Part 1

Chapter 12,344 wordsPublic domain

ARTIFICIAL FIRE-WORKS,

Improved to the MODERN PRACTICE,

From the MINUTEST to the HIGHEST Branches;

CONTAINING

Aigrettes Amber-lights Balloons Batteries Chinese Fire-Ships Cohorns Cones Crackers Cascades Dodecadrons Ducks Earthquakes Flights Flyers Fountains Gerbes Globes Gold-Rain Grand Volutes Leaders Lights Mines Matches Mortars Marrons Moons Neptune’s Chariot Potts Pumps Rain-Fall Rockets Sea-Fights Silver-Rain Spur-Fire Squibs Stars Sky-Rockets Swans Swarms Thunder in Rooms Towering-Rockets, double and single Tourbillons Trees Water Fire-Works Wheels Yew-Trees

With all their Ingredients, Compositions, Preparations, Machines, Moulds, and Manner to make them, refining Salt-Petre, and to extract it from damaged Gunpowder, &c.

With about 100 of the principal Figures beautifully engraved on Copper Plates.

The SECOND EDITION.

With the ADDITION of many new and beautiful Fire-Works, and 3 large Copper-Plates.

By ROBERT JONES,

Lieutenant in the Royal Regiment of ARTILLERY.

LONDON:

Printed for J. MILLAN, near Whitehall. (Price 7s, 6d.)

MDCCLXVI.

TO SIR CHARLES FREDERICK, KNIGHT OF THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE BATH, SURVEYOR GENERAL OF HIS MAJESTY’S ORDNANCE, AND FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY, AT LONDON. THIS TREATISE ON ARTIFICIAL FIREWORKS IS HUMBLY INSCRIBED BY HIS MOST OBEDIENT AND MUCH OBLIGED HUMBLE SERVANT,

ROBERT JONES.

PREFACE.

I shall not pretend to say any thing here concerning the origin of Fireworks; those who are willing to be better informed of that point, may have recourse to the treatise of M. F***, on that subject, who has handled this point in a most elaborate manner; and perhaps it may be no displeasing surprize to the reader, to find that, while he imagines himself only concerned about an invention which, he could not have thought to have subsisted above 422 years, he is carried gradually back to the age of Augustus, and from thence to the time of the Trojan war.

It is sufficient for me that Fireworks have subsisted a long time, and still continue to do so among the politest nations of both Europe and Asia. I am very well aware that it may here be objected, there are already treatises published on this subject, and some of those voluminous ones; but then those are either translations from the French and Italian authors, &c. which in themselves are both imperfect and erroneous; or else they are very small abridgments, and those little, not of the art itself, only on some particular branches of it.

I have endeavoured, in the following treatise, to avoid prolixity as much as possible without being obscure; the rules I have laid down, are as plain as was in my power to make them, and I have endeavoured to carry the reader in by the most gradual manner, from the minutest circumstances to the highest, and have been careful to keep to the subject I first proposed, only as an Essay on Artificial Fire-works. I own I cannot help reflecting with some kind of chagrin, that, whenever we have had occasion for any of these sort of diversions to be exhibited in England, we have almost always had recourse to foreigners to execute them; if this has been owing to the ignorance of our own people on this subject, I shall be very happy if it is in my power to correct it; if it is only owing to that prevailing fondness we entertain for every thing that is foreign, I know no remedy for that evil but time and experience.

June 20, 1765.

SUBSCRIBERS NAMES.

Colonel Amherst Lumney Arnold, Esq; Captain Anderson Mr. Thomas Ardesoif Thomas Appreece, Esq; Lieutenant Abbot Mr. Nenon Armstrong John Archbold, Esq;

Sir Richard Betenson, Baronet Lieutenant-General Belford Lieutenant-Colonel Brome Captain Buchannan Captain Richard Bowles Charles Booth, Esq; Captain Burt Captain Bothwick Captain Basset Captain Henry Balfour Captain Henry Brasier Christopher Bath, Esq; Captain Bettesworth Lieutenant Blomfield Lieutenant Bellew Lieutenant Barbutt Lieutenant Bruere Lieutenant Burton Lieutenant Brady Lieutenant Burgh Lieutenant Burrows Lieutenant Brietzcke Lieutenant Barber Lieutenant Browne Ensign Bertie Mr. Bertie ―――― Burk, Esq; Mr. Burford.

Lieutenant-Colonel Chenevix Lieutenant-Colonel Cleaveland Lieutenant-Colonel Carlton Major A. Campbell The Honourable Lucius Ferdinand Cary Captain Campbell Captain Clark Captain Charlton Thomas Cunningham, Esq; John Cockburn, Esq; Cecil Calvert, Esq; John Cathcart, Esq; Partrick George Craufurd, Esq; Lieutenant Chapman Lieutenant Richard Chapman Thomas Chowne, Esq; ―――― Cooke, Esq;

Lieutenant-General Durand Sir Charles Davers Colonel Desaguliers Lieutenant-Colonel Dalling Major Dade Captain Debbeig Captain Dixon Captain Desbrisay Captain Davis George Durant, Esq; Henry Pelham Davis, Esq; Lieutenant Durnford Lieutenant Dixon Lieutenant Douglass Lieutenant Downing Mr. Decosta

Lieutenant-General Elliot Sir John Eyles Styles, Baronet ―――― Edmonds, Esq.

Sir Charles Frederick, Knight of the Bath William Farrell, Esq; William Charles Farrell, Esq; Captain Christopher French Captain Fuller Captain French

The Right Honourable the Marquiss of Granby Lieutenant-Colonel Godwin Captain Gordon Captain Garth Captain Gray Captain George Lieutenant Garstin Lieutenant Grose Lieutenant Gossip John Henry Grose, Esq; Jacob Grose, Esq; Mr. Gresse

Lieutenant-Colonel Howe Sir Samuel Hillier, LL. D. The Honourable Charles Hamilton, Esq; Captain Hayes Captain Hedges Captain Harcourt ―――― Hillersdon, Esq; John Hughson, Esq; John Harrison, Esq; Lieutenant Hill Lieutenant Handcock Mr. Alexander Hope Ensign Harcup.

Major James Captain Innis Captain Jefferys Thomas Jones, Esq; Captain Jones.

Major General Keppel Captain Kennedy Lieutenant King Ensign Keith Doctor Kennedy

The Right Honourable Lord Viscount Ligonier Captain Leslie Captain Lewis Lieutenant Leith Lieutenant Lawson Lieutenant Lemoine Lieutenant Henry Hastings Lloyd Ensign Lechmore Ensign Leigh Mr. Lepremaudaye Mr. George Lambert Mr. John Lampard.

General Monckton Colonel Montresor Sir William Mansel, Baronet Captain Marsh Lieutenant-Colonel Monypenny Ensign Maccarthymore Robert Morley, Esq; James Moss, Esq; John Muller, Esq;

Colonel Nugent Mr. Nichols.

Lieutenant-Colonel Ord.

Sir Mark Parsons, Baronet Colonel Pearson Lieutenant-Colonel Pattison Lieutenant-Colonel Philips Lieutenant-Colonel Pepper Captain Parkhill Captain Pringle Captain Peach Lieutenant Paterson James Philips, Esq; Charles Philips, Esq; James Powel, Esq; Lieutenant Pearse Lieutenant Pocock George Parker, Esq;

His Grace the Duke of Rutland The Right Honourable Lord Romney Captain Reynolds Lieutenant Ratcliff Lieutenant Rosat Lieutenant Robertson Lieutenant Robison.

Sir Harry Seaton Colonel Skinner Major Straton Major Skey Captain Stewart Captain Skyner Lieutenant Strachan Cornet Sievright ―――― Stevenson, Esq;

Lieutenant Timms Lieutenant Thomas Mr. David Thomas Zachariah Taylor, Esq;

Mr. George Villeneuve.

Major General Williamson Lieutenant-Colonel Walsh Major Wrightson Captain Wilkie Captain Williamson Captain Walker Lieutenant Williams ―――― Lieutenant Williams John Willis, Esq; ―――― Ward Esq; John Westrope, Esq; Richard Stranton Wilmot, Esq; Mr. Wise.

CONTENTS

SECTION I. _Of Salt-petre._ Pag. 1 _How to refine Salt-petre._ 2 _How to pulverise Salt-petre._ 3 _How to extract Salt-petre from damaged Gun-powder._ ibid. _Of Sulphur or Brimstone._ 5 _How to prepare Charcoal for Fireworks._ 6 _To make Artificial Camphor._ 7 _To make the Oil of Camphor._ 9 _Of Benjamin._ 10 _Of Gun-powder and its Original._ 11 _Of the Composition for Gun-powder of different Sorts._ 13 _To restore damaged Gun-powder to its proper Strength._ 16 _Of Silent-powder, commonly called White-powder._ 19 _To make Silent-powder._ 20 _To make Gun-powder of different Colours._ 21 _To make Gun-powder white._ 22 _To make Powder red._ ibid. _To make yellow Powder._ 23 _To make green Powder._ ibid. _To make blue Powder._ 23 _To make Pulvis Fulmanans or Thunder in a Room._ 24

SECT. II. _Of the Spur-fire._ 26 _The Composition for the Spur-fire._ 28 _Characters, or Significant Signs, for distinguishing the different Ingredients used in Fireworks._ 29 _How to meal Gun-powder, Brimstone, and Charcoal._ 31 _To prepare Cast Iron for Gerbes, white Fountains, and Chinese Fire._ 32 _Charges for Sky-rockets, &c._ 34 _For Rockets of four Ounces._ ibid. _For Rockets of eight Ounces._ ibid. _For Rockets of one Pound._ ibid. _For Sky-rockets in General._ 35 _For large Sky-rockets._ ibid. _For Rockets of a middling Size._ ibid. _Compositions for Rocket Stars._ 36 _For white Stars._ ibid. _For blue Stars._ ibid. _Coloured or variegated Stars._ ibid. _For brilliant Stars._ ibid. _For common Stars._ 37 _For tailed Stars._ ibid. _For drove Stars._ ibid. _For fixed pointed Stars._ 37 _Stars of a fine Colour._ 38 _Gold Rain for Sky-rockets._ ibid. _Silver Rain._ ibid. _For Water-rockets._ 39 _A sinking Charge for Water-rockets._ 40 _For Wheel Cases, from two Ounces to four Pound._ ibid. _A slow Fire for Wheels._ 42 _A dead Fire for Wheels._ ibid. _For standing or fixed Cases._ ibid. _For Sun Cases._ 43 _For a brilliant Fire._ ibid. _For Gerbes._ 44 _Chinese Fire._ ibid. _Charges for Tourbillons._ ibid. _For four Ounce Tourbillons._ ibid. _For eight Ounce Tourbillons._ ibid. _For large Tourbillons._ 45 _For Water Ballóóns._ ibid. _For Water Squibs._ ibid. _For Mine Ports or Serpents._ 46 _Port Fires for firing Rockets, &c._ ibid. _Port Fires for Illuminations._ 47 _For Cones or Spiral Wheels._ ibid. _For Crowns or Globes._ ibid. _For Air Ballóón Fuzes._ ibid. _Serpents for Pots des Brins._ 48 _For Fire Pumps._ ibid. _For a slow white Flame._ ibid. _For Amber Lights._ 49 _For Lights of another Sort._ ibid. _For a red Fire._ ibid. _For a common Fire._ ibid. _To make an artificial Earthquake._ 50 _A Table of Rocket Charges, taken from Siemienawicz._ 52 _A Table of Rocket Charges, taken from M. F***._ 53 _A Table of Rocket Charges, taken from Hanzelet._ 54 _A Table of Rocket Charges, taken from Henrion._ 55 _A Table of Rocket Charges, taken from Saint Remy, with improvements by M. F***._ 56 _Remarks on the foregoing Tables._ 57 _Compositions for Stars of different Colours._ 60 _For Stars that carry Tails of Sparks._ 61 _Another sort of Stars, which yield some Sparks._ 62 _For Stars of a yellowish Colour._ ibid. _Stars of another Sort._ 63 _Of the Colours produced by the different Compositions._ ibid. _For a white Flame._ 64 _For a blue Flame._ ibid. _For a Flame inclining to red._ 65 _Of such Ingredients as shew themselves in Sparks when rammed in choaked Cases._ ibid. _How to make Cotton Quick-match._ 66 _Ingredients for the Match._ 68

SECT. III. _Of Sky-rocket Moulds._ 69 _A Table of Dimensions for Rocket Moulds, in which the Rockets are rammed solid._ 72 _Of Moulds for Wheel-cases, or Serpents._ 73 _How to roll Rockets and other Cases._ 74 _To make Tourbillon Cases._ 78 _To make Ballóón Cases, or Paper Shells._ 79 _Of the Method of mixing Compositions._ 82 _How to preserve Steel or Iron Filings._ 83 _The Method of driving or ramming of Sky-rockets, &c._ 85 _Of the Proportion of Mallets._ 90 _Of the Proportion of Sky-rockets, with the manner of heading them._ 91 _Of the Decorations for Sky-rockets._ 93 _A Table of Dimensions and Poise of Rocket-sticks._ 94 _The Method of boring Rockets which have been drove solid._ 96 _Of a Hand Machine used for boring of Rockets instead of a Lathe._ 99 _The Manner of making large Gerbes._ 101 _Of small Gerbes or white Fountains._ 103 _To make Paste-board and Paper Mortars._ 104

SECT. IV. _The Manner of loading Air Ballóóns._ 106 _Of Coehorn Ballóóns._ 108 _Of Coehorn Ballóóns._ 109 _Of Royal Ballóóns._ 110 _Of Royal Ballóóns._ 111 _Of eight Inch Ballóóns._ 112 _Remarks on Ballóóns._ 113 _Of eight Inch Ballóóns._ 115 _Of an eight Inch Ballóón._ 116 _Of a Compound ten Inch Ballóón._ 117 _Of a ten Inch Ballóón of three changes._ 118 _To make Ballóón._ ibid. _Of Tourbillons._ 120 _The Manner of making Mortars, for throwing Aigrettes and loading and firing the same._ 122 _The Manner of making, loading, and firing of Pots des Brins._ 125 _Of Pots des Saucissons._ 127 _To fix one Sky-rocket on the top of another._ 128 _Of Caduceus-rockets._ 130 _Of Honorary-rockets._ 131 _To divide the Tail of a Sky-rocket, so as to form an Arch when Ascending._ 133 _To make several Sky-rockets rise together, in the same direction, and equally distant from each other._ 134 _Of Signal Sky-rockets._ 135 _To fix two or more Sky-rockets on one Stick._ 136 _Of Sky-rockets without Sticks._ 140 _Of Rain-falls for Sky-rockets, double and single._ 141 _Of strung Stars._ 144 _Of tailed Stars._ ibid. _Of drove Stars._ 146 _Of rolled Stars._ 147 _Of Scrolls for Sky-rockets._ 148 _Of Swarmers or small Rockets._ 149 _Of the Cause of Sky-rockets rising._ 150 _Of Stands for Sky-rockets._ 151 _Of Girandole Chests for Flights of Rockets._ 152 _Of Serpents or Snakes for Pots des Aigrettes, small Mortars, Sky-rockets, &c._ 155 _Of Leaders or Pipes of Communication._ ibid.

SECT. V. _Of Aquatick Fireworks._ 157 _Of Water Rockets._ ibid. _To make Pipes of Communication, which may be used under Water._ 159 _Of Horizontal Wheels for the Water._ ibid. _Of Mines for the Water._ 161 _Of Fire Globes for the Water._ 162 _Of odoriferous Water Ballóóns._ 164 _Of Water Ballóóns._ 166 _Of Water Squibs._ 167 _To represent a Sea-fight with small Ships, and to prepare a Fire-ship for the same._ 168 _To fire Sky-rockets under Water._ 172 _To represent Neptune in his Chariot._ 173 _To represent Swans and Ducks in the Water._ 175 _Of Fire-fountains for the Water._ 177

SECT. VI. _To make Crackers._ 179 _Of single Reports._ 180 _Of Marrons._ 181 _Of Marron Batteries._ 183 _Of Line Rockets._ ibid. _Of the different Decorations for Line Rockets._ 185 _Of Chinese Flyers._ 186 _Of Table Rockets._ 188 _To make Wheels and other Works incombustible._ 189 _Of single Vertical Wheels._ 190 _Of Horizontal Wheels._ 192 _Of Spirali Wheels._ 193 _Of Plural Wheels._ 194 _Of the illuminated Spiral Wheel._ 195 _Of the double Spiral Wheel._ 196 _Of Ballóón Wheels._ 197 _Of Fruiloni Wheels._ 198 _Of Port-fires for Illuminations._ 200 _Of common Port-fires._ ibid. _Of Cascades of Fire._ 201 _Of the Fire Tree._ 202 _Of Chinese Fountains._ 203 _Of illuminated Globes with Horizontal Wheels._ 205 _Of the Dodecaedron._ 207 _Of the Yew Tree of Brilliant Fire._ 209 _Of Stars with Points for regulated Pieces, &c._ 210 _Of the fixed Sun with a Transparent Face._ 211 _Of three Vertical Wheels illuminated, which turn on their Naves upon a Horizontal Table._ 214 _Of the illuminated Chandelier._ 216 _Of the illuminated Yew Tree._ 217 _Of flaming Stars with Brilliant Wheels._ 218 _Of Touch-paper for Capping of Serpents, Crackers, &c._ 220 _Of a projected regulated Piece of Nine Mutations._ 221 _To make a Horizontal Wheel change to a Vertical Wheel with a Sun in Front._ 234 _Of the Grand Volute illuminated, with a projected Wheel in Front._ 236 _Of the Moon and Seven Stars._ 239 _Of the double Cone Wheel illuminated._ 240 _Of Fire Pumps._ 242 _Of the Vertical Scroll Wheel._ 243 _Of Pin Wheels._ 244 _Of Fire Globes._ 246 _To thread and join Leaders, with the Method of placing them on different Works._ 247 _The Manner of placing Fireworks to be exhibited, with the Order of Firing._ 250

CONTENTS to the ADDITIONS.

PAGE To make a Fountain of Sky Rockets 253 The Palm Tree 255 The Rose Piece and Sun 256 Transparent Stars with Illuminated Rays 256 Transparent Table Star Illuminated 257 Regulated, Illuminated Spiriti Piece, with a projected Star Wheel Illuminated 258 New Figure Piece illuminated with five pointed Stars 259 Star Wheel Illuminated 259 Pyramid of Flower-pots 259 Illuminated Regulating Pieces 260 To fix a Sky-Rocket with its Stick on the top of another 261 New method of placing Leaders 262

ERRATA.

Pag. 16. lin. 6. _for_ salt, _read_ salt-petre 30. 12. _for_ ising glass, _read_ isinglass 35. 11. _for_ midling, _read_ middling 47. 15. _for_ ballóóns, _read_ ballóón 86. 26. _insert_: to a rocket of eight ounces twenty-one strokes. 115. 5. _for_ one eighth, _read_ one inch one eighth 152. 24. _for_ griandole, _read_ girandole, ibid. 25. _for_ griandole, _read_ girandole, 172. 19. _for_ hoops, _read_ hooks, 203. 8. _add_ at I, nine inches from H, fix three pegs. 243. 18. _for_ scrole, _read_ scroll,

TREATISE

Artificial Fireworks.

SECT. I.

Of SALTPETRE.