Pyrotechnics: The History and Art of Firework Making
CHAPTER XI
THE CIVIL USE OF FIREWORKS
The utility of fireworks and the number of purposes to which they have been applied are far greater than most people imagine, both at sea, where possibly their usefulness is most fully exploited, on land, and since the war and its consequent developments of aeronautics, in the air.
Firework signals at sea are used in almost endless variety for the purpose of identifying vessels at night. Each shipping line has its own signal or signals, which are fired on such occasions as when passing Lloyd’s signal stations. These signals consist of hand lights, Roman candles, rockets, or Coston lights. The last-mentioned is a small hand light which is arranged to burn with either one colour or two or more colours in succession. This signal is used by the majority of foreign vessels. The signal used may be either lights burnt singly or together, or a light or lights burnt in combination with Roman candles or rockets. By making use of the various combinations a great number and variety of signals have been arrived at: a few typical examples will illustrate the kind of signals used.
The Zud-Amerika Lyn of Amsterdam burns a white light at stern, green at bridge and blue at bow. The White Star have a green light at bow and green at stern. W. Johnston and Co., a green light followed by a Roman candle, throwing three red and three blue stars, followed by a white light. The Aberdeen have a red light followed by a Roman candle, throwing red, white and blue stars three times successively, shown from aft. J. L. Burnham and Co., a blue light changing to white, then to red, followed by a red star.
The Cunard Line, off the coast of Ireland, fire a blue light followed by two golden star rockets. The Ulster Steamship Co. fire three vertical lights, yellow, blue and red, followed by two Roman candles fired together, each throwing two yellow, two blue and two red stars.
These examples will give some idea of the variety of signals used; they are often followed by another signal, or rather have a suffix which if fired has a particular meaning. For instance, a red light after the signal may mean “All’s well,” or a green may signify a wish to communicate. Some lines bring the whistle into the signal and combine long and short blasts with pyrotechnic signals.
Besides the house signals there are some generally accepted signals used by all vessels. A blue light is the signal for a pilot in all waters, except those of the United States. It is curious, however, that no universal pyrotechnic signal of distress has yet been arranged, although in 1889 Mr. F. Crundall endeavoured to get a standard distress signal recognised by shipping throughout the world. This signal, which consisted of a Roman candle surrounded at the mouth by four lights which burnt simultaneously with it, was demonstrated before the Board of Trade, and was distinguishable across the Channel at Dover, but was, however, not universally adopted.
Another extensive field use of pyrotechnic signals at sea is in the fishing industry. Lights and rockets are used to communicate between vessels of the fishing fleets and with the carriers.
The use of such signals by the coastguard and the Lifeboat Institution and at harbours and ports throughout the world is also very great.
Another pyrotechnic store of the greatest utility is the line-carrying rocket, a device which has been responsible for the saving of thousands of lives.
The credit for suggesting this use of the rocket appears to belong to a Mr. Trengouse, of Cornwall. This was in 1807. The proposal did not, however, make as much headway as it should have done, owing to the fact that Capt. Manley had that year introduced a device with a similar purpose, the line being carried by a shot fired from a mortar. This idea had been previously worked out by a Sergt. Bell of the Royal Artillery and by La Fère, a Frenchman, the two working independently.
The Manley apparatus was officially adopted, and stations established at forty-five positions round the coast.
The rocket method was, however, revived in 1826 by a Mr. Dennett, of Newport, Isle of Wight, and four stations were established on the island for the use of rockets of his pattern. The advantages of the rocket over the shot apparatus are obvious—the lightness and mobility of the rocket trough as compared with a mortar, the fact that the rocket traces its own flight, which can be seen and followed even at night, not to mention greater simplicity in working. However, it was not until 1855, when a rocket of greater range was invented by Col. Boxer, of the Royal Laboratory, that the rocket as a line carrier came into its own.
The Boxer rocket consisted actually of two rocket cases joined head to tail, and so arranged that when the first case had burnt out it was blown off, and the second gave renewed impetus. This rocket is still in use at the Board of Trade rocket stations.
A further development of the line-carrying rocket which is making rapid headway is a compact apparatus designed for use on the wrecked vessel to carry a line to the shore.
This system has two great advantages, namely, the target is so much greater when firing from the ship, consisting as it does of the whole coast line, whereas the ship forms in comparison an insignificant mark from the shore. Again, a vessel is generally wrecked on a lee shore, so that in firing from the ship the rocket travels with the wind.
Both the Brock and Schermuley systems are designed for this purpose, and there is little doubt that in a few years all vessels will carry their own means of establishing communication with the shore.
As a further development of the line-carrying rocket, it is interesting to note that Congreve, in association with Lieut. J. M. Colquhoun, took out a patent for the use of the rocket as a harpoon in whale fishing, which, if it proved satisfactory in use, must have been a marked advance, especially as this was before the advent of the now universally used harpoon gun.
Another pyrotechnic invention responsible for the saving of many lives is the Hale’s Light apparatus. This apparatus is fitted to a lifebuoy, which is arranged for launching from a vessel’s bridge; the act of launching ignites a flare, enabling the person in the water to see the buoy and the rescuing boat to pick them up.
The practical use to which fireworks have been put on land are many. Probably that which comes most readily to the mind is the sound signal or alarm. Many fire brigades whose members are volunteers and therefore scattered use aerial maroons to warn and call them for duty. These maroons became familiar to Londoners during the air raid period in the late war.
The maroon has also been adopted for firing with a trip line as a burglar alarm, or for protecting game preserves or similar purposes.
Another well-known pyrotechnic sound signal is the fog signal used on the railways, which consists of a tinned iron envelope containing a mixture of chlorate of potash and red phosphorus. It is secured in position on the rail by two lead clips provided for the purpose, and is fired by percussion on the impact of the engine wheel. Bird scarers, consisting of a series of single crackers connected by a time fuse, and so arranged as to fire at regular intervals, have been much used for the protection of seed and crops.
The miner’s squib and chieza stick or fuse lighter are to all intents port-fires for lighting the fuse in blasting operations in mines, their form and composition being adapted to the particular circumstances of their use.
The use of pyrotechnic compositions for photographic purposes is well known; those in use at the present generally contain magnesium, which has greater actinic value than any other firework composition.
Magnesium lights fitted up to fire with a trip line have been successfully used for obtaining photographs of big game in their native surroundings at night.
Smoke pyrotechnically produced has for several years been used for the testing of drains, and recently successful experiments have been carried out establishing the value of smoke as a protection for fruit blossom against frost.
It has also been used as an insecticide for use against various kinds of parasites; a poisonous smoke has been found of great use in the dislodging and exterminating of rats.
Another agricultural use of pyrotechnic, or in this case perhaps more correctly explosive composition, is the use of explosive cartridges for ploughing; that is, cartridges are exploded at a certain depth in the ground, the effect being to break up the subsoil. The explosive used is a mild and cheap form of dynamite.
The use of rockets and other explosive fireworks for producing rain has been much discussed recently. Many writers deny the possibility of success by such means. There cannot be the slightest doubt, however, that given clouds in the right condition and altitude it is quite possible to cause rain. The writer has seen it done, not once but many times; generally it must be admitted when the rain was not wanted. Maroons fired in wide-mouthed mortars have been used on the Continent for some years to break up hail clouds and bring them down in the form of rain over the vineyards, where a hail storm is a serious calamity to the wine grower.
The use of pyrotechnic signals in connection with aerial travel is gradually increasing. The stores used are practically those evolved and adopted during the great war, modified in some cases to suit peace time requirements, but substantially they are those described in the chapter on Military Pyrotechny.
LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL INGREDIENTS USED IN PYROTECHNY AT THE PRESENT TIME.
_Force and Sparks Compositions._
Saltpetre Sulphur Charcoal Mealed Gunpowder Iron Borings Steel Filings Zinc Filings Aluminium and Alloys Magnesium and Alloys Lampblack Orpiment (Sulphide of Arsenic) Black Antimony (Sulphide of Antimony)
_Chlorate Colour Compositions._
Chlorate of Potash or Perchlorate of Potash.
{ Nitrate of Strontia Red { Carbonate „ „ { Sulphate „ „
{ Nitrate of Baryta Green { Chlorate „ „ { Carbonate „ „
{ Carbonate of Copper Blue { Sulphide „ „ { Arsenite „ „ { Calomel „ „
Yellow { Oxalate of Soda { Carbonate „ „
For extra brightness Magnesium added.
Secondary tints obtained by mixtures of the above.
_Non-Chlorate Colour Compositions._
Saltpetre Sulphur Charcoal Black Antimony White Arsenic Orpiment Aluminium Magnesium Sulphate of Copper Borax
_Burnables._
Shellac Pitch Sterine Paraffin Sugar of Milk Linseed Oil
_Agglutinants._
Shellac and Spirit Starch Paste Gum Water Linseed Oil Dextrine
_Sound Producing._
Gunpowder Gun-cotton Picrate of Potash Chlorate of Potash Aluminium
PYROTECHNIC BIBLIOGRAPHY
_Manuscripts_
1225. Treatise of the Ruses of War, the capturing of Towns and the Defence of Passes, according to the instructions of Alexander son of Philip (in the Leyden Library).
1432. Feuerwerksbuch (MS. 362 in the University Library of Freiburg i. B.).
1438. (about). Latin Manuscript, with enumeration of materials for all fires (No. 197 in the Royal Library, Munich).
_Printed Books_
1529. Strassburg. Anonymous: Buchsenmeisterei von Geschoss, Buchsenpulver, Salpeter und Feuerwerk.
1540. Venice. Vanuccio Biringuccio: De la pirotechnia.
1573. London. Peter Whitehorne: How to make Saltpetre, Gunpowder, etc.
1578. William Bourne: Inventions and Devices.
1579. Leonard Diggs: Stratistico.
1588. London. Cyprian Lucar: Lucar Appendix, collected to shew the Properties, Office and Dutie of a Gunner, and to teach him to make and refine artificial Saltpeeter to sublime for Gunpowder, etc. (annexed to a translation of Tartagalia’s book).
1591. London. Anonymous: A profitable and Necessary Book of Observations for all those that are burned with the flame of Gunpowder, etc.
1607. Argentorati (Strassburg) Albertus Magnus: De mirabilibus mundi.
1614. Diego Ufano: Artillery.
_c._ 1620. W. Eldred: The Gunners Glasse.
1628. Robert Norton: The Gunner.
1629. F. Malthus (Francois de Malthe): Treatise of Artificial Fireworks.
1630. Pont-à-Mousson. Jean Appier, alias Hanzelet: La Pyrotechnie.
1635. London. John Bate: Mysteries of Nature and Art. The Second Book teaching most plainly and withall most exactly the composing of all manner of Fireworks for Tryumph and Recreation.
1635. London. John Babington: Pyrotechnia.
1643. Robert Norton: The Gunners Dialogue.
1648. Worcester, Nathanael Nye: The Art of Gunnery.
1650. Casimir Siemienowitz: Great Art of Artillery. (Translated into English by George Shelvocke in 1729.)
1698. Hafniae (Copenhagen). (?) Winter: De pulvere Pyrio. Recreation.
1707 & 1747. Paris. Frézier: Traité des Feux d’Artifice.
1710. Frankfort. (?) Sinceri: Salpetersieder und Feuerwerker.
1735. Paris. Jean Baptiste Du-Halde: Description géographique historique, Chronologique et physique de l’empire de la Chine et de la Tartarie chinoise.
1740. Paris. Perinet-d’Orval: Essay sur les Feux d’Artifice.
1755. Frankfort. Anonymous: Der Wohlerfahrne Salpetersieder und Feuerwerker.
1765 & 1776. London. Lieut. Robert Jones: A new Treatise on Artificial Fireworks.
1801 & 1821. Paris. Claude-Fortuné Ruggieri: Elémens de Pyrotechnie.
1807. Leipsig. Die Pyrotechnie nach der Vorschriften von Claude Ruggieri und Thomas Morel.
1812. Paris. Claude-Fortuné Ruggieri: Pyrotechnie Militaire.
1824. London. G. W. Mortimer: A Manual of Pyrotechny.
1824. Strassburg. J. Ravichio de Peretsdorf: Traité de pyrotechnie militaire, contenant tous les artifices de guerre en usage en Autriche.
1836. Bruxelles. Capt. Moritz Meyer (translated into French by Lieut. Hippert): Pyrotechnie Raisonnée.
1845. Madrid. D’Antonio Bermejo: Manual de pirotechnica militar.
1845. Paris. Joseph Toussaint Reinaud and General Ildephonse Favé: Histoire de l’artillerie. 1^{ère} partie. Du feu grégois des feu de guerre et des origines de la poudre à canon.
1847. Paris. Joseph Toussaint Reinaud and General Ildephonse Favé: Controverse à propose de feu grégois. Réponse aux objections de L. Lalanne.
1850. Breslau. Martin Websky: Schule der Lustfeuerwerkerei.
1854. Paris. F. M. Chertier: Nouvelles recherches sur les feux d’artifice.
1859. London. Abridgments of the Specifications relating to Fire-Arms, etc.
1864. Philadelphia. G. Dussauce: A Practical Treatise on the Fabrication of Matches, Gun-Cotton, Coloured Fires and Fulminating Powders.
1865. London. “Practicus”: Pyrotechny, or The Art of Making Fireworks.
1865. Paris. A. D. & P. Vergnaud: 1^{ère} Partie, Pyrotechnie militaire. 2^{ième} Partie, Pyrotechnie Civile.
1865. London. Richardson & Watts: Chemical Technology.
_c._ 1870. London. “Practicus”: Manual of Pyrotechny.
1876. Paris. E. Désortiaux: La poudre, les corps explosifs et la pyrotechnie. Traduction des ouvrages des docteurs Upmann et Meyer.
1878. Paris. A. Lamarre: Nouveau manuel de l’artificier, ou traité pratique pour la fabrication des feux de couleurs, etc.
1878. Washington. Major James M. Whittemore and Lieut. F. Heath: Ammunition, Fuses, Primers, Military Pyrotechny, etc.
1878. London. Thomas Kentish: The Pyrotechnists’ Treasury.
1880. London. Dr. W. H. Browne: Practical Firework-Making for Amateurs.
1882. Paris. Amédée Denisse: Traité pratique complet des feux d’artifice.
1883. Paris. Paul Tessier: Chimie pyrotechnique, ou traité pratique des feux colorés.
1884. Hull. Dr. W. H. Browne: Firework Accidents.
1885. Erfurt. Oscar Frey: Die Feuerwerkskunst.
1891. Paris. Marcelin Berthelot: Les compositions incendiares dans l’antiquité et au moyen age. Le feu grégois et les origines de la poudre à canon. (_Revue des Deux Mondes._)
1893. Trieste. Domenico Antoni: Trattato Teorico—Practico de Pirotecnia Civile.
1895. London. Oscar Guttman: The Manufacture of Explosives.
1896. London. Warwick Wroth, F.S.A.: The London Pleasure Gardens of the Eighteenth Century.
1906. Woolwich. Col. J. R. J. Jocelyn: The connection of the Ordnance Department with National and Royal Fireworks.
1909. London. The Rise and Progress of the British Explosives Industry.
1915. London. Lieut.-Col. H. W. L. Hime: The Origin of Artillery.
_Encyclopædias, Periodicals, etc._
1753. Chambers’ Cyclopædia.
1802. English Encyclopædia.
1830. Brewster’s Cyclopædia—MacCullock.
1865. Boys’ Own Volume: Papers on Pyrotechny, “Practicus.” Encyclopædia Britannica.
1886. The Techno-Chemical Receipt Book. Brannt & Wahl.
1921. Harmsworth Universal Encyclopædia. A. St. H. Brock.
INDEX
Abdulla, 15
Aberdeen Line, 174
Abridgments, Patent Office, 165
Absent-minded Beggar, 53
Abusavanani, 11
Accidents, 74, 77, 78, 79, 81, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87
Acetate of copper, 145
Adirvedis, 10
Admiralty, 169
Aerial maroons, 109
Aeroplane signal lights, 172
Aix, Island of, 160
Aix-la-Chapelle, 28, 45, 123
Albertus Magnus, 14, 91
Alcohol, 130, 147
Alexander the Great, 6
Alexander II, 46
Alexandra Palace, 38
Alexandria, 48
Alphonso, Duke, 15
Alum, 146
Aluminium, 150, 173
Amber, 140, 146
America, 161
Ammonium chloride, 129, 142
Angelo, Mr., 33
Antimony, 139
Antimony sulphide, 146
Antoine de Lalaing, 15
Antoni, 149
Aqua ardens, 141
„ vitæ, 125, 140
Arabic gum, 150
Arc de Triomphe, 50
Arctic regions, 52
Arsenal, Woolwich, 43
Arsenic sulphide, 10, 146
Arthur’s Seat, 45
Artichauts, 118
Artifices portatifs, 112
Artillerists’ Manual, 149
Artillery bomb, 105
Astley, senior, 36, 37
Avalanche, 50
Augustin, Col., 160
Austrian Government, 161
„ Army, 161
Babington, John, 26, 92, 96, 103, 110, 111, 121, 140
Bacon, Roger, 14, 91
Bagdad, 7
Bags, 110
Bailey, Bill, 53
Balloon, Air, 103
„ Fire, 60
„ Gas, 103
„ Coehorne, 107
„ double and triple, 107
Balloone, 104
Balon, 105
Bate, John, 17, 27, 91, 96, 103, 104, 112, 122, 123, 140, 141
Baton à feu, 117
Battle, Bantry Bay, 49
„ Jutland, 49
„ Nile, 40, 49
„ Trafalgar, 48, 49
„ Tsu-Shima, 49
Beacon, signal, 157
Beaconsfield, 51
Beckman, Sir Martin, 27
Bell, Sergeant, 177
Bell’s Weekly Messenger, 63
Belvue Gardens, 38
Benedict, Oil of, 140
Bengal lights, 120
„ saltpetre, 120, 136
Bergheri, Victory of, 22
Berlin, 159
Bermondsey Spa, 36
Berthollet, 144
Bird scarers, 178
Bismuth, 146
Black antimony, 139
Black Jack, 97
Blackmore, 33
Blaney, Lord, 42
Blantyre, Africa, 55
Blondin, 52
Blowing charge, 114
Blue devil, 97
Blue vitriol, 129
Bobb’s Hall Tavern, 36
Boiled oil, 140
Boleyn, Anne, 16
Bomb, Artillery, 105
„ Firework, 105
„ Rocket, 159
„ Thermit, 172
„ War, 105
Bombardment, Alexandria, 48
„ Canton, 49
„ Sebastopol, 49
Bombay, 39, 55
Bombshell, 15, 103
Bone ash, 146
Bonfire, 24, 58
Bordeaux, 158
Borings, Iron, 98
Boulogne Harbour, 159
Bounced lances, 128
Bounces, 97, 99
Bouquets, 127
Bourne, William, 162
Bow, 161
Boxer, R.A., Lt.-Col., 67, 177
Boxing kangaroo, 52
Boxing match, 51
Boyers, Captain, 160
Brand, Peter, 15
Bridge of Louis XVI, 42
Bright composition, 120
Brilliant fire, 133, 138
Brittany, Duke of, 21
Brock, 34, 36
„ Arthur, 48, 78
„ Charles Thomas, 46, 54, 68
„ C. T., & Co., 166, 178
„ F. A., Wing Comdr., 166
„ William, 33, 37, 46, 63, 115
Brooklyn Bridge, 55
Burglar alarm, 178
Burgundy, Duke of, 21
Burnham, J. L., & Co., 175
Bursting Charge, 108
Burusu, 11
Burying mortars, 87
Cadiz, 160
Caillot, 33, 35
Calaminaris, Lapis, 141
Calcium phosphide, 153
Calcutta, 55
Calcutta Journal, 161
Callao, 160
Calomel, 143
Camphor, 140, 146
Canton, Bombardment of, 49
Cap, Rocket, 96
Caprice, 132, 133
Caps, Percussion, 67
Carbonate of soda, 146
Carcasses, 156
Carpet piece, 127
Cascades, 30, 126
Cases, 71; Wood, 105; Turning, 126; Bamboo, 4; Rocket, 93; Cap for, 125; Iron, 159
Cast iron, pulverised, 141
Cat fight, 52
Cathedral, Salisbury, 50
„ Worcester, 50
Catherine wheel, 118, 119
Cenotaph, 30
Cetewayo, King, 50
Chaillot Barriere, 42
Challoner, Sir Thomas, 18
Chambers’ Encyclopædia, 156
Champs Elysées, 42
Chandelle romain, 113
Chandrajota, 11
Charcoal, 3, 7, 11, 14, 95, 96, 98, 99, 100, 114, 115, 116, 118, 119, 138
Charging, 71
Charging tools for rocket, 92
Charles II, Coronation, 27
Charles XI of Sweden, 24
Chateau Grand display, 21
Cherbourg, 43
Chertier, F. M., 146, 149, 150
Chesapeake and Shannon, 49
Chester accident, Pen., U.S.A., 83
„ Races, 17
Chiesa stick, 179
Chinese crackers, 8, 10
„ displays, 89, 99
„ fire, 4, 8, 11, 98
„ flyer, 116
„ tree, 97, 98
Chlorate accidents, 74, 85, 86
Chlorates and sulphur, 145
Chlorate of potash, 10, 74, 77, 84, 85, 86, 87, 144, 146
Chloride of ammonium, 142
Choke of a case, 94
Chromatrope, 131
Cinnabar, 146
Civil and military pyrotechny, 57
Civita Vecchia accident, 83
Clanfield, 34, 35
Clariner of Nuremberg, 20
Clarke, W., 37
Classification of pieces, 126
Claudius, 13
Clayed, 110
Clay choke, 94
Cleats, 125
Clifton Zoological Gardens, 38
Clithero, 33, 34, 35, 36, 61
Clubs, 112
„ Fire, 17
Coal (mineral), 146
Coastguard, 176
Cobalt oxide, 146
Cobonell & Sons, 37
Cochrane, Admiral, 160
Cockerill, 65
Coehorn Balloon, 107
Collins, Lottie, 53
Colombo, 55
“Colossus,” torpedo boat attack, 49
Coloured military smoke, 172
„ stars, 11, 113
Colour case, 119
„ cloud shells, 8
Colquhoun, Lt., 178
Columbus Centenary, 55
Comet, 108
Competition, Firework, 46
Composition, Bright, 120; Flare, 11; Golden Fountain, 110; for Rockets, 93, 95
„ Incendiary, 156; magnesium flash, 17
„ Slow, 103
Compositions, Pyrotechnic, 138
Compound fireworks, 121
Cone, Paper, 108
Cones, 28
Congreve, 41
Congreve, Sir W., 158, 159, 160, 161, 162
Constantinople, Defence of, 7
Copenhagen, 160
Copper, 142, 143
„ acetate, 129, 142
„ sulphate, 129, 142, 146
Coronation of Alexander II, 46
„ George IV, 41
„ Victoria, 41
„ William IV, 41
Coston light, 175
Cotton, Madame, 66
Cotton wick, 125
Courantins, 123
Court, 162
Covent Garden, 28
Crackers, 13, 14, 58, 91, 92, 110, 112
Cremorne Gardens, 37, 38
Crimean War, Peace Rejoicings, 43
Cromwell Gardens, 36
Crude antimony, 139
Crundall, Mr. F., 174
Crusaders, 15
Crystal Palace displays, 38, 46, 68, 108, 119, 128
Cullen, Peter van, 15
Cunard Line, 176
Cylindrical shell, 105
Dallas accident, 83
Dantzic, 160
Danube, 55
Darby, 66
Dark fire, 114
Dauphin 1730, 21
„ 1782, 22
Delhi, Mosque at, 50
“De Miribilibus Mundi,” 14
Denisse, 149
Denmark, 157
„ King of, 18
Dennett, Mr., 176
D’Ernst, 41
Devil, Blue, 97
Diamond Jubilee, 55
“Dictionnaire Morbilier Français,” 154
Dijon, 20
Dillar, 37
Display, Calcutta, 55
„ Chinese, 21, 89, 99
„ Crystal Palace, 38, 46, 68, 108, 119, 128
Display, Delhi, 55
„ fireworks, 84
„ Guards, 35
„ Portsmouth Fleet, 45
Distress signal, 175
Don Pedro, 14
Double and triple balloons, 107
„ line-rockets, 123
„ tourbillions, 117
„ triangle wheel, 131
Dover, Attack on, 46
Dragon, 16
Drain tester, 178
Dreadnought, 49
Drewett, 65
Drift, 72, 94
Dubbing, 119
Duffel, 38
Dunnet, Sergeant, 160
Dunois, 158
Dutens, 14
“E” Smoke Float, 168
Eagle, The, 37
Edinburgh, 45
Edward, Prince of Wales, 55
Eider, Wreck of the, 50
Elizabeth, Princess, 30
„ Queen, 18
Elvetham, 18
Emperor, 1853, Fête of the, 43
Emperor’s birthday, 1859, 43
Empress of India, 55
Encyclopedia, English, 113
„ Military, 107
Entente Cordiale, 43, 55
Erith explosion, 67, 68
Eruption of Mt. Etna, 34
Eton, 56
Etoupille, 125
Evelyn, John, 19, 28
“Everyday Book,” Hone’s, 56, 59
Experiments at Nunhead, 68
Explosives Acts, 68, 69
„ magazine, 67
„ ploughing, 178
Factory rules, 69
Fair, Postdown, 32
Fairbanks, Douglas, 50
Falcon Court firework maker, 59
Falling rocket sticks, 87
Feather, 119
Ferrara, Duke of, 15
Festivals, religious, 11
Fête, Imperial, 55
„ of the Emperor, 1853, 43
Fêtes, Baptismal, 1856, 43
„ Military, 1852, 43
Feux croises, 127
Filings, Steel, 141
Filling, 71
Finch’s Grotto Gardens, 36
Fine-grain powder, 99, 114
Fire, 4
„ balloons, 60
„ brilliant, 133, 138
„ Chinese, 4, 8, 11, 98
„ clubs, 17
„ Drake, 92
„ Greek, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 153, 154, 156
„ lances, 112
„ pumps, 112, 113; wheels, 122
„ spur, 139
„ torches, 26
„ wild, 16
Fireball, 156
Fires, 43
Firework, 16, 17
„ accidents, 74, 77, 78, 79, 81, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87
„ bomb, 105
„ competition, 46
„ license, 67
„ manufacture, 57
Fireworks, Aerial, 7
„ compound, 121
„ daylight, 8
„ display, 84
„ illegal, 57
„ living, 51
„ on water, 24, 28, 39
„ philosophical, 37
„ Swedish, 23
„ water, 101
Fishing signals, 176
Fitzmaurice, 162
Five-pointed star, 99
Fixed sun, 29, 122, 123
Fixt, 98
Fizgigs, 97, 106, 110, 111
Flannel bag, 108
Flash composition, 178
Fleet at the Nore, 39
Flessingen, 160
Flights of rockets, 44
Flint, 4
Florence, 19
Flower pot, 97, 98, 99
Fog signal, 177
Fountains, 41, 97, 98, 115
Four and a half inch shell, 107, 108
“Fourth of June,” 56
Frame of quickmatch, 67, 125
Frames, lancework, 129
Frazer, Sir Augustus, 41
Frederick (Elector Palatine), Prince, 24
Frey, Oscar, 149
Frézier, 20, 95, 111, 112, 114, 117, 122, 123, 140, 161
Fulminate of mercury, 67
Funnel and wire, 71
Furiloni, 133
Fuse, lighter, 178
„ Roman candle, 114
„ safety, 124
„ time, 104, 105, 108, 109
Fusée de table, 118
Gand, 158
Garden, Covent, 28
Garden of the Senate, 42
Gardens, Belvue, 38
„ Bermondsey Spa, 36
„ Clifton Zoo, 38
„ Cremorne, 37, 38
„ Cromwell, 36
„ Finch’s Grotto, 36
„ Marylebone, 34
„ Mermaid, 37
„ Mulberry, 35
„ North Woolwich, 37
„ Rosherville, 37
„ Surrey Zoo, 38, 43, 45
„ Tea and Pleasure, 30, 31, 32
„ Yorkshire Stingo, 37
Garnier, 161
Garniture, 11, 87, 96
Gas balloon, 103
„ poison, 156
Genovini, Signor, 36
George III, 39, 56
George IV, Coronation of, 41
Gerb, 41, 44, 97, 98, 99, 127, 134, 139
German Petre, 136
Gibraltar, Siege of, 48
Girande, 123
Girandole, 122, 134
Gironels, 122
Globe, The, 37
Glogau, 160
Glorys, 127
God Save the Queen, 44
Gola, 10
Golden fountain composition, 110
„ rain, 97, 99
„ streamers, 44
“Good-bye, Dolly Grey,” 53
“Good-bye, my Bluebell,” 53
Goodship, Mr., 61
Graecus, Marcus, 13, 91
Grain powder, 99, 103, 106, 114
Granules, 115
Greek fire, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 153, 154, 156
Green man, 17
„ Park, The, 28, 40, 41, 43, 112
„ Orlando Furioso, 91
Gregorini, Signor, 54
Gregory, Bill, 54
Grenade, 156
„ signal, Rifle, 172
Grey, Captain, 172
Griffiths, F. A., 149
Ground light balls, 157
„ rockets, 97
„ wheels, 121
Guards display, 45
Guilloché, 21, 132
Gun-cotton wad, 96
Gunpowder, 3, 5, 6, 13, 14, 15, 75, 96, 98, 103, 140
„ Acts, 58, 67
„ Mealed, 96, 99, 100, 106, 116, 118, 119
Guttman, Oscar, 153
Gyngell, 38
Hague, The, 28
Hail dispersers, 179
Hale, 161
Hale’s Light apparatus, 178
„ 24-pounder rocket, 161
Hammerslag, 141
Hand lights signal, 175
Hanselet, 158
Harold Wood Factory, 75
Hawai, 11
Heading, 94
„ clay, 96
Heath, Mr., of Boston, 161
Hengler, 33
„ Madame, 62
Henry II, 20
Henry, M., 36
Henry VIII, 15
Hilton, 40
Hime, Col. H. W. L., 153, 154
Hindoo pyrotechnists, 10
Hippert, Lieutenant, 145
History of colleges, 27
Home Office, 84
Hone, William, 56, 59
“Honeysuckle and the Bee,” 53
Hoogstraten, Count of, 15
Horizontal wheel, 121, 133
Hornpipe, 52
Hotel de Ville, Paris, 21, 22, 42
House on fire, 52
Howard, 40
Hull, 37
Hutstein and Websky, 149
Hyde Park, 40, 41, 43, 56
Hyder Ali, 159
Hyperoxymuriate of potash, 144
Ignium, Liber, 13, 14
Illegal Fireworks, 57
Illuminations, 28, 32, 39, 41
Imperial Fête, Danube, 55
“Implacable,” 49
Incendiary, composition, 156
„ rocket, 159, 160
„ shell, 156
„ thermalloy, 172
India, 55, 159
Insecticide fumigators, 178
Inspector, H.M., 10
Invalides, Les, 42
Invetto, Mrs., 61
Iron, 138
„ borings, 98
„ cast, pulverised, 141
„ dust, 11
„ filings, 8, 98, 141
„ magnetic oxide, 141
Iron oxide, mineral, 146
„ pyrites, 4
„ sand, 98
„ scales, 140, 141
Italian streamer, 113, 114
Italians, 18, 21
Ivory, 146
Jack and the Beanstalk, 52
Jack-in-the-box, 110
Jaipur, 55
Jamaica House, 36
James I, 24
James II, 27
Jebb, Dr., 14
Jenny’s Whim, 36
Jesuit missionary, 98
Jewel fountain, 115
Johnson & Co., 174
Johnson, Dr., 35
Jones, Lieutenant, 31, 111, 112, 113, 117, 118, 133, 134, 139, 141
Jubilee, 55
„ 1809, 39
„ Naval Review, 49
Jumping cracker, 91
Jutland, Battle of, 49
Kenilworth, 18
Kentish, Thomas, 118, 139, 149
King’s birthday, 4th June, 1809, 39
Kingston, Duchess of, 30
Koroo, 10
La Fere, 175
Lamb, Charles, 40
Lampblack, 99, 112, 139, 146
„ compositions, 113
Lance, 112, 119
„ à feu, 112
„ bounced, 128
„ work, 128
Lances, Fire, 112
Lancework frames, 129
Lanterns, 8, 9
Lapis calaminaris, 141
Lattice poles, 127
Leading up, 125
Leipsic, 160
Leo VI, 13
Leo XIII, 20
Les Invalides, 42
Liber Ignium, 13, 14
Licenses for fireworks, 67
Lifeboat Institution, 175
Lifting charge, 104, 108, 109
Light balls, 106
„ ground, 157
„ parachute, 157
Lighter, 108
Lights, Bengal, 120
„ Coston, 175
„ signal, 66
„ signal, hand, 175
„ Very signal, 164, 171, 172
Li Hung Chang, 50
Line-carrying rocket, 176
Line rockets, 26, 50, 97
Linseed oil, 140
Living fireworks, 51
Lloyd’s signal station, 175
London, 28
Longueman, 33
“Lord Cobham’s Head,” 35
Louis XIV, 20, 24
Louis XV, 21
Louis XVI, 22
Louvre, 20
Lushalan, Mr., 62
Lutzelberg, Victory of, 22
Lyceum, 37
Lyons, 20, 21
Machine for fireworks, 28, 34
Macintosh, 162
Madame la Première, 21
Madras, 55
Madura, 55
Magazine fired, 83
Magnesium, 150, 173
„ flash composition, 178
Mahteb, 11
Majendie, K.C.B., Sir V. D., 68
Making crackers, 92
Malaga, 42
Mallet, 72
Manilla Bay, Battle of, 49
Manley, Captain, 176
Manufacture of fireworks, 57
Maori King, 50
Marcus Graecus, 13, 91
Marinari, 34
Maroon, Aerial, 109
Maroons, 43
Marryat, Captain, 32
Marylebone Gardens, 34
Match, 121, 122
„ pipes, 125
„ quick, 108, 124, 125
„ raw, 125
Mealed gunpowder, 96, 99, 100, 106, 116, 118, 119, 125, 138
Mechanical pieces, 53
Mercury fulminate, 67
Mestre, 158
Metz, 162
Meyer, Captain Moritz, 145, 159
Mica, 146
Military coloured smokes, 172
„ Encyclopedia, 107
„ fêtes, 1852, 43
Mine, 110
„ of serpents, 110
„ on wheel, 133
Miners’ squib, 179
Mixing, 73
Mortars, 4, 16, 87, 103, 104, 105, 106, 110
Mortram, 33, 38, 61, 77
Mosaiques, 127
Moscow, 45
Mould for rocket charging, 94
Mulberry Gardens, 35
Munitions, 76
Naphtha, 6
Napoleon, 42
„ Louis, 42
„ Marriage of, 42
Newhaven accident, Conn., U.S.A., 83
New Wells, 35
Nile, Battle of the, 40, 49
Nipple, 98
Nitrate of baryta, 145
„ copper, 145
„ potash, 138
„ strontia, 146
Nitre, 7, 138
Nomenclature of rockets, 94, 95
North Woolwich Gardens, 37
Nunhead experiments, 68
„ factory, 47, 68
Nuremburg, 23
Oil of Benedict, 140
„ petre, 140
„ spike, 140
„ tile, 140
“Old Bull and Bush,” 53
Opening charge, 97
Opus Majus, 14
Orange, Prince of, 27
Order in Council, 69, 74, 78
Orleans, 42, 158
Orpiment, 11, 139, 140
“Out,” 11
Oxide of iron, magnetic, 141
„ mineral, 146
Oxymuriate of potash, 144
Paduans, 158
Palm tree, 127
Paper cone, 108
Paris, 20, 21, 28, 42
„ accident, 83
„ Exhibition, Visit of Queen Victoria, 43
Park, Green, 28, 40, 41, 43, 112
„ Hyde, 40, 41, 43
„ St. James’s, 30, 41
„ Victoria, 43
Parkes, Samuel, 144
Parlby’s rockets, 161
Paste, 106
Pasting in, 129
Pataka, 10
Patent Office Abridgements, 165
Pates d’oie, 127
Peace, 1783, 28
„ 1802, 39
„ 1814, 40
„ Crimean War, 43
„ display, Hyde Park, 56
Pedro, Don, 41
Pegging, 129
Pepys, 27, 92
Percussion caps, 67
Perkins, Jacob, 165
Persia, Shah of, 53
Petard, 92, 112
Petre, Bengal, 136
„ German, 136
„ Oil of, 140
Petroleum, 106
Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, 55
Philippe, Don, of Spain, 21
Philosophical fireworks, 37
Philostratus, 6
Phosphide of calcium, 153
Pian-King Lo Yang, 7
Pickford, Mary, 50
Picrate of potash, 96
Piece, Mechanical, 53
„ Carpet, 127
„ Transformation set, 50
Pieces, Classification of, 126
„ Set, 47, 112
Piercing, 129
Pilot signal, 175
Pin wheel, 118
Pipes, Match, 125
Pitch, 140, 156
Place Royal, 20
Pleasure gardens, 31, 32
Pleissenburg, 23
Ploughing by explosives, 179
Poison gas, 156
„ smoke, Rat, 178
Pompeii, Destruction of, 50
Pont-Andemer, 158
Port Arthur, 49
Portfire, 105, 106, 119
Portsmouth fleet display, 45
Portugal, King of, 55
Postdown Fair, 32
Pot, Flower, 97, 98, 99
Potash, Chlorate of, 10, 74, 77, 84, 85, 86, 87
Pots à feu, 111
„ d’aigrettes, 111
„ de brins, 111
Powder, 97, 99, 103, 106, 114, 140
Practicus, 149
Pretender, Old, 27
Priming powder, 106
„ wet, 119
Primrose Hill, 43
Projectile, 5
Propellant charge, 87
Pumice Stone, 146
Pump (Star), 72
Pumps with stars, 28, 112, 113
Puzzle pictures, 51
Pyramids, 30
Pyrotechnia, 26
Pyrotechnic compositions, 138
Pyrotechnists, Japanese, 7
„ Hindoo, 10
Quebec, Tercentenary of, 55
Quickmatch, 108, 124, 125
„ frame of, 67, 125
Rain, Golden, 97, 99
„ production, 179, 180
Ranelagh, 33, 34, 35, 36
Raw match, 125
“Read’s Weekly Journal,” 157
Recreative fireworks, 97
Regulated pieces, 29, 123
Regulus of antimony, 139
Reports, 28
“Revenge,” 49
Rheims, 20
Richard Cœur de Lion, 15
Richmond, Duke of, 28, 29
Rifle grenade signal, 172
Riswick, 20, 28
Rochelle, 20
“Rocket” and express engine, 54
Rocket cap, 96
„ cases, 93
„ charging, Mould for, 94
„ „ tools, 92
„ composition, 93, 95
„ iron, 159
„ line, 26, 50, 97
„ spindle, 94
„ stick, 11, 87, 96
„ sticks, Falling, 87
„ wheel, 122
Rockets, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 24, 26, 28, 57, 61, 66, 91, 92, 96
„ Congreve’s, 161
„ ground, 97
„ incendiary, 159, 160
„ line-carrying, 176
„ nomenclature of, 94, 95
„ Parlby’s, 161
„ signalling, 145, 175
„ table, 117, 118
„ war, 158, 159
Rolling cases, 71
Roman candle, 28, 41, 44, 111, 113, 114, 127, 133, 134
„ „ fuse, 114
„ „ signal, 175
Rome, 19
Rosherville Gardens, 37
Rosin, 140
Rossi, 33, 34
Rotary rockets, 161, 162
Royal Commission on Fireworks, 68
„ Laboratory, Woolwich, 159
Ruggieri, 21, 22, 42, 103, 108, 112, 113, 118, 123, 124, 126, 128, 129, 131, 132, 134, 142, 143, 161
„ Gaetano, 28, 31, 112
Rules for factory, 69
Russia, 143
Russian war rockets 162
Safety Fuse, 124
Salamander la Rosace, 21
Salamandre, 132
Sal ammoniac, 142
Salisbury Cathedral, 50
Salome, 52
Saltpetre, 3, 7, 11, 14, 95, 96, 98, 100, 114, 115, 116, 118, 119, 138, 139, 156
„ Bengal, 120
Sand, iron, 98
Saqui, Madame, 33
Sarcophagus, 30
Sarti, Gioseppe, 29, 31, 112, 122
Saucissons volans, 106
Saxon, 116, 117, 122
„ wheels, 131
Saxony, Prince of, 23
Schumacher, 160
Sea battle, 48
Seasons, 51
Sebastopol, bombardment, 49
Second lighting, 124
Seine, 22, 24
Sel ammoniac, 129
Serpent, 44
Serpentine, 40
Serpents, 57, 60, 97, 106
Servandoni, Chevalier, 28
Set piece, transformation, 50
Set pieces, 47, 112
Setting down, 94
Seville, King of, 14
Shah, 53
Shakespeare, 16
Shellac, 149
Shell, incendiary, 156
Shells, 4, 8, 11, 15, 28, 44, 103, 105, 108
Siam, 11
Siege of Pian-King Lo Yang, 7
Siemienowitz, Casimir, 158
Signal beacon, 157
„ distress, 175
„ fishing, 176
„ fog, 177
„ hand lights, 175
„ lights, 66
„ „ aeroplane, 173
„ „ Very, 164, 172
„ pilot, 175
„ rifle grenade, 172
„ rockets, 145, 175
„ Roman candles, 172
„ sound, 96, 177
„ station, Lloyd’s, 175
Sir John Oldcastle, 35
Skimmer, 101
Sky rockets, 28, 61, 96
Slow composition, 103
Small factory license, 69
Smirk, 40
Smoke at Crystal Palace, 169
„ balls, 156, 157
„ drain testers, 179
„ float “E,” 168
„ screen, 167
Smokes, coloured military, 171
Snake and butterfly, 132
Sodium carbonate, 146
„ sulphate, 146
Soleil montant, 117
Soleils tournants, 117
Soleure, 21
Song pieces, 53
Sound signal, 96, 178
Southby, 33, 38, 41, 43, 45, 57
South Norwood Factory, 75
Spain, 20
„ King Consort, 1864, 43
Spherical shell, 105
Spike, Oil of, 140
Spindle, Rocket, 94
Spirali, 134
Spithead, 28, 43, 49
Spontaneous heating, 81
Spur fire, 139
Squibs, 57, 60, 97, 99, 110
Squibs, miners’, 179
St. Angelo, 19
St. James’s Park, 30, 41
„ Square, 28
St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin, 28
“Star and Garter,” Chelsea, 36
Starlights, 119
Stars, 8, 72, 103, 110, 112, 116
„ coloured, 11
„ two-coloured, 172
Statute of William III, 57
Steam rocket, 165, 166
Steel filings, 138, 141
Sticking, 129
Sticks, Falling rocket, 87
Stink pot, 157
Stockholm, 24
Stodard, 40
Stouple, 125
Stratford, R.N. Experimental Station, 170
Streamer, Golden, 44
„ Italian, 113, 114
Strontium nitrate, 146
Strutt, 30
Sully, Duc de, 20
Sulphide of arsenic, 10, 139, 146
Sulphur, 6, 14, 95, 98, 99, 100, 105, 114, 115, 118, 119, 138, 139, 140, 156
„ chlorate mixtures, 74
Sulphuret of antimony, 100, 139, 146
Sun, 29, 121
„ star, 44
Surrey Zoological Gardens, 38, 43, 45
Sutton Factory, 75
Swarms, 28
Swevels, 123
Swiss military rockets, 162
Sydenham, 47
Table rockets, 117, 118
Tagus display, 55
Tailed stars, 113
Taku forts, bombardment, 49
Tampion, 113
Tavern, “Lord Cobham’s Head,” 35
„ “Sir John Oldcastle,” 35
Temple of Flora, 36
Tessier, Paul, 33, 36, 149
Thames, 24, 27, 28, 29, 36
Theatre de la Comedie Italienne, 124
Theodosius, 13
Theresa, 15
Thermalloy, 173
Thermit bombs, 173
Throwdowns, 10
Time fuse, 104, 108, 109
Tinder, 3
Tippoo Sahib, 159
Toledo, King of, 15
Tools, Rocket charging, 92
Torches of fire, 26
Torré, Morel, 21, 31, 34, 35
Touch hole, 104
Toulon, 162
Tourbillion de feu, 117
Tourbillions, 44, 116, 117, 118, 134
Tourney display, 21
Tourniquets, 117
Tower Hill, 30
Trafalgar, Battle of, 48, 49
Transformation set piece, 50
Treatise on war fireworks, 158
Trees, 127
Trengouse, Mr., 176
Triangle wheel, 131
Tsu-Shima Battle, 49
Tubri, 10
Tun dish, 72
Tunis, King of, 14
Turin, 162
Turning cases, 97, 126
Tyrrel, 43
Ufano, Diego, 20
United States, 175
“Universal Magazine, The,” 99
Vanochio, 18
Vauxhall, 33
Vengagvedi, 10
Versailles, 20, 21, 24, 43, 132
Vert de gris, 129
Vertical wheels, 121, 131
Very signal lights, 164, 171, 172
Vesuvius, 50
Victoria Park, 43
„ Queen, Coronation of, 41
„ „ Portrait of, 51
„ „ Visit to Paris Exhibition, 43
Vienna, 23
“Village Blacksmith, The,” 52
Volcano, 9
Wadd, 103
Walcheren Expedition, 160
Wallis, Admiral Sir Provo, 49
Walpole, 29, 30
War inventions, 165
„ rockets, 158, 159
Warman, 34
Warsaw, 162
Warwick, Earl of, 18
Water fireworks, 24, 28, 39, 101
Waterloo, 160
“Weekly Journal, Read’s,” 157
Weinerisch-Neustadt, 161
Wheel, block, 118
„ brilliant, 30
„ catherine, 118, 119
„ double triangle, 131
„ hundred-feet, 55
„ pin, 118
„ rocket, 122
„ saxon, 131
Wheels, 41, 121, 131
„ fire, 122
„ horizontal, 26, 121, 133
„ revolving, 44
„ triangle, 131
„ vertical, 26, 121, 131
Whistler, 96
White Conduit House, 37
White Star Line, 174
Whitehall, 27, 28
Wicks, Major, 172
Wild fire, 16
William IV, Coronation of, 41
Windmills, 131
Woolwich Arsenal, 43
„ Royal Laboratory, 159
Worcester Cathedral, 50
Wordsworth, 40
Yalu, Battle of the, 49
Yellow orpiment smoke, 172
Yorkshire Stingo Gardens, 37
Ypres display, 21
Yron scales, 96
Zinc, 142, 146
Zud-Amerika Lyn, 173
[Decoration]
THE WESTMINSTER PRESS HARROW ROAD LONDON
Transcriber’s Notes:
- Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - Blank pages have been removed. - Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. - All errata have been applied.