Part 4
4. PORT FIRES.--This term is applied to paper tubes, filled with mealed powder, or a similar composition, and which is generally used in setting fire to rockets, or compound fire-works, which require to be lighted very expeditiously; there are two kinds, the one used as above, the other for illuminations: those of the former kind are usually called common Port-Fires, and may be made of any length, but are seldom more than 21 inches; they are rolled on rods about half an inch in diameter, and made of cartridge paper in three or four folds till their exterior diameter is about five-eighths of an inch, the last fold being well secured at the edge by paste, and one end pinched or folded down. The moulds, five-eighths of an inch diameter, should be made of brass or tin, and to take to pieces length-wise, forming two semi-cylindrical tubes, and when used, to be connected together by several rings fitted to the outside of the tube. If about an inch of metal be made fast to one extremity of the half tube of the diameter of the rod or former, it will supersede the necessity of a foot, and be much more convenient; but the part of the former as we may term it, must be made very fast to the tube, or it will easily be detached by the ramming of the cases. The composition for filling these cases generally consists of salt-petre, sulphur, and mealed powder, in various proportions, according to the intended strength of the fire, though salt-petre is generally in the greatest proportions. When the fire is to be very slow, saw-dust is sometimes added, and the ingredients are frequently moistened with spirits of wine or linseed oil; these compositions should not be rammed too hard. In using this kind of Port Fires, the close end is fixed in a metal socket made like a port crayon, which is attached to a stick of sufficient length to reach any required part of the fire-work.
The following compounds are recommended for filling Port Fires to Fire Rockets, &c.
Salt-petre Sulphur Meal-powder
I. 12 ozs. 4 ozs. 2 ozs. II. 8 do. 4 do. 2 do. III. 18 do. 10 do. 24 do. IV. 34 do. 10 do. 6 do. V. 8 do. 2 do. 2 do.
PORT FIRES FOR ILLUMINATIONS.--These differ only as it regards their length from those above described, their diameter is the same, their length from three to six inches, pinched close at one end and left open at the other; they are filled by small quantities at a time and rammed very lightly, or their cases will be endangered. Three or four rounds of paper, with the last round pasted, will be strong enough for these cases, the compositions the same as before.
5. _Leaders, or pipes of communication._--These are small tubes of paper, of lengths adapted to the distances to which they are to extend, and filled with a combustible composition that will not burn too fast. As it is much the best to have them in long lengths some large size paper must be used for the purpose, that which is called “Elephant” is found most convenient, and which for this purpose is generally used. It is cut into slips two or three inches broad, or sufficient to go four times round the formers, which will make the tube strong enough for most ordinary purposes; indeed, if they are made with greater substance much inconvenience will be found in the application of them to the different works to which they are designed, from flying off without communicating their fire.
The formers for these leaders should be about one fourth of an inch diameter; this size I have found to answer most purposes, though they are sometime, made of less, as well as larger diameters, but from one-eighth to three-eighths must be the extreme; smooth brass wire of proper dimensions make the best formers we can use, which when you use observe to dip them in oil or grease to prevent their sticking to the paper, which must be pasted all over; in rolling them, make use of a rolling board, but press it very lightly upon them; when you draw out the former, which must be done with one hand while you retain the tube with the other, great care must be taken in doing this, or the former will stick and tear the paper.
In the joining and placing these leaders you must be as particular and careful as in their manufacture for on the well securing and adjustment of them depends much of the performance of all complex pieces, on which account we shall give in detail the best method, and that in as plain a manner as possible:--your works being ready to be clothed (as this operation is termed) cut your pipes in lengths sufficient to reach from one case to the other, then put in the Quick-match (prepared as taught in the last article,) which must always be made to go in very easy; when the match is in the tube, cut it off about an inch beyond the end of the pipe, and let it project as much at the other end, then fasten the pipe to the mouth of each case with a pin, and put the loose ends of the match into the mouths of the cases of the works, with a little mealed powder; this done, paste over the mouth of each two or three bits of paper, and the joint will be pretty well secured.
For Illuminations and small cases, the following method is generally employed.
First thread a long pipe, then lay it on the tops of the cases and cut a piece off the under side over the mouth of each case, so that the match may appear; then pin the pipe to every other case, but before you put on the pipes put a little mealed powder into the mouth of each case. If the cases thus clothed are Port-fires or illuminated works, cover the mouth of each case with a single paper; but if they are choaked cases so situated that a number of sparks from other works may fall on them before they are fired, secure them with three or four papers, which must be pasted on very smooth that there be no creases for the sparks to lodge in, which often set fire to the works before their time.
Avoid as much as possible placing the leaders too near or one across the other, so as to touch, as it may happen that the flash of one will fire the other, and thereby destroy the beauty of your arrangements.
If your works should be so formed that the leaders must cross or touch each other, be very careful to make them strong and secure at the joints, and likewise at every opening.
When a great length of pipe is required, it must be made by joining several pipes together, after the following manner. Having put on one length of match as many pipes as it will hold, paste paper over every joint, but if a still greater length is required more pipes must be joined by cutting about an inch off one side each pipe near the end, and laying the quick-match together and tying them with small twine, after which cover the joining with pasted paper.
SECTION V.
OF SINGLE FIRE-WORKS.
We now proceed to enumerate and describe that class of articles, which from the simplicity of their construction have obtained the name of Single Fire-works; among these, the first which offers itself to notice is the serpent, or what is commonly called the squib.
1. SERPENTS.--These Serpents are generally made about six or eight inches long, and about half an inch in diameter, they are sometimes made strait, and sometimes with a choak in the middle of them; the name which they bear, probably rose from the hissing noise which they make when fired, or from the zigzag or vibrating directions in which they move when properly constructed, on their being projected from the hand. Fig. 17 represents a Serpent complete, where A C, the length of the case, may be about six inches for an ordinary size. These cases must be made of some strong paper, and rolled in a former about one-fourth of an inch diameter, or somewhat more, and having choaked or tied one end up close, with strong twine, fill the case about two-thirds of the way with some of the composition described in the general Table in Section VII, rammed moderately hard in the mould proper for the diameter of the case, and then it is either choaked in the part B. that is, pinched with a piece of twine, so as to leave a very small aperture, or some obstructing body, such as a small piece of paper, or a vetch seed is introduced, and the remainder of the case must be filled with grained or corn powder. Lastly, this other extremity is to be well secured with twine, and is commonly dipped into melted pitch: the other end must be now untied and a little moistened meal powder is introduced, over which a piece of touch-paper being properly fastened, the Serpent is completed.
If the Serpents are not choaked towards the middle, instead of moving in a zigzag direction they will ascend and descend with an undulating motion, till the fire is communicated to the grained powder in the part B C, when they will burst with a loud report.
To introduce the compositions into small cases, a quill cut into the form of a spoon will be found very useful. The trouble of first temporarily choaking and tying the ends of the cases may be dispensed with, if the mould in which they are rammed have attached to them a foot and nipple as described in the article Rockets.
The common squibs, or such as are of small dimensions, may be made with still less trouble, for the cases being rolled, pasted, and dried as before, one end may be permanently tied and sealed, or dipped into hot pitch, after which they may be filled in the following manner:----first put in a small quantity of grained powder, which with your rammer and mallet ram down quite hard, then fill up the case as before with the composition, ramming it hard down in the course of the filling two or three times; this done, cap it with touch paper, as before directed, and the Squib is fit for action.
2. CRACKERS.--The best material for the cases of Crackers is cartridge paper, the dimensions of which for an ordinary size is about 15 inches long, by three and a half ditto wide, folded in the following particular manner; we call it particular, because on it depends the goodness of the Cracker; the method is, first to fold one edge down about three-quarters of an inch broad, then the double edge is turned down about a quarter of an inch, and the single edge is bent back over the double fold, so as to form within a channel a quarter of an inch wide, which when opened is to be filled with mealed powder, not ground very fine, this powder is then to be covered by the folds on each side, and the whole to be pressed very smooth and close, by passing over it the edge of a flat ruler or some like instrument, and this part containing the powder is to be gradually folded into the remainder of the paper, taking care to press down every fold in the same manner.
The Cracker thus far advanced is to be doubled backwards and forwards in folds about two and a quarter inches, as many times as the length of the paper will allow. After this, the whole should be pressed quite close together by means of a small wooden vice, (similar to those known by carpenters under the name of hand-screws, the use of which would be found extremely convenient for many other purposes,) and a piece of twine passed twice round the middle across the folds, and the joinings secured by causing the twine to take a turn round the middle at every fold successively; one of the ends of the folds may be doubled short under, which will produce an extra report, the other must project a little beyond the rest for the purpose of priming and capping with the touch paper; when this is done the cracker is complete. Crackers when well made and of sufficient strength, are productive of much mirth, and when of considerable magnitude, furnish excellent means of dispersing a crowd; at the same time they are so perfectly harmless that no evil consequence may be expected to follow the amusement they afford.
3. PIN WHEELS.--Pin or Catherine Wheels are of very simple construction, nothing more being wanted than a long wire former, about three sixteenths of an inch diameter; on this wire are formed the pipes, which being filled with composition are afterwards rolled round a small circle of wood, so as to form an helix or spiral line.
The cases are generally made of Elephant paper, or such as will admit of the greatest length; rolled about four times round the wire and pasted as they are rolled; when a number of pipes are made and got perfectly dry, they are filled with the composition described at No. 2, in the table; these cases are not rammed, but filled by means of a tin funnel with a long pipe, made so as easily to pass down the case, which is gradually filled by shaking the composition out of the funnel; all the cases prepared being thus filled, one of them being closed at one end, is to be pasted round the flat circle of wood, which must not be above half an inch thick, and one inch in diameter, and secured at every half turn by sealing wax; when this is all wound round the circle and the wheel not sufficiently large, a second case may be inserted into the mouth of the last, taking care that the end introduced is only loosely twisted, otherwise it might obstruct the communication and destroy the effect; but this being properly adjusted and the joining secured by pasting paper round it, the spiral is to be continued in the same way as before, till the wheel be increased to the proper dimensions, or such as suits the taste of the Tyro.
The central block must be pierced in the middle for the purpose of receiving a strong pin, or a small piece of wire, by which the wheel may be attached to a post or any other convenient object, or the pin or wire being inserted into the pith of an hazel stick, the wheel without any danger may be let off in the hand; when the mouth of the last round is primed and capped with touch-paper, on its being lighted, the impulse of the flame against the air forces back the ignited part of the wheel, which continues to revolve till the whole of the composition is consumed.[7]
4. STARS.--These are small paper globes filled with a composition that emits a most beautiful radiating light, which has been compared to the light of “those endless beauties which adorn our celestial hemisphere;” as the purposes for which they are used are chiefly as ornaments to other articles, such as rockets, roman candles, &c. their dimensions must of consequence be limited or adapted to those articles, therefore their diameters must seldom exceed three-quarters of an inch, unless the articles to which they are attached are of more than ordinary dimensions, and for small articles their diameter must be less in proportion. At the beginning of this article we called them “paper globes,” but we must observe that they are only put in paper, when their composition is prepared dry; and instead of paper they are frequently wrapped in a small piece of linen rag, tied closely round with small twine, and when either of these wrappers are used, a hole must be pierced through its middle, to receive a piece of match left projecting a little on each side.
Though the above mode of making Stars is frequently practised, yet I have always found it best to use the composition moist, in the form of stiff paste, when it will not be necessary to inclose the Star in any thing, because when prepared of such paste it can retain its roundness; there will be no need also of piercing a hole in it for the match, because when newly made and consequently moist, it may be rolled in pulverized gunpowder, which will adhere to it; this powder when kindled will serve as a match, and inflame the composition of the Star, which in falling will form itself into stars, and exhibit a most beautiful appearance. For the composition for stars consult the table Sect. 7, No. 3, and No. 4.
STRUNG STARS.--To make these cut some thin paper into pieces of about an inch and a half square, then on each piece lay equal quantities of dry star composition, nearly as much as the paper will contain, then twist up the paper as light as possible, when done rub some flower paste on your hand and roll the star between them, then set them in some warm place to dry; the stars being thus prepared, get some flax or fine tow, and roll a little over each star, then paste the band and roll them as before, after which set them again to dry; which when that is quite effected, with a piercer make a hole through the middle of each, and thread them on a cotton quick-match, long enough to contain 10 or 12 stars three or four inches distance; by joining sundry lengths of match we may string any number of stars we choose.
TAILED STARS.--Or, as they are sometimes called cometic-stars, from their sending out a great number of sparks, which represent a tail similar to that of comet; there are two kinds which bear the above name, which are those that are rolled, and those that are driven; when rolled they must be moistened with a liquor made of half a pint of spirit of wine, and half a gill of thin size, (vellum or any other that is fine,) of which as much as will bring the composition to a consistency proper for rolling into balls; when that is done, sift mealed powder over them and set them to dry.
DRIVEN STARS.--For these, the liquid used for moistening the composition must be spirit of wine, with a little camphor dissolved in it, and but a very small quantity of it, as for Driven Stars the composition does not require to be wet; cases containing one or two ounces are best for this purpose, which must be made of some very thin paper.
The composition being damped with the spirit of wine and camphor as above, they are to be filled and rammed moderately hard, taking care that the case be not broken or the paper drove down on the inside; as a protection to them, while filling and ramming, it will be best to procure several moulds fitted to their exterior diameter. These moulds may be of tin, or any kind of wood, of dimensions suited to Stars from 8 drams to 4 ounces; when they are filled, their cases must be made considerably lighter, which is effected by unrolling the paper within three or four rounds of the charge, which is to be cut off, and the loose edge made fast with a little paste, and afterwards set by for two or three days to dry; when they have attained sufficient dryness they must be cut into lengths proportionate to their weights, which will be nearly as follows: from quarter to half-ounce cases, their lengths may be five or six eighths of an inch; from half to one ounce cases, their lengths may be one inch; if two ounces, one inch and a quarter; from 3 to 4 ounces one inch and a half long: of the smaller pieces, one end must be dipped into melted wax in a manner to cover the composition, the other end must be sprinkled with mealed powder wetted with spirit of wine. Of the larger pieces both ends must be primed with mealed powder wetted as before.
Stars made after the above manner are used almost exclusively for Air Balloons, and are driven in cases to secure them from the force of the composition with which the Balloons are filled, therefore their application to Rockets, and other small articles, is quite incompatible with their nature.
ROLLED STARS.--These are so called chiefly from the operation employed in their manufacture. Their dimensions are from half an inch to one inch diameter. In the composition care must be taken that the ingredients are well mixed, and previous to its being made up, it must be wetted with the following liquid sufficient to convert it into paste; spirit of wine one quart, in which dissolve one fourth of an ounce of Isinglass. Too much of the composition must not be prepared at once, one pound will be sufficient for an ordinary number of Stars, for if a greater quantity is wetted the spirit will be liable to evaporate, and leave the composition dry and unfit for the purpose, before it can be all rolled up. To make the stars of uniform dimensions, I have found the following method most eligible, and of least trouble; when the composition is properly moistened, roll it with a smooth round stick on any flat even surface, as stone or wood, till its thickness is about half an inch, then divide it accurately into squares, of dimensions suitable to the desired magnitude of the Stars; there are other methods for regulating the size of the Stars, but this I have found most practicable which will justify me in recommending it. Having rolled up the portion of prepared composition as directed, shake them in some meal powder while they are damp, and set them in some warm place to dry, which will be effected in two or three days; but if wanted immediately they may be quickly dried, in an earthen pan over a slow fire, or in an oven of moderate temperature; when the Stars are perfectly prepared they must be preserved in some small box for use, for if exposed to the air they will grow weak, and produce but few of those effects which at other times render them so beautiful.
5. SPARKS.--It is only as it regards magnitude that Sparks differ from stars above described, they being generally made of very small size, and consequently of short duration in their exhibition. The method of preparing them is as follows: put into an earthen vessel one ounce of mealed gunpowder, three ounces of powdered salt-petre, and four ounces of camphor, reduced to powder by rubbing it in a mortar with a small quantity of spirit of wine; pour over this mixture some weak gum-water, in which some gum-adraganth has been dissolved, till the composition is brought to a state of thin paste; then take some lint, prepared by boiling it in vinegar or salt-petre, and afterwards dried and unravelled, and put into the composition enough of it to absorb the whole, at the same time take care to stir it well. This matter is to be formed into small balls, of about the size of a pea, which being dried by a moderate heat are to be sprinkled with mealed gunpowder, for the purpose that they may readily catch fire.
_Another method of making Sparks._--Take some saw-dust made from fir, or any kind of wood that burns readily, and boil it in water in which salt-petre has been dissolved; after boiling about a quarter of an hour, the vessel must be removed from the fire, and the liquid poured off so as to leave the saw-dust at the bottom of the vessel, then place the saw-dust by itself upon a flat board or table, and while in a moist state sprinkle it with sulphur, sifted through a fine hair sieve, the sifting powder (sulphur) will be improved if to it be added a small portion of bruised gunpowder. When the whole has been well mixed and of proper consistence, it is to be made up into Sparks, as described in the other method.
6. MARROONS.--Marroons are of very easy construction, being nothing more than small cubical boxes, filled with a composition proper for making them burst, and thence producing a loud report, which, and the suddenness of it, is their chief property. They are used principally in combination with other pieces, or to form a battery, in which, by different lengths of quick-match, they are caused to explode at distinct intervals.
_Construction._--Cut a piece of pasteboard into the form represented in fig. 18, which will fold up into a cubical case, the angles must be well secured by pasting paper over them, the top being left till it is filled: when this is done the box is to be filled with grained powder, then cement strong paper over the top, and again in various directions over the body; and to increase the strength of the box (which will produce a louder report) wrap round two or three rows of packthread dipped in some strong glue, then make a hole in one of the corners, and introduce into it a piece of quick-match, and your Marroon is ready for action.
Marroons may be rendered luminous, or caused to emit a brilliant appearance previous to their explosion.