Part 7

Mortars used for throwing aigrettes are generally made of paste-board, of the same thickness as ballóón mortars, and two diameters and a half long in the inside from the top of the foot; the foot must be made of elm without a chamber, but flat at top, and in the same proportion as those for ballóón mortars; these sort of mortars must also be bound round with cord as before mentioned; sometimes eight or nine of these sort of mortars, of about three or four inches diameter, are bound all together so as to appear but one; but when they are made for this purpose, the bottom of the foot must be of the same diameter as the mortars; and only half a diameter high. Your mortars being bound well together, fix them on a heavy solid block of wood: to load these mortars, first put on the inside bottom of each, a piece of paper, and on it spread one ounce and a half of meal and corn powder mixed; then tie your serpents up in parcels with quick-match, and put them in the mortar with their mouths downwards; but take care that the parcels do not sit too tight in the mortars, and that all the serpents have been well primed with powder, wetted with spirit of wine; on the top of the serpents in each mortar lay some paper or tow; then carry a leader from one mortar to the other all round, and then from all the outside mortars into that in the middle; these leaders must be put between the cases, and the sides of the mortar down to the powder at bottom: in the center of the middle mortar, fix a fire-pump or brilliant fountain, which must be open at bottom, and long enough to project out of the mouth of the mortar; then paste paper on the tops of all the mortars.

Mortars thus prepared are called a nest of serpents, as represented by Fig. 31. When you would fire these mortars, light the fire-pump C, which when consumed will communicate to all the mortars at once, by means of the leaders. For mortars of six, eight, or ten inches diameter, the serpents should be made in one and two ounce cases, six or seven inches long, and fired by a leader, brought out of the mouth of the mortar, and turned down the outside, and the end of it covered with paper, to prevent the sparks of the other works from setting it on fire. For a six inch mortar, let the quantity of powder for firing be two ounces; for an eight inch, two ounces and three quarters; and for a ten inch, three ounces and three quarters; care must be taken in these as well as small mortars, not to put the serpents in too tight, for fear of bursting the mortars. These sort of mortars may be loaded with stars, crackers, &c.

If the mortars, when loaded, are to be sent any distance, or liable to be much moved, the firing powder should be secured from getting amongst the serpents, which would endanger the mortars, as well as hurt their performance; to prevent which, load your mortars after this manner; first put in the firing powder and spread it equally about; then cut a round piece of blue touch-paper, equal to the exterior diameter of the mortar, and draw on it a circle, equal to the interior diameter of the mortar, and notch it all round as far as that circle; then paste that part which is notched, and put it down the mortar close to the powder, and stick the pasted edge to the mortar; this will keep the powder always smooth at bottom, so that it may be moved or carried any where, without receiving any damage. The large single mortars are called pots des aigrettes.

The Manner of making, loading, and firing of Pots des Brins.

These pots are made of paste-board, and must be rolled pretty thick; they are usually made three or four inches diameter, and four diameters long, and pinched with a neck at one end, like common cases; a number of these are placed on a plank in the following manmer: having fixed on a plank, two rows of wooden pegs, cut, in the bottom of the plank, a groove the whole length under each row of pegs; then, through the centre of each peg, bore a hole down to the groove at bottom, and on every peg fix and glue a pot, whose mouth must fit tight on the peg; thro’ all the holes run a quick-match, one end of which must go into the pot, and the other into the groove, which must have a match laid in it from end to end, and covered with paper, so that when lighted at one end, it may discharge the whole almost instantaneously: in all the pots put about one ounce of meal and corn powder; then in some put stars, and others rains, snakes, serpents, crackers, &c. when they are all loaded, paste paper over their mouths. Two or three hundred of these pots being fired together, make a very pretty show, by affording so great a variety of fires. Fig. 32, is a range of pots des brins, with the leader A, by which they are fired.

Of Pots des Saucissons.

Saucissons are generally fired out of large mortars without chambers, the same as those for aigrettes, only somewhat stronger: saucissons are made of one and two ounce cases, five or six inches long, and choaked in the same manner as serpents; half the number which the mortar contains, must be drove one diameter and a half with composition, and the other half two diameters, so that when fired they may give two volleys of reports; but if the mortars be very strong, and will bear a sufficient charge, to throw the saucissons very high, you may make three volleys of reports, by dividing the number of cases into three parts, and making a difference in the height of the charge: after they are filled, pinch and tie them at top of the charge, almost close; only leaving a small vent to communicate the fire to the upper part of the case, which must be filled with corn powder very near the top; then pinch the end quite close, and tie it; after this is done, bind the case very tight with waxed pack-thread, from the choak at top of the composition, to the end of the case; this will make the case very strong in that part, and cause the report to be very loud: saucissons should be rolled a little thicker of paper than the common proportion. When they are to be put in the mortar, they must be primed in their mouths, and fired by a case of brilliant fire, fixed in their center.

The charge for these sort of mortars should be one sixth, or one eighth, more than for pots des aigrettes of the same diameter.

To fix one Rocket on the Top of another.

When sky rockets are thus managed, they are called towering rockets, on account of their mounting so very high. Towering rockets are made after this manner; fix on a pound rocket a head without a collar; then take a four ounce rocket, which may be headed or bounced, and rub the mouth of it with meal powder wetted with spirit of wine, when done put it in the head of the large rocket with its mouth downwards; but before you put it in, stick a bit quick-match in the hole in the clay of the pound rocket, which match should be long enough to go a little way up the bore of the small rocket, in order to fire it, when the large one is burnt out; the four ounce rocket being too small to fill the head of the other, roll round it as much tow as will make it stand upright in the center of the head: the rocket being thus fixed, paste a single paper round the opening of the top of the head of the large rocket. The large rocket must have only half a diameter of charge rammed above the piercer, for if filled to the usual height, it would turn before the small one takes fire, and entirely destroy the intended effect; when one rocket is headed with another, there will be no occasion for any blowing powder; for the force with which it lets off, will be sufficient to disingage it from the head of the first fired rocket. The sticks for these sort of rockets, must be a little longer than for those headed with stars, rains, &c.

Of Caduceus Rockets.

Caduceus rockets in rising form two spiral lines, or double worm, by reason of their being placed obliquely, one opposite the other; and their counterpoise in their center, which causes them to rise in a vertical direction. Rockets for this purpose, must have their ends choaked close, without either head or bounce; for a weight at top, would be a great obstruction to their mounting; though I have known them sometimes to be bounced, but then they did not rise so high as those that were not, nor do any Caduceous rockets ascend so high as single ones; because of their serpentine motion, and likewise the resistance of air, which is much greater than two rockets of the same size would meet with, if fired singly.

By Fig. 33. you see the method of fixing these rockets: the sticks for this purpose, must have all their sides equal, which sides should be equal to the breadth of a stick, proper for a sky rocket of the same weight as those you intend to use, and to taper downwards as usual, long enough to ballance them, one length of a rocket, from the cross stick; which must be placed from the large stick, six diameters of one of the rockets, and its length seven diameters so that each rocket when tied on, may form with the large stick an angle of sixty degrees. In tying on the rockets, place their heads on the opposite sides of the cross stick; and their ends on the opposite sides of the long stick, then carry a leader from the mouth of one, into that of the other. When these rockets are to be fired, suspend them between two hooks or nails, then burn the leader through the middle, and both will take fire at the same time. Rockets of one pound, are a good size, for this use.

Of Honorary Rockets.

Honorary rockets are the same as sky rockets, except that they carry no head nor report, but are closed at top, on which is fixed a cone, then on the case, close to the top of the stick, you tie a two ounce case, about five or six inches long, filled with a strong charge, and pinched close at both ends; then in the reverse sides at each end, bore a hole, in the same manner as in Tourbillons; from each hole, carry a leader, into the top of the rocket. When the rocket is fired, and arrived to its proper height, it will give fire to the case at top, which will cause both rocket and stick, to spin very fast, in their return, and represent a worm of fire, descending to the ground.

There is another method of placing the small case, which is by letting the stick rise a little above the top of the rocket, and tying the case to it, so as to rest on the rocket: these sort of rockets have no cones.

There is also a third method, by which these kind of rockets are managed, which is thus: In the top of the rocket fix a piece of wood, in which drive a small iron spindle, then make a hole in the middle of the small case, through which put the spindle; then fix on the top of it a nut, to keep the case from falling off; when this is done, the case will turn very fast, without the rocket: but this method does not answer so well, as either of the former.

Fsg. 34. is a honorary rocket compleat. The best sized rockets for this purpose are those of one pound.

To divide the Tail of a Sky Rocket, so as to form an Arch when ascending.

Having some rockets made, and headed according to fancy, and tied on their sticks; get some sheet tin, and cut it into round pieces, about three or four inches diameter, then on the stick of each rocket, under the mouth of the case, fix one of these pieces of tin; sixteen inches from the rockets neck, and support it by a wooden bracket, as strong as possible: the use of this, is, that when the rocket is ascending, the fire will play with great force on the tin, which will divide the tail in such a manner, that it will form an arch, as it mounts, (and will have a very good effect if well managed) if there be a short piece of port-fire, of a strong charge, tied to the end of the stick, it will make a great addition; but this must be lighted, before you fire the rocket.

To make several Sky Rockets, rise together, in the same direction, and equally distant from each other.

Take six or any number of sky rockets, of what size you please; then cut some strong pack-thread, into pieces of three or four yards long, and tie each end of these pieces to a rocket in this manner. Having tied one end of your pack-thread, round the body, of one rocket, and the other end to another; take a second piece of pack-thread and make one end of it fast to one of the rockets already tied, and the other end to a third rocket, so that all the rockets except the two outside ones will be fastened to two pieces of pack-thread; the length of thread, from one rocket to the other, may be what the maker pleases; but the rockets must be all of a size, and their heads filled with the same weight of stars, rains, &c.

Having thus done, fix in the mouth of each rocket, a leader of the same length; and, when you are going to fire them, hang them almost close together, then tie the ends of the leaders together, and prime them; this prime being fired, all the rockets will mount at the same time, and divide themselves as far as the firings will allow; which division they will keep, provided they are all rammed alike, and well made. These sort of rockets, are called by some, chained-rockets.

Of Signal Sky Rockets.

Signal-rockets are made of several sorts, according to the different signals intended to be given: but in Artificial Fireworks, two sorts are only made use of, which are one with reports, and the other without any thing, except the charge; but those for the use of the Navy and Army, are headed with stars, serpents, &c.――――Rockets which are to be bounced, must have their cases made one and a half or two diameters longer, than the common proportion, and after they are filled, drive in a double quantity of clay, then bounce and pinch them, after the usual manner, and fix on each a cap.

Signal sky rockets without bounces, are nothing more than common sky rockets, closed and caped: rockets of this sort are very light, therefore do not require such heavy sticks as those with loaded heads, for which reason, you may cut one length of the rocket, off the stick, or else make them thinner.

Signal rockets with reports, are sometimes fired in small flights, and often both these and those without reports, are used, for a signal, to begin firing a collection of works; and occasionally, for many other purposes.

How to fix two or more Sky Rockets on one stick.

Two, three, or six sky rockets, fixed on one stick, and fired together, make a grand and beautiful appearance; for the tails of all will seem but as one of an immense size, and the breaking of so many heads at once, will resemble the bursting of an air ballóón; but the management of this device, requires a skilful hand; therefore for the encouragement of those who are fond of curious performances, I shall give such instructions, that, if well observed, even by those who have not made a great progress in this art, there will be no doubt, of the rockets having the desired effect.

Rockets for this purpose, must be made with the greatest exactness, all rammed by the same hand, in the same mould, and out of the one proportion of composition; and after they are filled and headed, must all be of the same weight; the stick must also be well made, (and proportioned) according to the following directions: first supposing your rockets to be half pounders, whose sticks are six feet six inches long, then if two, three, or six of these are to be fixed on one stick, let the length of it, be nine feet nine inches, then cut the top of it, into as many sides, as there are rockets, and let the length of each side be equal to the length of one of the rockets without its head; and in each side, cut a groove (as usual,) then from the grooves, plane it round, down to the bottom, where its thickness must be equal to half the top of the round part. As the thickness of these sort of sticks, cannot be exactly ascertained, I shall give a rule which generally answers, for any number of rockets above two: the rule is this; that the stick at top, must be thick enough when the grooves are cut, for all the rockets to lay, without pressing each other, though as near together as possible.

When only two rockets, are to be fixed on one stick, let the length of the stick be, according to the last given proportion, but shaped after the common method, and the breadth and thickness, double the dimensions, given in the table page, 94. The point of poise, must be in the usual place, (let the number of rockets be what they will): if sticks made by the above directions, should be too heavy, plane them thinner; and if too light, make them thicker; but always make them of the same length.

When more than two rockets, are tied on one stick, there will be some danger, of their flying up without the stick, unless the following precaution be taken, for cases being placed on all sides, there can be no notches, for the cord which ties on the rockets, to lay in; therefore instead of notches, drive a small nail, in each side of the stick, between the necks of the cases; and let the cord which goes round their necks, be brought close under the nails; by this means, the rockets will be as secure, as when tied on singly. Your rockets being thus fixed, carry a quick-match without a pipe, from the mouth of one rocket to the other; this match being lighted will give fire to all the rockets at once.

Notwithstanding the directions already given, may be sufficient, for the management of those sort of rockets; I shall here add an improvment, of my own, on a very essential part of this device, which is, that of hanging the rockets, to be fired; for before I hit upon the following method, many of my essays, proved unsuccessful; but to prevent such perplexities, instead of the old and common manner of hanging them on nails or hooks, make use of this contrivance, have a ring made of strong iron wire, large enough for the stick to go in, as far as the mouths of the rockets, then let this ring be supported by a small iron, at some distance, from the post or stand, to which it is fixed; then have another ring, fit to receive and guide the small end of the stick; rockets thus suspended will have nothing to obstruct their fire; but when they are hung on nails or hooks, in such a manner, that some of their mouths, are against or upon a rail, there can be no certainty of their rising, in a vertical direction.

Of Sky Rockets without sticks.

To fire rockets without sticks, you must have a stand made in this manner; get a block of wood, one foot diameter or there abouts, and make the bottom of it flat, so that it may stand steady; in the center of the top of this block, draw a circle two inches and a half diameter, and divide the circumference of it into three equal parts; then take three pieces of thick iron wire, each about three feet in length, and drive them into the block, one at each point made on the circle; when these wires, are drove in, deep enough to hold them fast, and upright, so that the distance from one to the other, be the same at top, as at bottom, the stand is compleat.

The stand being thus made, prepare your rockets after the following method; take some common sky rockets, of any size, and head them as you please, then get some balls of lead, and tie to each a small wire, two, or two feet and a half long, and the other end of each wire, tie to the neck of a rocket; these balls answer the purpose of sticks, when made of a proper weight, which is about two thirds the weight of the rocket; but when they are of a proper size, they will ballance the rocket in the same manner as a stick, at the usual point of poize. To fire these sort of rockets, hang them, one at a time, between the tops of the wires, letting their heads rest on the points of the wires, and the balls hang down between them; if the wires should be too wide, for the rockets, press them together, till they sit, and if too close, force them open: the wires for this purpose, must be softened, so as not to have any spring, or they will not keep their position, when pressed close or opened.

Of Rain-falls for Sky Rockets, Double and Single.

Gold and silver rain composition, are drove in cases, that are pinched quite close at one end; if you roll them dry, four or five rounds of paper will be strong enough, but if the are pasted, three rounds will do, and the thin sort of cartridge paper is best for those small cases; which in rolling you must not turn down the inside edge, as in other cases, for a double edge would be too thick for so small a bore; the moulds for rain falls, should be made of brass, and turned very smooth in the inside; or the cases, which are so very thin, would tear in coming out, for the charge must be drove in tight; and the better the case sits the mould, the more driving it will bare. These moulds have no nipple, but instead of which they are made flat; as it would be very tedious and troublesome, to shake the composition out of such small ladles, as are used for these cases; it will be necessary to have a funnel made of thin tin, to fit on the top of the case, by the help of which you may fill them very fast; for single rain falls for four ounce rockets, let the diameter of the former be two sixteenths of an inch, and the length of the case two inches; for eight ounce rockets, four sixteenths, and two diameters of the rocket long; for one pound rocket five sixteenths, and two diameters of the rocket long; for two pound rockets, five sixteenths, and three inches a half long; for four pound rockets, six sixteenths, and four inches and a half long; and for six pounders, seven sixteenths diameter, and five inches long.

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.