Twist a piece of fine iron wire, such as is used by piano-forte makers,
round a cylindrically-shaped piece of wood or metal, which will give
it a spiral form; or a broken watch-spring, which may be bought for a
trifle of the watch-makers, will answer the same purpose. Fasten round
one end of it some waxed cotton thread or twine, and attach the other
end to a cork, which fits a glass jar or bottle, that will hold a
quart, filled with oxygen gas. Having made the wire red-hot by setting
light to the thread, plunge it into the bottle. Do not cork the
bottle, but let the cork merely lay on the mouth, and to prevent its
being burned, a small a piece of lead should be fastened to the bottom
of it. The iron will instantly begin to burn with great brilliancy,
throwing out luminous scintillations.
To prevent the bottle from being broken by the sparks, a small quantity
of sand should be previously poured into it.