Year: 1888

page_text: I, GEORGE JOHN MAYER of Albert Road, South Norwood, in the county of Surrey,
Pyrotechnist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the manufacture of rockets.
Hitherto it has generally been the practice to- manufacture rockets, which are
charged in cases of paper or other material by introducing the inflammable composition
in the form of a dry powder into the said cases in small portions at a time, each
portion being rammed tightly in the case by hand by means of a rammer and mallet
until the case is sufficiently charged, the case being finally closed or tamped, usually
with clay. This method of manufacture has many disadvantages a very serious one
being that the charge is liable to be unequally compressed, the process is also slow and
the tools employed soon become worn out.
By my improvements these objections are overcome and I am enabled to use much
thinner and lighter cases, effect an economy of space in storage, and produce a better
article.
For this purpose I consolidate the charges of inflammable composition by means
of a suitable machine previously to their being placed in the cases; the machine
which I find it advantageous to use for this purpose consists of a mould or series of
moulds in which the required quantity of composition to form the charges is placed,
the moulds being provided with plungers or rammers operated by hydraulic or other
suitable power whereby the composition is consolidated; the charges are then placed
in the cases and the rockets are finished in the usual manner or the charges can be
stored until they are required to be put into the paper or other cases and made up into
fireworks.
I sometimes make the rockets by moulding or casting the inflammable part of a
rocket into a suitable form or shape out of a composition without ramming or charging
in the usual way. This composition in a wet or moistened state may be moulded
or cast direct into the rocket case or in a separate mould and afterwards when dry
be placed in the case. The block of composition being secured in the case by a cement
which at the same time prevents fire running up the case outside the composition.

page_text: I use a separate "choke" of metal, clay or any other suitable material instead of
forming the choke " as at present by drawing in the paper tube which forms the
case of the rocket and instead of ramming a layer of clay or gypsum on top of the
composition and afterwards boring a hole, I insert my disc with a hole in it and secure
it in the paper tube by suitable means. I sometimes employ a second choke particularly
in those rockets known as smoke-rockets. This second choke is at a distance from
the one next to the firework composition so that an empty space or air chamber is
formed between the two chokes the object of this being to prevent flame or fire
appearing outside the rocket.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, GEORGE JOHN MAYER of Albert Road, 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 improvements in the manufacture of rockets.
Hitherto it has generally been the practice to manufacture rockets, which are
charged in cases of paper or other material, by introducing the inflammable
composition in the form of a dry powder into the said cases in small portions at a
time, each portion being rammed tightly in the case by hand by means of a rammer
and mallet until the case is sufficiently charged, the case being finally closed or
tamped, usually with clay. This method of manufacture has many disadvantages, a
very serious one being that the charge is liable to be unequally compressed, the
process is also slow and the tools employed soon become worn out.
By my improvements these objections are overcome and I am enabled to use much
thinner and lighter cases, effect an economy of space in storage, and produce a better
article.
For this purpose I consolidate the charges of inflammable composition by means
of a suitable machine previously to their being placed in the cases; the machine
which I find it advantageous to use for this purpose consists of a mould or series of
moulds in which the required quantity of composition (in the usual form of a dry

page_text: powder) to form the charge is placed, the moulds being provided with plungers or
rammers operated by hydraulic or other suitable power, whereby the composition is
consolidated; the charges are then placed in the cases and the rockets are finished in
the usual manner or the charges can be stored until they are required to be put into
the paper or other cases and made up into fireworks.
I sometimes make the rockets by moulding or casting the charge of inflammable
composition into a suitable form or shape without ramming or charging in the usual
way. In this case the composition in a wet or moistened state may be moulded or
cast direct into the rocket case or in a separate mould and afterwards when dry be
placed in the case."
The charges of composition are secured in their cases by cement, the use of which
at the same time prevents fire running up the case outside the charge.
I use a separate "choke" of metal, baked clay or any other suitable material instead
of forming the "choke " as at present by drawing in the paper tube which forms the
case of the rocket, and instead of ramming a layer of clay or gypsum on top of the
composition and afterwards boring a hole, 1 insert a disc with a hole in it and secure
it in the paper tube by suitable means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
The improvements in the manufacture of rockets hereinbefore described.
Dated the 28th day of March 1889.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.