The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-06-27
BUSINESS or MAKING THEM DE-
FENDS FUNDAMENTALLY
ON THE STAR.
ON THE STAR

Tic "s:arH is the beginning of all
fireworks 1t is fundamental in the
business Of making thcm. Without it
therc would he no such pyrotechnics as
we hGow today. The art would have
10 start al over again, and work out
its euds hy entirely new methods. Yet
nothing couli he more simple. For
star is nothing more nor less than
tiny cylinder OF pasteboard, half an
inch long, filed with chemical stuff
tho latter, of course, being some ma
ierial that burrs brilliantly. Accord
ing 10 the nature of The composition
used, the star when ign!tcd Will be
blue, or yellow or red, or what not
at fireworks factory such stars -
are turned ont literally by millions
Long pastcheard tubes of suitable di-
amtcr made by rolling thin pasteboard
around metal rods by hand. arc taken
IN lunches. number of them together,
and, with the aid OF small circular
saw: chopped into multitudes OF short
sections. When these sections have
positions, in the form of uastes they
become ''stars, oud are ready to use
as such.
Now. in nearlv everv kind of fire
works these "st3rsi play "A most I'M
por;ant mart Take the rocket, for ex-
ample. Leaving the stick ont of con
sidera tion, "A rocket consists OF two
narts-the lower portion being a paste
board cvIinder filed with a slow burn
ing explosive. 10 send the thing up
into the air, while the upper part is a
recen!acle illed usually. with i'stars'
of different colors. When the pIoiec-
tile resches; the highest point in the
air, it will, if correctly constructed
burst the case containing the "stars. -
ignite the latter and throw them far
and wide,
Ordinary aunpowder. by the way, is
not employed by makers of fireworks.
II burns too quick. Indeed, they use
explosive stuff OF similar composltion.
but which acts slowly. Thus they are
enabled 30 produce effects which other.
wise could not be achieved. A bomb. |
for instance, takes All aDpreclablc time
say. four or FIVE seconds-to rise TO
the height of 1000 feet or more. at
which it is eXnected 10 explode. Then,
and not until then. must the pastenoard
shell burst. liberating and simultaneous. !
~ ignitiDg the cari-colored stars .
with which it is filed.
Bombs are perhaps the most beaqti. |
full. and seem to be the most Pooular
~ all fireworks They are shells of
pasteboard. stamped by a machine in
halves, which are afterward put TO.
gcthcT with narrow stTirs OF thin can
vas soaked III paste. Thus made com
u!ete spheres. they are ready 10 be
loaded-a round hole in each one af.
fording opportunity for the purpose
Sometimes thev are loaded with Gol' |
den-raiu stuff, or with parachutes, TO |
which "starsf are attached.
When a rocket or bomb eyplodes
high in the air throwing cut multi |
tude Of "stars, the latter, being very |
light, fall slowly and beautifully to
ward the earth But the effect is |
Heightened if The lit!le fires OF, diff
(crcnt coiorS remain suspended for O /
while far aloft. descending very grad |
ually. or perhaps drifting as the brcnzes |
in The upper levels of the atmosphere |
carry them. Such result is COON
plishcd br means Of small parachutrs
Of issue paper, contained within the
pastcE5ard shell, which, when the lat
ter bursts. arc liberated. lter are
mere IaDcr disks. bat around the cir
crufcrcucc Of each one are attached !
number of ycrr' long strings, 20 which
"s.alsf are tied n intervals, Shen
-ihc bomb has cSploGed. the strings Cf !
stars hang for long time SUSPENDED III
II" sEv.
When ,omb IS made at Jta factory,
thc original uastehoGr2 shell after be.
i-g loaded in the manner descr.'ci. is |
covered with mapv windings Of strong |
iwiuc Being fins rendered much |
stronger, il viii burst with proportion
tanlv greater energy, dIstroutln9 its
burden Uf "sjars. or other contents. /
morc widely, Over Tie wrapping OF
;,y,nn /, put faal enyeloUe Of orna-
r,utal ospcr; and. incidentally, = pack, !
G. "optr'ning the explosive compoun1
Ia. .l.,.. l4., lyty, |. ,Fv, ,iIti
,Aa a;r) is securely fastened beneath.
Fireworks are playthiUgs. Hence, in
o"d"r 10 comuaad Il market. the! must
look r-stt. pvcu as one buys 'hem In
thc shops, ii IS requisite that they
shall he adorned with bright colors-
especially in this country, red. white |
sad blue. y very considerable item of
expense 10 tAc manufacturer or pyro-
tccGgic goods Is ornamental paper for
covering rockets. rcHau condles, pin !