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
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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