.
Care must be taken, in placing the rockets, when they are to be fired,
in order to give them a vertical direction at their first setting out;
which may be managed thus. Have two rails of wood, of any length,
supported, at each end, by a perpendicular leg, so that the rails be
horizontal, and let the distance from one to the other, be almost
equal to the length of the sticks of the rockets, intended to be
fired; then in the front of the top rail, drive square hooks at eight
inches distance from one another, with their points turning sideways,
so that when the rockets are hung on them, the points will be before
the sticks, and keep them from falling, or being blown off by the
wind; in the front of the rail at bottom, must be staples, drove
perpendicular under the hooks at top; through these staples, put the
small ends of the rocket sticks. Rockets are fired by applying a
lighted port fire, to their mouths.
N. B. When sky rockets are made to perfection, and fired, they will
stand two or three seconds on the hook before they rise, and then
mount up briskly, with a steady motion, carrying a large tail from the
ground all the way up, and just as they turn, break and disperse the
stars.
Of Girandole Chests, for flights of Rockets.
Girandole chests, are generally composed of four sides, of equal
dimensions, but may be made of any diameter, according to the number
of rockets, designed to be fired; its height must be in proportion to
the rockets, but must always be a little higher than the rockets, with
their sticks; when the sides are joined, six in the top, as far down
the chest as the length of one of the rockets with its cap on. In this
top, make as many square or round holes, to recieve the rocket sticks,
as you intend to have rockets, but let the distance between them, be
sufficient for the rockets to stand without touching one another; then
from one hole to another, cut a groove, large enough for a quick-match
to lay in: the top being thus fixed, put in the bottom, at about one
foot and a half distance from the bottom of the chest; in this bottom
must be as many holes, as in the top, and all to correspond, but these
holes need not be so large, as those in the top.
To prepare your chest, you must lay a quick-match, in all the grooves,
from hole to hole; then take some sky rockets, and rub them in the
mouth, with wet meal powder, and put a bit of match up the cavity of
each, which match, must be long enough, to hang, a little below the
mouth of the rocket; your rockets and chest being prepared, according
to the above directions, put the sticks of the rockets, through the
holes in the top and bottom of the chest, so that their mouths may
rest on the quick-match in the grooves; by which all the rockets, will
be fired at once; for by giving fire to any part of the match, it will
communicate to all the rockets, in an instant. As it would be rather
troublesome, to direct the sticks from the top, to the proper holes in
the bottom, it will be necessary to have a small door in one of the
sides, which when opened, you may see how to place the sticks. Flights
of rockets, being seldom fired at the beginning of any fireworks, for
which reason, they are in danger of being fired, by the sparks from
wheels, &c. Therefore to preserve them, a cover should be made to sit
on the chest, and the door in the side kept shut.
Of Serpents or Snakes for Pots des Aigrettes, Small Mortars, Sky
Rockets, &c.
Serpents for this use, are made from two inches and an half, to seven
inches in length, and their formers from three sixteenths, to five
eights of an inch diameter, but the diameter of the cases, must always
be equal to two diameters of the former: they are rolled and choaked
like other cases, and filled with composition from five eights of an
inch, to one inch and an half high, according to the size of the
mortars, or rockets, they are designed for, and the remainder of the
cases, bounced with corn-powder, and afterwards their ends pinched and
tied close: before they are used their mouths must be primed with wet
meal-powder.
Of Leaders, or Pipes of Communication.
The best paper for leaders, is a large sort of white paper, called
Elephant, which you cut into long slips, two or three inches broad, so
that they may go three or four times round the former, (but not more)
for when they are very thick, they are too strong for the paper which
fastens them to the works, and will sometimes fly off, without leading
the fire: the formers for these leaders, are made from two, to six
sixteenths of an inch diameter, but four sixteenths is the size
generally made use of; the formers are made of smooth brass wire; when
you use them, rub them over with grease, or keep them wet with paste,
to prevent their sticking to the paper, which must be pasted all over;
in rolling of pipes, make use of a rolling board, but use it lightly;
having rolled a pipe, draw out the former with one hand, holding the
pipe, as light as possible with the other, for if it press against the
former, it will stick and tear the paper.
N. B. Make your leaders of different lengths, or in cloathing of
works, you will cut a great many to waste. Leaders for marron
Batteries must be made of strong cartrige paper.