Artificial fire-works : $b improved to the modern practice, from the minutest to the highest branches — John Shaqi
Artificial fire-works : $b improved to the modern practice, from the minutest to the highest branchesJones, Robert
History
Artificial fire-works : $b improved to the modern practice, from the minutest to the highest branches
Jones, Robert
Fireworks -- Early works to 1800
II. Rochepetre ten ounces, brimstone, charcoal, antimony, meal powder,
and camphor, of each three quarters of an ounce, moistened with oil of
turpentine. These compositions are made into stars, by being worked to
a paste with aqua vitæ, in which has been dissolved some
gum-tragacanth; and after you have roll’d them in powder, make a hole
through the middle of each, and string them on quick-match, leaving
about two inches from one to the other.
III. Saltpetre eight ounces, brimstone two ounces, yellow amber one
ounce, antimony one ounce, and powder three ounces.
IV. Brimstone two ounces and a half, saltpetre six ounces, olibanum or
frankincense in drops four ounces; mastick, and mercury-sublimate, of
each four ounces; meal powder five ounces; white amber, yellow amber,
and camphor, of each one ounce; antimony and orpiment half an ounce
each.
V. Saltpetre one pound, brimstone half a pound, and meal powder eight
ounces, moistened with potrolio-oil.
VI. Powder half a pound, brimstone and saltpetre, of each four ounces.
VII. Saltpetre four ounces, brimstone two ounces, and meal powder one
ounce.
For Stars that carry Tails of sparks.
I. Brimstone six ounces, antimony crude two ounces, saltpetre four
ounces, and rosin four ounces.
II. Saltpetre, rosin, and charcoal, of each two ounces; brimstone one
ounce, and pitch one ounce.
These compositions are sometimes melted in an earthen pan, and mixed
with chopped cotton match, before they are rolled into stars, but will
do as well if wetted, and worked up in the usual manner.
Another Sort of Stars, which yield some Sparks.
I. Camphor two ounces, saltpetre one ounce, meal powder one ounce.
II. Saltpetre one ounce, ditto melted half an ounce, and camphor two
ounces. When you would make stars of either of these compositions, you
must wet them with gum water, or spirit of wine, in which has been
dissolved some gum-arabick, or gum-tragacanth, that the whole may have
the consistence of a pretty thick liquid; having thus done, take one
ounce of lint, and stir it about in the composition till it becomes
dry enough to roll into stars.
For Stars of a yellowish Colour.
Take four ounces of gum-tragacanth or gum-arabick, pounded and sifted
thro’ a fine sieve, camphor dissolved in brandy two ounces, saltpetre
one pound, sulphur half a pound, coarse powder of glass four ounces,
white amber one ounce and a half, and orpiment two ounces. All these
ingredients being well incorporated, make them into stars after the
common method.
Stars of another Sort.
Take a pound of camphor and melt it in a pint of spirit of wine over a
slow fire; then add to it a pound of gum-arabick that has been
dissolved; with this liquor, mix one pound of saltpetre, six ounces of
sulphur, and five ounces of meal powder; and after you have stirred
them well together, roll them into stars proportionable to the rockets
for which you intend them.
Of the Colours produced by the different Compositions.
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