Artificial Fire-Works, (continued 4)

Palm-Tree.

This piece, though made of common fires, and of a simple construction, has a very pleasing effect; owing to the fires intersecting so often, that they resemble the branches of trees. Fig. 2d. let A, be a perpendicular post of any thickness so that it be sufficiently strong to hold the cases; let the distance from B to C, be two feet six inches, and from C to D, two feet six inches, and let the length of each cross piece be two feet; on each end of each, fix a five pointed star, then fix on pegs made on purpose, twelve inch half pound cases of brilliant fire, as in the figure, all the cases and stars, must be fired at one time; this piece should be fixed high from the ground.

Illuminated Pyramid, with Archimedian Screws, a Globe and Vertical Sun.

May be made of any size; one made according to the Dimensions of fig. 3d, will be a good proportion, whose whole height is twenty one feet; from C to D, six feet, from E to F, nine feet, the space between the rails must be six inches, and the rails as thin as possible, in all the rails stick port-fires at four inches distance; the archimedian screws G, K, are nothing more than 256 double spiral wheels, with the cases placed on their wheels horizontally instead of obliquely, the vertical sun I, need not consist of more than twelve rays, to form a single glory; the globe at top must be made in proportion to the pyramid, which being prepared according to the preceding directions, place your leaders so that all the illuminating port-fires, screws, globe, and sun, may take fire together; the pyramid must be supported by the two sides, and by a support brought from a pole, which must be placed two feet from the back of the pyramid, in order that the wheels may run free.

Rose-Piece and Sun.

A rose piece may be used for a mutation of a regulated piece, or fired by itself, this piece makes the best appearance when made large; if its exterior diameter be six feet it will be a good size; fig. 4, shews the manner it appears before it is fired; let the exterior fell be made of wood, and supported by four wooden spokes, all the other parts on which the illuminations are fixed, must be made of strong iron wire; on the exterior fell, place as many half pound cases of brilliant charge as you think proper (but the more the better) for the nearer the cases are placed, the stronger will be the rays of the Sun; the illuminations should be placed within three inches of each other, they must be all fired together and burn some time before the sun is lighted, which may be done by carrying a leader from the middle of one of the illuminations, to the mouth of one of the sun cases.

Transparent Stars with Illuminated Rays.

Plate 7, Fig. 5th, represents an illuminated star, let the diameter from A to B, be two feet and from C to D, seven feet; first make a strong circular back or body of the star, two feet diameter, to which you fix the illuminated 257 rays; in the center of the front of the body fix a spindle, on which put a double triangular wheel, six inches diameter, clothed with two ounce cases of brilliant charge; the cases on this wheel must burn but one at a time; round the edge of the body nail a hoop made of thin wood or tin, this hoop must project in front six or seven inches; in this hoop cut three or four holes to let out the smoke from the wheel; the star and garter may be cut out of strong paste-board or tin, made in this manner, cut a round piece of paste-board or tin, two feet diameter, on which draw a star, and cut it out, then over the vacancy paste Persian silk; paint the letters yellow; four of the rays yellow, and four red; the cross in the middle may be painted half red, and half yellow, or yellow and blue; this transparent star must be fastened to the wooden hoop by a screw, to take off and on, the illuminated rays are made of thin wood, with tin sockets fixed on their sides within four inches of each other; in these sockets stick illuminating port-fires; behind the point of each ray, fix a half pound case of grey, black, or chinese fire.

* * * * *

N. B. The illuminated rays to be lighted at the same time as the triangular wheel, or after it is burnt out, which may be done by a tin barrel being fixed to the wheel after the manner of those in the regulated pieces, into this barrel correl a leader from the illuminated rays, through the back of the star, which leader must be met by another brought from the tail of the last case on the wheel.

Transparent Table Star Illuminated.

Fig. 6th, represents a table star, whose diameter from E to F, is twelve feet, and from E to I, four feet, this proportion observed on each side, will make the center frame four feet square, in this square fix a transparent star, as shewn in the figure; this star may be painted blue, and its rays made as those of the flaming stars 258 described in page 218, the wheel for this star may be composed of different coloured fires, with a change or two of slow fire; the wheels a, a, a, a, may be clothed with any number of cases, so that the star wheel consists of the same; the illuminating port fires, which must be placed very near each other on the frames, must be so managed as to burn as long as the wheels, and lighted at the time.

The Regulated Illuminated Spirili Piece, with a projected Star Wheel Illuminated.

This piece is represented by Fig. 7th, and is thus made; have a block made eight inches diameter, in this block screw six iron spokes, which must serve for spindles for the spiral wheels, these wheels are made as usual, each one foot six inches diameter and three foot in height; the spindles must be long enough to keep the wheels four or five inches from one another; at the end of each spindle must be a screw nut, on which the wheels that hang downwards will run, and on the spindles which stand upwards must be a shoulder, for the blocks of the wheels to run on.

* * * * *

The projected star wheel, must turn on the same spindle on which the large block is fixed, this spindle must be long enough to allow the star wheel to project a little before the spiral wheels; the exterior diameter of the star wheel, must be three feet five inches, on this wheel fix three circles of iron wire, and on them port-fires; on the block place a transparent star, or a large five pointed brilliant star, the cases on this wheel may burn four at once, as it will contain near twice the number of one of the spiral wheels; the cases on the spiral wheels, must be placed parallel to their fells, and burn two at a time.

259

A New Figure Piece Illuminated with Five Pointed Stars.

The construction of this piece is very easy, as shewn by figure 8, whose diameter from B to C, is eight feet, and from D to E, two feet, the vertical wheel in the center, must be one foot diameter, and consist of six four ounce cases of different coloured charge, which cases must burn double; on the frames of this piece, six five pointed brilliant or blue stars, rammed four inches with composition, let the space between each star be eight inches; at each point of this piece, fix a gerbe or case of chinese fire; when this piece is to be fired let the gerbes, stars, and wheel be lighted at the same time.

The Star Wheel Illuminated.

This beautiful new invented piece, is shewn in Plate 8, fig. 9, its exterior fell is made of wood, three feet six inches or four feet diameter, within this fell, form with iron wire, three circles, one less than the other, so that the diameter of the least may be about ten inches; place the port-fires on these fells, with their mouths inclining outwards, and the port-fires on the points of the star, with their mouths projecting in front; let the exterior fell be clothed with four ounce cases of grey charge, these cases must burn four at a time, and be lighted at the same time as the illuminations.

Pyramid of Flower-pots.

Fig. 10, represents this curious piece, which must be made thus; let the distance from A to B, be six feet, and from one rail to the other two; on the bottom rail, fix five paper mortars, each three inches and a half diameter, these mortars load with serpents, crackers, stars, &c.

260

In the center of each mortar fix a case of spur fire; on the second rail fix four mortars, so as to stand exactly in the middle of the intervals of them on the bottom rail; on the third rail place three mortars; on the fourth two; and on the top of the posts one; the bottom rail must be six feet in length; all the mortars must incline a little forwards, that they may easily discharge themselves, and the spur-fires rammed exactly alike that the mortars may all be fired at the same time, having prepared your pyramid according to the preceeding directions, carry pipes of communication, from one spur-fire to the other.

The Illuminated Regulating Piece.

Fig. 11, represents one half of this piece; A, A, A, A, are flat wooden spokes, each five feet in length, and at the end of each, place a vertical wheel, ten inches diameter, clothed with six four ounce cases of brilliant fire, these cases must burn but one at a time; on two of the spokes of each wheel, place two port-fires, which must be lighted with the first case of the wheel; on each spoke A, A, &c. behind the wheels place six cases of the same size as them on the wheels; these cases must be tied across the spokes with their mouths all one way, and be made to take fire successively one after the other, so that they may assist the whole pieces to turn round.

The diameter of the wheel B, must be two feet six inches, and its fell made of wood, which must be fixed to the large spokes, on this wheel place twenty four cases of the same sort as them on the small wheels, these cases must burn four at a time; in this wheel make three circles with iron wire, and on them place illuminating port-fires, as shewn in the figure; the star points on the large spokes may be made of thin ash hoops, the diameter of these points close to the center wheel must be eleven inches; on these points place port-fires, at three inches and a half distance, one from the other.

Fig. 12, represents the blocks of this piece, the diameters of these blocks at A and B, must be eight inches 261 and C and D, four inches and a half, the length of each, of these blocks must be six inches; at the small ends of these blocks fix an iron wheel five inches diameter, which wheels must have teeth, to turn the wheel E, this wheel which is fixed on a small spindle screwed into the large spindle which goes through the two blocks, and on which they run.

* * * * *

Supposing fig. 11, to be on the block A, in fig. 12, and to turn to the right, and another piece of the same construction on the block B, with its fires placed so as to turn it to the left, you will find them move very true and fast, by the help of the three iron wheels, which serves to regulate their motions, as well as to assist them in turning; let the iron circles in the front of the great wheels be of different diameters so that when fired there may appear six circles, when this piece is fired, all the wheels and illuminations must be lighted at one time.

To Fix a Sky-Rocket with its Stick, on the top of another.

Rockets thus managed make a pretty appearance, by reason of a fresh tail being seen when the second rocket takes fire, which will mount to a great height; the method of preparing these rockets is thus, having filled a two pounder, which must be filled only half a diameter above the piercer, and in its head not more than ten or twelve stars; the stick of this rocket must be made a little thicker than common, and when made, cut it in half the flat way, and in each half make a groove, so that when the two halves are joined, the hollow made by the grooves may be large enough to hold the stick of a half pound rocket, which rocket make and head as usual, the stick of this rocket put into the hollow of the large one, so far that the mouth of the rocket may rest on the head of the two pounder; from whose head carry a leader into the mouth of the small rocket, which being done, your rockets will be ready for fireing.

262

A New Method of placing Leaders.

The placing leaders, on small cases or illuminations, is a much quicker, stronger, and more expeditious way than that of using pins, which method has been practised till very lately. Your port-fires being filled within about three eighths of an inch of the top, bore with an awl a hole through each side of the case close to the composition, then fill the mouths of the cases with meal powder wetted with spirit of wine, when you have thus prepared your cases, fix them on your works, then take an empty leader, and lay it on the mouths of as many cases as it will reach, then with your finger nail, mark the leader exactly in the middle of the mouth of each case, then at each mark with a pair of Scissars, cut a bit out of the pipe, so that when you put in the quick-match, it may be seen; this being done, lay the leader on the cases again with that side on which the match is seen downwards; then take some small twine, and put it through the holes in the mouths of the cases, and tie on the leader; do this to every case and then cover them with single pasted paper; by making use of the above method your works may be made very clean, there being no occasion to put dry meal powder in the mouths of the cases which always soils the works and prevents the paste from sticking.

In this treatise, I have taught the method of rolling, pinching, and filling all sorts of cases, the manner of pulverizing, mixing, and preparing, all compositions used in artificial fire-works; also the method of placing leaders, clothing wheels, fixed pieces, &c. in so plain a manner, that all fire-works may be made without any further instructions. A variety of pyrotechnical representations only depends on the genius of the maker, by fixing different cases and fires on works of various forms, of which there are many more.

But as those I have given are the principal, I shall conclude, till I have an opportunity of extending this work, which will depend on the approbation it meets with.

FINIS.

Transcriber’s Note

This book was written in a period when many words had not become standardized in their spelling. Words may have multiple spelling variations or inconsistent hyphenation in the text. Obsolete words and misspellings were left unchanged; however, corrections noted in the Errata were corrected in the text.

Footnotes were renumbered sequentially and were moved to the end of the book. The “Contents of the Additions” was moved to the end of the Table of Contents and the table of Errata was moved from middle of the Table of Contents to follow it.

Obvious printing errors, such as backwards, upside down, or partially printed letters, were corrected. Final stops missing at the end of sentences, lists, and abbreviations were added. Duplicate words and syllables at line endings or page breaks were removed.

Other Changes:

Commas used as a decimal point were changed to mid-dots in tables.

Capitalized column and section headers.

For consistency, added missing stops after item numbers in “Order of Firing” list, and added missing commas at end of each item in the list.

Excess punctuation was removed.

Noted, but not changed:

Inconsistent use of stop at end of alpha groups of Subscriber Names.

Inconsistent use of stop at end of column heads in tables.

Inconsistent use of commas and stops after figure numbers.

Inconsistent use of stops in the illustrations after the word “Plate” and the following number.

Inconsistent use of Roman numerals for Plate numbers in the text while the plates use Arabic numbers.

“It’s” is sometimes used for “its.”

Commas are occasionally used unexpectedly.