Part 11

To make an illuminated chandelier, you must first have one made of thin wood; see fig. 50. The chandelier being made, bore in the front of the branches, and in the body, and also in the crown at top, as many holes for illuminations as they will contain, at three inches distance from each other; in these holes put illuminations filled with white, blue, or brilliant charge; having fixed in the port fires, cloath them with leaders so that the chandelier and crown may light together. The small circles on this figure represent the mouths of the illuminations, which must project straight from the front.

Of the Illuminated Yew Tree.

First have a tree made of wood, such as is shewn by fig. 51. The middle piece or stem, on which the branches are fixed, must be eight feet six inches in height; at the bottom of this piece draw a line, at right angles, two feet six inches in length at each side; then from L, which is one foot six inches from the bottom, draw a line on each side to C and D; these lines will give the length of the two first branches. Then put on the two top branches parallel to them at bottom; let the length of each of these branches be one foot from the stem; from the ends of these two branches, draw a line to C and D; then fix on five more branches at an equal distance from each other, and their length will be determined by the lines A C and E D; when the branches are fixed, place illuminating port fires on the top of each, as many as you chuse: behind the top of the stem fasten a gerbe, or white fountain, which must be fired at the beginning of the illuminations on the tree.

Of Flaming Stars with Brilliant Wheels.

To make a flaming star, you must first have made a circular piece of strong wood, about one inch thick and two feet diameter; round this block fix eight points, two feet six inches in length each; four of these points must be straight, and four flaming; these points being joined on very strong and even with the surface of the block, nail tin or paste board on their edges, from the block to the end of each, where they must be joined; this tin must project in front eight inches, and be joined where they meet at the block; round the front of the block fix four pieces of thick iron wire, eight inches in length each, equally distant from each other; this being done, cut a piece of paste board round two feet diameter, and draw on it a star, as may be seen in fig. 52. This star cut out, and on the back of it paste oiled paper, then paint each point half red, and half yellow, lengthwise; but the body of the star must be left open, wherein must run a brilliant wheel, which is made as follows: Have a light block turned nine inches long; at each end of it, fix six spokes, at the end of each spoke put a two ounce case of brilliant fire; the length of these cases must be in proportion to the wheel, and the diameter of the wheel when the cases are on must be a little less than the diameter of the body of the small star; the cases on the spokes in front must have their mouths incline outwards, and them on the inside spokes must be placed so as to form a vertical circle of fire. When you place your leaders, carry the first pipe from the tail of one of the cases in front to the mouth of one of the inside cases, and from the tail of that to another in front, and so on to all the cases; your wheel being made, put it on a spindle, exactly in the center of the star; this spindle must have a shoulder at bottom, to keep the wheel at a little distance from the block. This wheel must be kept on the spindle by a nut at the end; having fixed on the wheel, fasten the transparent star to the four pieces of wire; then when you fire the wheel, you will first see nothing more than a common horizontal wheel; but when the first case is burnt out, it will fire one of the vertical cases, which will shew the transparent star, and fill the large flames and points with fire; then it will again appear like a common wheel, and so on for twelve changes.

Of Touch Paper for Capping of Serpents, Crackers, &c.

Dissolve, in some spirits of wine or vinegar, a little salt petre, then take some purple or blue paper, and wet it with the above liquor, and when dry it will be fit for use; when you paste this paper, on any of your works, take care that the paste does not touch that part which is to burn. The method of using this paper is by cutting it into slips, long enough to go once round the mouth of a serpent, cracker, &c. When you paste on these slips, leave a little above the mouth of the case not pasted; then prime the case with meal powder, and twist the paper to a point.

Of a Projected Regulated Piece of Nine Mutations.

A regulated piece, if well executed, is as curious a work as any in fireworks; for it consists of fixed and moveable pieces on one spindle, representing various sorts of figures, which take fire successively one from another, without any assistance after lighting the first mutation; but, for the better explanation of this piece, I shall give a full description of the method of communicating the fire from one mutation to the other, with a figure of each as they stand on the spindle. Regulated pieces are made of many sorts, and of any number of mutations, from two to nine, which is the greatest number I ever knew a piece to consist of, except one of my own making, which was composed of fifteen mutations, all different fires, and figures. But, as an explanation of so large a piece would be very difficult to comprehend, I shall omit it, leaving so many changes to those who have made a great progress in this art, and only teach the manner of making a piece of nine mutations, as shewn in Plate V, fig. 53. As it will be necessary that every mutation should be separately explained, I will first give the name of each, with the colour of fire, and size of the case belonging to it: after which shall proceed, with the proportion of each mutation, together with the nature of the spindle, and manner of placing the leaders.

First Mutation

Is a hexagon vertical wheel, illuminated in front with small port fires tied on the spokes; this wheel must be cloathed with two ounce cases, filled with black charge; the length of these cases are determined by the size of the wheel, but must burn singly.

Second Mutation

Is a fixed piece called a golden glory, by reason of the cases being filled with spur-fire; the cases must stand perpendicular to the block on which they are fixed, so that, when they are burning, they may represent a glory of fire; this mutation is generally composed of five, or seven two ounce cases.

Third Mutation

Is moveable, and is nothing more then an octagon vertical wheel, cloathed with four ounce cases, filled with brilliant charge; two of these cases must burn at a time: in this wheel you may make changes of fire.

Fourth Mutation

Is a fixed sun of brilliant fire, consisting of twelve four ounce cases; the necks of these cases must be a little larger than those of four ounce wheel cases; in this mutation may be made a change of fire, by filling the cases half with brilliant charge and half with grey.

Fifth Mutation

Is a fixed piece called the porcupine’s quills; this piece consists of twelve spokes, standing perpendicular to the block in which they are fixed; on each of these spokes, near the end, must be placed a four ounce case of brilliant fire; all these cases must incline either to the right or left, so that they may all play one way.

Sixth Mutation

Is a standing piece called the cross fire. This mutation consists of eight spokes fixed in a block; near the end of each of those spokes, must be tied two four ounce cases of white charge, one across the other, so that the fires from the cases on one spoke, may intersect the fire from cases on the other.

Seventh Mutation

Is a fixed wheel, with two circular fells, on which are placed sixteen eight ounce cases of brilliant fire, in the form of a star: this piece is called a fixed star of wild fire.

Eighth Mutation.

This is a beautiful piece, called a brilliant star piece, it consists of six spokes, which are strengthened by two fells of a hexagon form at some distance from each other; at the end of each spoke, in the front, is fixed a brilliant star of five points; and on each side of every star is placed a four ounce case of black or grey charge; these cases must be placed with their mouths side ways, so that their fires may cross each other.

Ninth Mutation

Is a wheel piece; this is composed of six long spokes, with a hexagon vertical wheel at the end of each; these wheels run on spindles in the front of the spokes; all the wheels are lighted together: two ounce cases will do for these wheels, and may be filled with any coloured charge.

After having spoke of the several parts of the regulated piece, each by their proper names and colour of fire, I shall next proceed with the proportion of every mutation, together with the method of conveying the fire from one to the other, and the distance they stand one from the other on the spindle.

First Mutation

Must be a hexagon vertical wheel, fourteen inches diameter; on one side of the block, whose diameter is two inches and a quarter, is fixed a tin barrel A, see fig. 53, Nᵒ. 1; this barrel must be a little less in diameter than the nave; let the length of the barrel and block be six inches. Having fixed the cases on the wheel, carry a leader from the tail of the last case into the tin barrel through a hole made on purpose two inches from the block; at the end of this leader let there be about an inch or two of loose match, but take care to well secure the hole wherein the pipe is put, to prevent any sparks falling in, which would light the second mutation before its time, and confuse the whole piece.

Second Mutation

Is thus made. Have a nave turned two inches and a half diameter, and three long; then let half an inch of that end which faces the first wheel be turned so as to fit easy into the tin barrel of the first mutation, which must turn round it without touching; on the other end of the block, fix a tin barrel B, Nᵒ. 2, this barrel must be six inches in length, and only half an inch of it to fit on the block. Round the nave fix five spokes, one inch and a half in length each; the diameter of the spokes must be equal to a two ounce former; on these spokes put five seven inch two ounce cases of spur fire, and carry leaders from the mouth of one to the other, that they may all light together; then from the mouth of one of the cases, carry a leader, through a hole bored slantways in the nave, from between the spokes, to the front of the block near the spindle hole; the end of this leader must project out of the hole into the barrel of the first mutation, so that when the pipe which comes from the end of the last case on the first wheel flashes, it may take fire and light the second mutation. To communicate the fire to the third mutation bore a hole near the bottom of one of the five cases, to the composition, and from thence carry a leader into a hole made in the middle of the barrel B; this hole must be covered with pasted paper.

Third Mutation

May be either an octagon or hexagon wheel, twenty inches diameter; let the nave be three inches and a quarter diameter, and three and a half in length; one inch and a half of the front of the nave must be made to fit in the barrel B. On the other end of the block fix a tin barrel C, Nᵒ. 3; this barrel must be six inches and a half in length, one inch of which must fit over the block. The cases of this wheel must burn two at a time; and from the mouths of the two first cases carry a leader, through holes in the nave into the barrel of the second mutation, after the usual manner; but besides these leaders let there be a pipe go across the wheel from one first case to the other, then from the tail of one of the last cases, carry a pipe into a hole in the middle of the barrel C; at the end of this pipe, let there hang some loose quick match.

Fourth and Fifth Mutation.

We shall here speak of those two mutations under one head, as their naves are made of one piece, which from E to F is fourteen inches; E, a block four inches diameter, with ten or twelve short spokes, on which are fixed eleven inch eight ounce cases; let the front of this block be made to fit easy in the barrel C, and cloath the cases so that they may all light together; and let a pipe be carried through a hole in the block into the barrel C, in order to receive the fire from the leader brought from the last case on the wheel. G, the nave of the fifth mutation, whose diameter must be four inches and a half; in this nave fix ten or twelve spokes one foot and a half in length each; these spokes must stand seven inches distance from the spokes of the fourth mutation; and at the end of each spoke tie a four ounce case, as shewn by Nᵒ. 5; all these cases are to be lighted together, by a leader brought from the end of one of the cases on Nᵒ. 4. Let F and H be of the same piece of wood as E and G; but as much thinner as possible, in order to make the work light.

Sixth and Seventh Mutation.

The blocks of these two mutations, are turned out of one piece of wood, whose length from F to P is fifteen inches. L a block five inches diameter, in which are fixed eight spokes, each two feet four inches in length; at the end of each spoke tie two four ounce cases as shewn by Nᵒ. 6; all these cases must be fired at the same time, by a pipe brought from the end of one of the cases on the fifth mutation. Let the distance between the spokes at L and those in the fifth mutation be seven inches. M, the nave of the seventh mutation, whose diameter must be five inches and a half; in this nave fix eight spokes, and on the front of them two circular fells, one of four feet eight diameter, and one of three feet eleven inches diameter; on these fells, tie sixteen eight ounce or pound cases, in the same manner as represented by Nᵒ. 7, and carry leaders from one to the other, so that they may be all fired together; this mutation must be fired by a leader brought from the tail of one of the cases on the sixth mutation.

Eighth and Ninth Mutation.

The blocks of these may be turned out of one piece, whose length from P to D must be twelve inches. O, the block of the eighth mutation, which must be six inches diameter, and in it fixed six spokes, each three feet in length; these spokes must be strengthened by a hexagon fell within three or four inches of the ends of the spokes; close to the end of each spoke, in the front, fix a five-pointed brilliant star; then seven inches below each star tie two ten inch eight ounce cases, so that the upper ends of the cases may rest on the fells, and their ends on the spokes; each of these cases must be placed parallel to the opposite fell, see Nᵒ. 8. NNN, &c. are the cases, and kkk, &c. the stars.

The ninth mutation must be thus made; let D be a block seven inches diameter; in this block must be screwed six spokes, six feet in length each, with holes and grooves in them for leaders, in the same manner as those in the dodecaedron; at the end of each spoke, in the front, fix a spindle for a hexagon vertical wheel, ten inches diameter, as shewn by Nᵒ. 9. When these wheels are on, carry a leader from each into the block, so that they may all meet together; then lead a pipe from the end of one of the cases of the eighth mutation, through a hole bored in the block D, to meet the leaders from the vertical wheels, so that they may all be fired together.

The spindles for large pieces are required to be made very strong, and as exact as possible; for a piece of nine mutations, let the spindle be at the large end one inch diameter, and continue that thickness as far as the seventh mutation, and from thence to the fifth; let its diameter be three quarters of an inch; from the fifth to the fourth, five eighths of an inch; from the fourth to the second, half an inch; and from the second to the end, three eighths of an inch: at the small end must be a nut to keep on the first wheel, and at the thick end must be a large nut, as shewn by the figure, so that the screw part of the spindle being put through a post, and a nut screwed on tight, the spindle will be held fast and steady; but you are to observe, that that part of the spindle, on which the moveable pieces are to run, be made long enough for the wheels to run easy without sticking; the fixed pieces being made on different blocks, the leaders must be joined, after they are fixed on the spindle. The best method of preventing the fixed mutations from moving on the spindle, is, to make that part of the spindle which goes through them square; but as it would be difficult to make square holes through such long blocks as are sometimes required, it will be best to make them in the following manner; which is, to bore a round hole a little larger than the diameter of the spindle, and at each end of the block over the hole, fasten a piece of brass with a square hole in it to fit the spindle.

To make a Horizontal Wheel change to a Vertical Wheel with a Sun in Front.

The sudden change of this piece is very pleasing, and gives great surprize to those who are not acquainted with the contrivance. A wheel for this purpose should be about three feet diameter, and its fell circular, on which tie sixteen half pound cases filled with brilliant charge; two of these cases must burn at a time, and on each end of the nave must be a tin barrel of the same construction as those on the regulated piece; the wheel being compleated, prepare the post or stand after the following manner: first have a stand made of any height, about three or four inches square, then saw off from the top, a piece two feet in length; this piece join again at the place where it was cut, with a hinge on one side, so that it may lift up and down in the front of the stand, then fix on the top of the bottom part of the stand, on each side a bracket; these brackets must project at right angles with the stand, one foot from the front, for the short piece to rest on; but these brackets must be placed a little above the joint of the post, so that when the upper stand falls, it may lay between them at right angles with the bottom stand, which may be done by fixing a piece of wood, one foot in length, between the brackets and even with the top of the bottom stand; then, as the brackets rise above the bottom stand, they will form a channel for the short post to lay in, and at the same time keep it steady without straining the hinge: on the side of the short post opposite the hinge, nail a piece of wood; this piece must be of such a length, that, when the post is perpendicular, it may reach about one foot and a half down the long post, to which being tied, it will hold the short stand upright; the stand being thus prepared, in the top of it fix a spindle ten inches in length; on this spindle put the wheel, then fix on a brilliant sun with a single glory; the diameter of this sun must be six inches less than that of the wheel. When you fire this piece, light the wheel first, and let it run horizontally till four cases are consumed; then from the end of the fourth case carry a leader into the ten barrel that turns over the end of the stand; this leader must be met by another brought through the top of the post, from a case filled with a strong port-fire charge, and tied to the bottom post, with its mouth facing the pack-thread which holds up the stand, so that when this case is lighted, it will burn the pack-thread, and let the wheel fall forward, by which means it will become vertical; then from the last case of the wheel, carry a leader into the barrel next the sun, which will begin as soon as the wheel is burnt out.

Of the grand Volute illuminated with a projected Wheel in Front.

First have two hoops made of strong iron wire, one of six feet diameter, and one of four feet two inches; these hoops must be joined to scroles A, A, A, &c. as shewn by fig. 54. These scroles must be made of the same sort of wire as the hoops; on these scroles, tie with iron binding wire as many illuminating port fires as they will hold, at two inches distance from each other; these port fires cloath with leaders, so that they may all take fire together; then let C be a circular wheel of four spokes, three feet six inches diameter, and on its fell tie as many four ounce cases head to tail, as will compleat the circle, only allowing a sufficient distance between the cases, that the fire may pass free, which may be done by cutting the upper part of the end of each case a little shelving: on each spoke fix a four ounce case about three inches from the fell of the wheel; these cases are to burn one at a time, and the first of them to begin with those on the fell, of which four are to burn at a time, so that the wheel will last no longer than one fourth of the cases on the fell, which in number should be sixteen or twenty; on the front of the wheel form a spiral line, with strong wire, on which tie port fires, placing them on a slant, with their mouths to face the same way as the cases on the wheel; all these port fires must be fired with the second cases of wheel. Let D, D, D, &c. be spokes of wood, all made to screw into a block in the center; each of these spokes may be in length about four feet six inches; in the top of each fix a spindle, and on each spindle put a spirali wheel of eight spokes, such as are represented by E, E, E, &c. The blocks of these wheels must have a hole at top for the center cases, and the spindle must have nuts screwed on their ends, which nuts should fit in the holes at top of the blocks, so that all the wheels, must be put on before you fix in the center cases: as some of these wheels by reason of their situation will not bear on the nut, it will be necessary to have smooth shoulders made on the spindles for the blocks to run on; the cases of these wheels are to burn double, and the method of firing them is, by carrying a leader from each down the spokes into the block in the center, in the same manner as those in the dodecaedron, but the center case of each wheel, must begin with the two last cases as usual; it is to be observed, that the large circular wheel in front must have a tin barrel on its block, into which a pipe must be carried, from one of the second cases on the wheel; this pipe being met by another from the large block, in which the eight spokes are screwed, will fire all the spirali wheels and the illuminating port fires at the same time. The cases of the projected wheel may be filled with a white charge, and those of the spirali wheels, with a grey.

Of the Moon and Seven Stars.

Let fig. 55, be a smooth circular board, six feet diameter; out of the middle of it cut a circular piece twelve or fourteen inches diameter, and over the vacancy put white Persian silk, on which paint a moon’s face, then let I, I, I, &c. be stars each four or five inches diameter, cut out with five points, and covered with oiled silk: on the front of the large circular board, draw a seven-pointed star, as large as the circle will allow; then on the lines which form this star, bore holes, wherein fix pointed stars. When this piece is to be fired, it must be fixed upon the front of a post, on a spindle, with a wheel of brilliant fire behind the face of the moon; so that while the wheel burns, the moon and stars will appear transparent, and when the wheel has burnt out, they will disappear, and the large star in front, which is formed of pointed stars, will begin, being lighted by a pipe of communication from the last case of the vertical wheel, behind the moon; this pipe of communication must be managed in the same manner as those in regulated pieces.

Of the Double Cone Wheel illuminated.