Alan St. H. Brock

“ Pyrotechny is possibly the only art which can compete with nature; anyone who has seen a first-class firework display will admit that for impressive grandeur, colour effects, and contrasts of light and shade, pyrotechny is unapproached. ”

“ During the run of forty-five consecutive years an installation was built up, method and technique were evolved unknown in any other place of pyrotechnic exhibition.
While the firework terrace, with its magnificent background of park and shrubberies, is unrivalled as a firing ground, it is at the same time the most exacting. The huge building, its imposing position and setting, the wonderful fountains, all demand pyrotechnic effects on a corresponding scale. ”

“ The ingredients of rocket composition are those of gunpowder in approximately similar proportions, but the resultant composition is not gunpowder, the reason being that the ingredients are less intimately mixed, with the result that the combustion is spread over a longer interval of time. Instead of the whole mass deflagrating instantly, only the exposed surface is consumed. It is the recoil produced by the rush of gases, and partially consumed matter, from the violently burning composition which projects the rocket forward. ”

“ Another pyrotechnic invention responsible for the saving of many lives is the Hale’s Light apparatus. This apparatus is fitted to a lifebuoy, which is arranged for launching from a vessel’s bridge; the act of launching ignites a flare, enabling the person in the water to see the buoy and the rescuing boat to pick them up.
The practical use to which fireworks have been put on land are many. Probably that which comes most readily to the mind is the sound signal or alarm. Many fire brigades whose members are volunteers and therefore scattered use aerial maroons to warn and call them for duty. ”

“ Another class of war store which naturally suggests itself is that used to give light for the purpose of signalling. The light is either burnt on the ground as a hand light or fitted to a rocket. Fireworks for this purpose have been in use from earliest times, being the logical development of the signal beacon, but it was not until the introduction of genuine colour—that is to say, colour distinguishable at a long distance—that they reached their full standard of utility. ”

“ To take a concrete instance: in an article in a famous encyclopædia, obviously written by a chemist of standing, a portion deals with the use of metal salts in the production of colour; the writer gives copper as producing green, which no doubt it does in the laboratory; in practice, however, copper is used solely for the production of blue.
The question of purity in chemicals used in pyrotechny is a secondary consideration, that is, of course, as long as the adulterants have no adverse effect either as regards the pyrotechnic result or the safety of the worker in manipulation. ”

“ Sir George Stanton, writing in 1798 of his embassy to the Emperor of China, says that “nitre (saltpetre) is the daily produce of China and India, and there accordingly the knowledge of gunpowder seems coeval with that of the most distant historic events. Among the Chinese it has been applied at all times to useful purposes ... and to amusement in making a vast variety of fireworks—but its force had not been directed through strong metallic tubes, as it was by Europeans soon after they had discovered that composition.” ”

“ Ignition during charging may be caused in two ways, either by a blow on composition between the charging tool or drift and the spindle or other hard surface, or by heat generated by repeated blows on the consolidated composition.
In this class also should be put accidents, of which there are many, caused by playing or scuffing by the workpeople, the absence of safety overshoes, the presence of grit or iron or steel implements, in fact those caused by misconduct or negligence on the part of the workers, also the rare occasions where lightning has been the cause. ”

“ The first group of compositions for consideration is that nearest related to gunpowder, in fact, for the purposes of a work on pyrotechny, gunpowder may be considered a particular case of this class.
The governing principle of this group, and one may say of all firework compositions, is the same. For combustion to take place oxygen must be present. When an inflammable article such as a piece of paper is set on fire it takes up oxygen from the air. A pyrotechnic composition, however, is so arranged that one of the ingredients has a supply of oxygen which it is ready to give up ”

“ Although the place of origin of the art, pyrotechny has not developed in the East as rapidly as in Europe, except in Japan.
Japanese pyrotechnists, with that wonderful capacity for careful and exact manual work which is so characteristic of the race, have developed aerial fireworks, that is to say, the 8shell, to a remarkable degree of perfection. The compositions used are not to be compared with European manufactures in point of colour or brilliance, but the effects obtained are extraordinary. ”

“ One reason was that, apart from the actual making of the firework units, a display depends far more for its success on the experience and skill of the pyrotechnist in arranging and composing both the form and sequence of the pieces. The firework makers capable of carrying out a display on a large scale were very few; there were fewer, if any, in this country. The whole of the trade was illegal; under the statute of the 9th and 10th of William III it was illegal to make, sell, or let off fireworks ”

“ COMPOUND FIREWORKS Compound fireworks are those which are composed of a number of simple fireworks or units fixed to a framework or other device so that they produce a more elaborate effect than do single fireworks.
Probably the earliest form of compound firework was the wheel. After the sky rocket had become an established fact, it was a small step to tie rockets round a wheel, so that when fired they caused it to revolve. ”

“ The two oldest forms of fireworks known are undoubtedly the cracker and the rocket. As we have already noted, both of these—or at least primitive forms—are mentioned by Marcus Graecus, Albertus, and Roger Bacon. The description by the former is sufficiently clear to leave no doubt in our minds that he is describing a rocket; although the description of a cracker is not so explicit as to enable us to say that he is actually describing a jumping cracker, yet his mention of folding and tying would certainly give colour to that belief. ”

“ After this, in a most curious manner, an artificiall fire-worke with great wonder was seen flying in the ayre, like unto a fiery Dragon, against which another fierrie vision appeared flaming like to Saint George on Horsebacke, brought in by a burning Inchanter, between which was then fought a most strange battell continuing a quarter of an howre or more ”

“ He would notice that the presence of saltpetre made the fire burn brighter, and its use as a tinder maker would suggest itself by mixing it with some substance which he knew to be combustible. The most common fuel he knew of was wood, but it must be a powder to mix evenly with saltpetre. Wood is not easily reduced to powder; saws had not been invented, so that he could not add sawdust, and the nearest thing he could get would be charcoal from the fire, which could easily be reduced to powder. With this mixture he would be well on the way to success in elementary pyrotechny. ”

“ Unequal results are the bugbear of the firework makers. As we have seen, constant experiments are necessary to keep an even standard, but with irregularly functioning chemicals these would be multiplied to an impossible degree. ”

“ Colours have been brought to a wonderful pitch of depth and brilliance, besides various kinds of fire for stars, producing stars with tails of the same and contrasting colours.
Another class of shell, which might be called the compound, consists of shell filled with fireworks of other kinds—Roman candles, tourbillions, wheel-turning cases, small shell, and what gives undoubtedly the most dramatic aerial effect yet devised, with rockets. The “thunderbolt,” a shell 16 inches in diameter, containing a hundred 4-ounce rockets, has always been a popular feature of the Crystal Palace displays. ”

“ The following year, by Order in Council No. 15, the admixture of chlorate of potash and sulphur was made illegal.
Previous to this accident, during the same year and in the same works, a serious accident involving the death of one workman and the injury of another, was caused by a barrel of chlorate of potash being delivered and marked nitrate of potash (saltpetre) . Its use in a composition containing sulphide of arsenic (orpiment) produced a mixture approximately to that used in some fog signals and designed to fire by percussion. The natural effect was the serious explosion that followed. ”

“ As a rocket is the most important unit in the art of pyrotechny, a description of its manufacture will assist in the consideration of a large number of other fireworks which are either modifications of or based upon the underlying principles of the rocket, as well as the several principles governing all fireworks. ”

“ Care both on account of the necessity of exact adherence to the formula, and to preclude the presence of any foreign body or chemical which, apart from any effect it might have on the successful functioning of the fireworks for which it happens to be used, might render it most dangerous in manipulation.
Generally working buildings are licensed for mixing compositions, but it is usual to set certain sheds apart for this purpose, especially if the chemicals used are of a dusty nature, that is, very finely divided, in which case the atmosphere becomes highly charged and dangerous. ”

“ In many cases earlier writers have discovered passages which they consider prove the use of firearms and gunpowder; in reality these refer to Greek-fire and similar compositions, which were used as projectiles, being thrown from machines or catapults, and not as propellants. Gunpowder as a mixture of ingredients may have been known from remote times, as undoubtedly were other simple pyrotechnic compositions, but all evidence goes to show that its use as a propellant was not known until well into the Christian Era. ”

“ An effective working device introduced as early as 1870 was a comet travelling down a wire from one of the famous towers to the ground. Later the comet was replaced by a dragon, Mother Goose, and in 1872 by a “Fiery Bicycle,” a subject which seems somewhat out of place in such a position. The next development of this feature was to introduce a living man who, clad in shining armour and surrounded and illuminated by a frame of fireworks, striking an impressive attitude, slid from the summit of the tower to the terrace. ”

“ Where, however, the display consists—as on the occasion under consideration—solely of fireworks proper, a few days’ preparation on the actual site is usually sufficient; the kill-joy has less time to spread himself. It may be mentioned his season is over with the display; generally the British public, having enjoyed itself, turns a deaf ear to those who would convince it that it ought not to have done so. ”

“ A curious firework, now almost obsolete, for which it is difficult to find a class, is the five-pointed star. This work consisted of a case having a diaphragm of plaster of paris or clay above the filling, below which five holes are bored equidistant and at right angles to the axis. The case is fired in the unusual position of horizontal with the end towards the spectator, the fire playing all round the case, forming a star. The composition used was mealed powder, sulphur, saltpetre, and sulphuret of antimony. ”

“ Earlier practice was to turn down the top edge of the case on the heading composition to form a diaphragm.
The best-known form of rocket is the sky rocket, which is fitted with a stick held in position by having a dowelled end introduced into a rolled paper or metal tube secured to the side of the rocket. The object of the stick is to direct the flight of the rocket, and further serves to hold it in position for firing, being passed through two rings at a suitable distance one above the other on a stake, through which it slides easily. ”

“ Fireworks may be divided into two classes, simple and compound. The first of these include fireworks which are a complete item in themselves, as the rocket, shell, or Roman candle; also the units which, fitted on a framework, go to compose the set pieces and devices of a display, and the small shop goods not used in displays. ”

“ It is curious how universal is the belief that fireworks were dependent upon the invention or discovery of gunpowder. Very little consideration will prove the fallacy of this view; in fact, will show that the reverse is probably the case. In India and China saltpetre (or nitrate of potash) is found in large quantities, and was, no doubt, used by the primitive inhabitants in far-off times for such purposes as curing meat, cooking, etc. ”

“ The pyrotechnists of the eighteenth century seem to have delighted in inventing new terms, possibly with the idea of impressing the layman. Frézier, writing over a hundred years later than Babington, records very little advance in revolving fireworks, except in the matter of names. He classifies all revolving pieces as girandoles. This word appears in pyrotechny very frequently; curiously enough, nearly every writer has attached a different meaning to it. Frézier explains that the word is derived from girare—to revolve or gyrate, from the Greek. ”

“ By far the greatest number of accidents take place in the summer months; hot weather and a heavy 80atmosphere are the most likely conditions to produce trouble for the pyrotechnist, although whether the primary cause is heat or owing to an electrical condition of the atmosphere it is difficult to say, probably it is the two conditions in conjunction. Sulphur and shellac, two very important ingredients in the art, are both capable of holding an electric charge, and it seems not unlikely that they may be so charged in an electric atmosphere during the process of mixing. ”

“ During the same years the total of firework factory accidents in this country was thirteen, in which three persons lost their lives, and in no case was more than one person killed in any one accident. Indeed, in one instance only since 1875 has the number of deaths resulting from any accident exceeded two—on that occasion four deaths resulted. ”