The Red Cloud chief., 1889-08-16
MAKING FIREWORKS
ne Process Described by an Ar.
gus-Eyed Correspondent

How Roman Candles Arc C~0nstruct069
Balloons Of Various Shapes and Sizes
Catherine Wheels and OtIer
Gro:esquc Devices.
1t would seen 10 many that the manufacts
urc OF fireworks is a simple and easy mat.
ter, writes a correspondent of the Albany
Argus. But as ne machinery OF any kind is
used the manual work necessary makes Il
much more lahcrious than where all the
process is performed by perfected nachin-
cry. A knowledge of the laws Of chemistry
Is also essential. In order 10 give tho
reader some idea OF the process let US select
tho Ronaa candle IS the most ordinary Of
dre-works, and follow it N is jolrney from
FoCm to room and from building to building.
The frs. department ne cltcr is that
where the cases are made. This is done in
the following manner: Cartridge paper is
cut into the length and size required and
LAID. on q marble slab, where paste is spread
over one side, care being taken that the
paste does not get on the side touching the
roller round which the paper IL then
wrapped, for if the roller is wet it viii tear
tho paper II drawing it Qua. 1Tis roller is
~ - Va WV 8to ~ u No4A@o VA ~
booking as though it had been mao from
paper Of one thickness, although every boy
who has dissected a Roman candle knows
10 the contrary. After this operation one
end Of the case is closed. An expert work
man. can make from fifteen hundred
. three thousand O day Of these, 20
eordiug to size. After rolling the cases are
0laced on shelves and sent to the dryinSroom
70 be thoroughly dried. In this same depart
0ent Is a machine for trimming of tho
rough cuds so that the possibility Of any &C.
cident happening from unnecessary friction
IS leSsened. These cases beside being used
for filling have also various other purposes,
such as mailing, etc. While the Roman
candle is progressing thus fer on the jour
ney let Us peep in ct the laboratory door,
where chemicals are being mixed. Tho
performance Of the r%rirciral part oe fro.
works depends ,luch ca the composition
being very u sId 3cell mixed; thorcfcre
great care is sakes IN thiH sart Of the work
and particularly for tho composition OF sky
rockets ana also IA all fixed works from
which tHe IRE plays regularly. The chem
1nl mixtures arc then distributed to tho
W0rkIen. who in turn take them 70 the
moulding room, where, with little nsnipufa-
ton they are placed In mOulds and madeint0
UtokS u DSSASS a. S4Oy o&O 4lOISE OUlu0Oo~
1ytermcd T.esc nc oil cc.o-.a, tc- The p2l0
white lights have given place of late years
% those Of beautiful tints. Tho color Of the
stars seen in this department would deceive
one as to that which they display when fired.
The green produce q blue light and the blue
e1F1 to green. White Is made from rcd
stars, red from gray, and 81 on until every
eolW a the rainbow is catalogued.
It - at this point whore we meet the case
again ready for the reception Of the chem.
tcals thus prepared. This Is called tho
charging department Before the work,
man f. o frame capable Of holding twelve
eases upright, which no PLACES in rCsitsoa,
having first aecertainod that the insides ara
entitely free by passing . rod through
&em This precaution is necessary b.
eauke any obstruction would cause the pi0co
70 miss fire. On one side Of him, in cop.
arate compartments, are clay, composition,
powder and stars Of various colors, and on
the other q mallet Of considerable weighs
and several hammers of different lengths,
The longest being about the same size as tho
case he Is to fill Taking IN his band an in
etrument consisting Of twelve small scoops, |
connected in Q line and exactly the same |
Instance apart as are TIC cases on the FRAME, |
he fills them with clay and skillfullY |
empties them into these cases. TIE Same !
q done With the powder, the composition |
(Which is used as . wad) and the stars. All
these he then packs down BY meacs Of the
oongost ramrod. Repeating the same proc
- again and again, except the clay =
pmitted, he uses . shorter rod each time
Santal the case is fully changed, and, pours u
oe the end more clay, a. this material guar.
0oteeS safe handling and packing and pro
tects the explosives inside. The fuse =
tAen inserted and lastly the outside eo1oeeQ
popef ID wrapped around for beeutilJiae
th0 Roman candle thus made. The WhGoO
operation described hero alDo aQCNp0 -
SootaeA I
1tocFackers come from Gina Whaeo
a. country people manufacture th00 - Q
30ene, - thS 0ermans do toys. 1heI
80 Imported IN boxes similar 70 - cheo46
- ~Aieso1lypAios q them represeating -
;V~ef6sements Of different firms, and 1hoy
ere used q ballast for The sh1ps that bring
mem over. An idea may b o6taiced Of ~
0seee tmpossiblity Of competition when ooo
- informed that il costs bat two cents q
A120a pack Of 0rocrackers there. h
Chinese were acquainted, - Va III know,
With the uses Of g~un-powder long before NJ
INTRODUCTION into Europe u The thirteenth
century, and the peasants have beou 10e -
many generations adept IN the art Of max
Ing 9re-srackers that Il has become, ~
might say, second nature OF oourso, n
tho fireworks, where thorough undsr.
Standing Of the mysterses Of chemical
action and artistic skin are required, those
Manufactured In Brooklyn sRe . faif
sample Of the higher excellence q Amerieaa
productions. But when ueithes Of those
qualities is requisite we are entisely out q
the Asld. |,
Balloons Of various sizes and sAspes aso
also made here. Passing through this de-
partment = predominanee Of the fair sex
among the hands is noticeable. which is 90
counted for by their superior dsftness,
quickness anu accuracy III cutting aud
The devices in use for balloons
very amusing, often grotesquA,
representing figures Of almost every
from the elephant to the frog, |
md also several fishes, some gigantic
b size. 1t looks lUiicrous to sec q hugo !!
whale or a mammoth pig rise in the air and
float awa But the most strik-
M Of ali seen in this department arc the
% Y.,co.o homh.ahol1a What I