Improvements in Ships' Signal-lights, Rockets, Roman Candles. and other Fireworks.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left. 5th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 7th Dec., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships' Signal-lights, Rockets, Roman Candles. and
other Fireworks.
ARTHUR BROCK, (trading as C. T. Brock & Co.) Fireworkmaker of Stafford Villa
South Norwood Hill, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The igniting compositions for ships signal-lights and other fireworks which are to
be ignited by friction, consisting of two surfaces, the one prepared with a composition
usually consisting of Chlorate of Potash and other materials, the other surface
prepared with amorphous phosphorous with or without other materials such as emery
or ground glass are at present produced by making the necessary ingredients into a
paste or mass with water and glutinous matter as gum, starch or glue. My invention
consists in preparing or mixing the above named compositions with a water resisting
solution or varnish consisting of gum shellac dissolved in alcohol or any other gum or
resin dissolved in a suitable medium which will resist water or damp and
applied either by mixing with or by coating or covering the surface of the friction
igniting compositions.
Dated this 4th day of February 1888.

page_text: other Fireworks.
I, ARTHUR BROCK, trading as C. T. Brock & Co., of South Norwood in the County
of Surrey, Pyrotechnist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and, by the following statement :—
My invention relates to ships' signal lights, rockets, Roman candles and other fire-
works which are ignited by friction between two surfaces prepared or coated with
igniting compositions.
Heretofore such compositions which usually consist, the one of chlorate of potash
and other materials, and the other of amorphous phosphorous with or without other
materials, such as emery or ground glass, have been made into a paste or mass with
water and glutinous matter such as gum, starch or glue, the paste or mass being
applied to the firework in any desired manner and allowed to dry.
In practice, however, it is frequently found that, owing to the hygroscopic character
of such compositions, the prepared surfaces of fireworks have become so moist as to
be incapable of igniting the fireworks thus rendering the same useless.
The chief object of my invention is to manufacture igniting compositions which will
be impervious to moisture, and to this end it comprises the improvement hereinafter
described.
In carrying my invention into practice I prepare the igniting ingredients of the
compositions as heretofore, but in order to reduce the same to a paste I make use of a
water resisting solution of any suitable gum or resin in alcohol or other similar
solvent. I find it advantageous to employ a solution of gum-shellac in alcohol.
Instead of adding the gum solution to the igniting ingredients the gum or resin
may be added to the latter in a dry condition, the solvent being subsequently added to
form the paste.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
(1) A ship's signal light, a rocket, Roman candle or other firework the
igniting surfaces of which are rendered impervious to moisture, substantially as
herein before described.
(2) The use for fireworks, of igniting compositions rendered impervious to moisture
by a solution of gum or resin in alcohol or similar solvent, substantially as, and for
the
purpose, described.
Dated the 5th day of November 1888.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.