Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-07-02
FIREWORKS.
AN INDUSTRY THAT HAS BEEN
LARGELY DEVELOPED.
Combinations of Color, Light and
Flame That Illumine the Skies
at Night-Curiosities Of
Day Fireworks.

featured so cheap here as in Europe. But
the fireworks which are now so extern
sively used are all made here. There are
more than eighteen large factories in the
Northern States, which turn out many
millions worth of pyrotechnics annually.
The chief seat of this class of industry is
in East New York and Williamsburg.
Gunpowder is still the principal lngre
dent of fireworks, and as is well known
three materials enter into the composition
of gunpowder, saltpetre, sulphur and
charcoal. These ingredients are first
separately ground into fine powder, then
mixed in the proper proportions, and
| afterward committed to the mill for the
purpose of incorporating their compo-
nent parts in the special body to be pro-
| duced. The latter process is generally
carried on in number of little wooden
huts with light roofs, so that in case of
accidental explosions the oOf may fly off
without difficulty and in the least injuri-
Gus direction. When the powder has
been busted and glazed it is dried in the
stonehouse, where great care is taken to
avoid explosion.
Another important ingredient in fire
works is steel dust. Being mixed with
mealed powder or some other compost
ton, and the mixture infamed in a
proper tube, jet of fire is produced with
a most brilliant effect. Iron filings, when
free from dust, are also often used. But
firework makers generally prefer cast iron
reduced to powder
There are many other substances occa-
sionally employed in the composition of
fireworks which can be procured from all
chemists and druggists. They are chiefly
camphor, anthony, which gives to the
fire different and particular shades of
color, a benZoic acid, which imparts to
the fire an agreeable odor, and spirits
of wine or camphorated spirits, used
for mixing up the ingredients into a
paste.
The goodness of the article to be pro-
duced depends as much on the construc-
ton of the molds that are used as on the
purity of the ingredients. The molds
consist chiefly of solid and hollow cylin-
ders made either of wood or metal. Both
are used in the construction of rockets.
Then there is machine for contracting
the aperture of the cases, the operation
of which is called choking; another for
boring them after they are filled, and a
simple apparatus for grinding the ma
terials previous to their being filled into
the cases.
Rockets have ever held the first place
among single fireworks since the inven-
ton of the art. The pa achute rocket
discharges at great hight a floating stal
of heavy calibre, suspended from para.
chute, which is set free, expanded and
illuminated by the bursting of the rocket
when it reaches its elevation. These
parachutes float a long distance, anG
change colors several times before disap
pearing. Another rocket is called the
comet" 1t ascends to great height
and discharges single star of large size
and great brilliancy, which changes colors
several times, while floating slowly away
then suddenly resolves itself into re.
volving wheel of brilliant fire, ending
with burst of tinted meteUrs.
Colored fires for theatrical use, tab
leaux and outdoor Examinations are now
made free from disagreeable smell whil
burning. They consist of dry powde
which is spread in a metallic dish.
brilliant and dazzling illumination is pro
duced by Bengal lights, which are SLOW
burning. A novelty are the colore(
Bengal light books, which consist of
book of six leaves, with three strips t.
each leaf. A strip or leaf is torn from
the book and then lighted. 1t burn
with brilliant red or green illumina
ton.
Pieces of fireworks, which are harm
less and can be used by ladies and chill
dren, are the flower pots. They are
shower cases, throwing out while burnin
remarkable streams of beautiful spur fir
and spangles, presenting the appearance
of fountain of brilliant fire. Flowe
pots are held in the hand by the handle
There are number of wheels which, j
their revolutions, throw out circles O
beautiful and dazzling spangles. Thes
wheels are attached to smooth, uprigh
post, by round nail through the centr
hub. The finest of these wheels are com
posed of six cases of brilliant fire, eac
one after firing changing in the form an,
appearance of its scintillations, and ex
hibting, at the same time, variegate,
colored centre rings, changing to tn
, most beautiful colors known to the pyro
T technic art.
| One of the finest effects produced las
l season at Coney Island were the ''Colore,
! Saucissons.n A shower of fire rises wit
a intermediate stars of variegated colo e.
It fires, which finally explode with heav
e report and discharge high in the air
= mass of contortions of fire, Kissing an,
!; Squirming in every direction and resem
:, q bling fiery snakes. Floral bombshell
show in burning all the choice color
known to the art, consisting of gold
crimson, red, blue and variegated star
of all shades. They project bombshel
in the air to an elevation of about 30
I feet, which then explodes and throws on
y stars of every hue, mingled with shower
of golden rain.
p A very amusing and beautiful displa,
is made by the ''colored flying pigeons
These pyrotechnic curiositics fly dis
lance through the air of 100 to 800 fee
: and return back to the starting point
They require line or wire fastened t
posts or trees upon which the pigeon
7 lily.
4 Within the last few weeks new kin,
! of fireworks has become very popular
which is used upon the water only. TIL
fuses are lighted and the pieces are the
thrown from the shore or the boat int
the water with the lighted end upper
! most They are called diving devils, fly
l ing fishes, Roman foaters, spray foun
!, tains, water wheels, etc, and exhibi
I many pleasing and wonderful effects
diving into the water and arising again.
The latest novelty ever produced i
0 this country in the line of fireworks ar
I the daylight fireworks imported fror
: Japan. They were exhibited at Cone
!; Island and other places last year to larg