252 



PYROTECHNY. 



I'yrotecb 



ny. 



- they are applied to moving figures, such as revolving 

 cones, or globes, or wheels ; the motions of these being 

 sometimes produced by machinery, at others by means 

 of attached recoiling fireworks, as formerly mentioned 

 in treating of machinery in fireworks. 



In smaller works, these lights may be applied to 

 the central parts of wheels, so as to form concentric 

 circles of light during their revolution; or they may 

 be attached to sky-rockets, er to line-rockets, as was 

 suggested on former occasions. The mode of manag- 

 ing these requires no particular direction ; as the same 

 methods of lighting, of disposing, and of connecting 

 them are applicable to all. 



But it will not be amiss to mention, though at the 

 .hazard of some repetition, the precautions and cares 

 which these very important fireworks demand ; whe- 

 ther made simply of a light only, or whether provided 

 with crackers or reports at their termination. 



A considerable number of compositions are given in 

 our table of compositions, whence the artist may se- 

 lect different colours so as to vary the effects, all of 

 which must depend on his own taste, and on the na- 

 .ture of his projected design. It is extremely neces- 

 sary, as we formerly remarked, that all these composi- 

 tions, of whatever nature they may be, should be very 

 firmly powdered and intimately mixed ; as their cor- 

 rect performance depends in a great measure on this, 

 and that all those which are to burn together should 

 be filled from the same lot of composition, and by the 

 same hand. 



The cases for these must vary in size, according to 

 the magnitude of the firework into which they are to 

 enter, and the distance at which it is to be viewed. 

 A length of three inches by a diameter of half an 

 inch interiorly, is as small as they can well be requir- 

 ed for making figured illuminations, such as those now 

 under review ; and from that they may be extended 

 to double the dimensions and upwards. These cases 

 must all be driven in moulds, without which it would 

 be impossible to give them the requisite uniformity ; 

 and this is done with the bottom downwards, as they 

 are not choked for burning. If they are to be pro- 

 vided with crackers or bounces at the end, that must 

 be managed in the manner not long ago directed for 

 saucissons; but the cases for this purpose must be 

 half as long again ; and that part which contains the 

 bounce may also be fortified with some additional 

 turns of paper, and of packthread if the artist thinks 



To make these illumination lights ready for firing, 

 they must be nailed firmly down to the frames by 

 means of proper flat-headed nails fitted to this pur- 

 pose ; or else they may be secured in sockets of tin 

 fitted to the frame-work, or to iron hooks by means of 

 packthread. When thus disposed in their proper or- 

 der, the leader is to be attached to the whole in one 

 continuous line, taking care that every light has a fair 

 communication with it; and it must be secured at 

 each joint by means of pasted paper, to prevent the 

 hazard of any accidental spark firing the lights before 

 their time. This, however, must neither be so thick 

 nor so firmly fixed but that it may blow off and dis- 

 engage itself as the case fires; lest in so doing it should 

 disturb any of the lights to which it was attached. If 

 there is a great or long range of these to be fired at 

 once, it is better not to trust to one place of firing, on 

 account of the time taken for the fire to communicate 

 through a very long leader. Two or three points at 

 equal distances should be selected in the line of com. 



munication, and a leader being attached to each qf Pyrotech- 

 these, they must all be collected together into one 

 common point for firing. Thus the fire will be more 

 equally distributed, and the whole range, however 

 long it may be, will be lighted together. This pre- 

 caution is particularly necessary where it is, a large 

 building that is to be illuminated ; and unless it is at- 

 tended to, one part will go out while the rest is con- 

 tinuing to burn; a circumstance which always pro- 

 duces a very disagreeable effect. 



We shall here subjoin the compositions which we 

 consider the best for the larger lights, referring to our 

 table of compositions for those which are in use among 

 the pyrotechnists. 



White Lights from Zinc. 



Nitre . . . . 8 lb. 1 oz. 



Sulphur 4 



Mealed powder . . .22 



Zinc filings . . .30 



This light is used for white speckies, or illumination 

 lights in ornamental fireworks. 



White Lights from Zinc. 



Nitre 

 Sulphur 

 Zinc filings 



81b. 12 oz. 

 4 

 2 



This is used for large signal lights, being inclosed 

 in wooden tubes or pots, or in paper cases, or in iron 

 pots, varying from one to six inches in diameter, and 

 from four inches to a foot in depth. The illumination 

 is very powerful. 



The same composition, being driven as hard as pos- 

 sible into a globe of strong and thick pasted paper, 

 sufficient to bear the explosion of a mortar, is thrown 

 into the enemies works at night to discover what they 

 are doing. The ball or paper carcass should have 

 three holes of an inch and half diameter, each furnish- 

 ed with a quick match and priming of powder, well 

 secured by a pasted paper cover. 



Pale bluish Lights. 



Nitre 

 Sulphur 

 Mealed powder 

 Zinc filings 

 Antimony 



81b. 



4 



2 



1 



2 



This is adapted for small lights. If large lights are 

 wanted, the powder may be omitted, and the composi- 

 tion be altered as follows. 



Nitre 

 Sulphur 

 Zinc filings 

 Antimony 



81b. 12oz. 



4 



1 



2 



Of Stars. 



1 These are an essential ingredient in sky rockets, in Q( s t ars , 

 Roman candles, and for explosions from mortars ; and 

 as they produce very brilliant effects, they deserve the 

 care and attention of the artist. 



A necessary property of all stars is, that they should 

 be hard enough to bear the explosion of the powder 

 which is to set them on fire, and that their light should 

 be bright and showy. Hence, although we have given 

 some of the least exceptionable of the usual receipts for 

 them, we do not recommend any but those from anti- 

 mony and from zinc ; the former of which burns with 

 a blue flame, and the latter with a white one. We se- 



