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
Plural wheels are made to turn horizontally, and to consist of three
sets of spokes, placed in the following manner, six at top, six at
bottom, and four in the middle, which must be a little shorter than
the rest; let the diameter of the wheel be ten inches; the cases must
be tied on the ends of the spokes, in grooves cut on purpose, or in
pieces of wood, nailed on the ends of the spokes, with grooves cut in
them as usual; in cloathing these wheels, make the upper set of cases
play obliquely downwards, and them at bottom obliquely upwards, and
them in the middle horizontally. In placing the leaders, you must
order it so that the cases may burn thus: viz. first up, then down,
then horizontal, and so on with the rest, but another change may be
made, by driving in the end of the eighth case, two, or three ladles
full of slow fire, to burn till the wheel has stopped its course; then
let the other cases be fixed the contrary way, which will make the
wheel run back again: for the case at top, you may put a small gerbe;
and let the cases on the spokes be short, and filled with a strong
brilliant charge.
Of the Illuminated Spiral Wheel.
First have a circular horizontal wheel made two feet diameter, with a
hole quite through the nave; then take three thin pieces of deal,
three feet in length each, and three quarters of an inch in breadth
each; one end of each of these pieces, nail to the fell of the wheel,
at an equal distance from one another, and the other ends nail to a
block with a hole in its bottom, which must be perpendicular, with
that in the block of the wheel, but not so large. The wheel being thus
made, have a hoop planed down very thin and flat, then nail one end of
it to the fell of the wheel, and wind it round the three sticks in a
spiral line, from the wheel to the block at top; on the top of this
block fix a case of Chinese fire; on the wheel you may place any
number of cases, which must incline downwards and burn two at a time.
If the wheel should consist of ten cases, you may let the
illuminations and Chinese fire begin with the second cases; the
spindle for this wheel must be a little longer than the cone, and made
very smooth at top, on which the upper block is to turn, and the whole
weight of the wheel to rest, see fig. 41.
Of the Double Spiral Wheel.
For this wheel, the block, or nave, must be as long as the height of
the worms, or spiral lines, but must be made very thin, and as light
as possible. In this block must be fixed several spokes, which must
diminish in length, from the wheel to the top, so as not to exceed the
surface of a cone of the same height. To the ends of these spokes nail
the worms, which must cross each other several times; these worms
cloath with illuminations, the same as those on the single wheels, but
the horizontal wheel, you may cloath as you like. At top of the worm,
place a case of spur-fire, or an amber light, see fig. 42. This figure
is shewn without leaders, to prevent a confusion of lines.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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