IMPROVED AQUATIC FIREWORK
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic Barnett, of No. 164, Rue de Rivoli, in
the City of Paris, in the Empire of France, Merchant, for the
Invention of an "IMPROVED AQUATIC FIREWORK."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Frederic Barnett at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration,
on the 23rd April 1866, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent
Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERIC
BARNETT, of Number 164, Rue de Rivoli, in the City of Paris, in the Empire
of France, Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for an "IMPROVED AQUATIC
FIREWORK," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and
have made solemn Declaration that I am the true and first Inventor thereof,
and that the same is not in use by any other person or persons to the best of
my knowledge and belief.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederic Barnett, do hereby declare

page_text: that the following Complete Specification under my hand and seal fully
describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, in and by the following statement :-
The present Invention has for its object the manufacture of a new and
improved pyrotechnic toy, which is effected by the decomposition of water at
the ordinary temperature by means of sodium, potassium, the phosphor of
calcium or the oxicarburet of potassium producing the phenomenon of light or
fire upon being brought into contact with water. With respect to the
metal sodium it must be observed that if a portion be thrown into water at
the ordinary temperature light or fire are not produced unless when
operating with considerable quantities, and then only is the phenomenon of
light produced by its contact with the water towards the end of its reaction;
but by my Invention, by means of sufficiently circumscribing and enclosing
the centre and greater portion of the sodium, and thus encouraging the
caloric, the temperature rises sufficiently and almost suddenly, and the result
is the almost immediate phenomenon of light or fire in the midst of the
water. To attain this result I employ little capsules (by preference formed
of little bodies of cotton or like material), which by the simple process of
being dipped in melted wax or sterine, or otherwise coated with gum or other
substances serving the same purpose, excludes humidity for a time. When
these capsules are prepared a small portion of the before-mentioned materials
is introduced in the centre of the above described capsules by means of a
small hole, which with sodium may be left open or closed, though I prefer
these orifices closed; but if closed the covering stopper or plug must be made
of substances or materials of an adhesive nature, but perfectly soluble in
water; for instance, such materials as india-rubber dissolved in chloroform or
any other composition or compound answering the same purpose.
When one of the above-described artifices, fireworks, or toys is thrown in
or on water at the common temperature the portion of the metal nearest the
opening coming quickly into contact with the liquid the whole of the little
piece or pieces of metal become agitated, and being but slightly held in the
capsule bursts out in an incandescent condition, producing a beautiful ball
or balls of fire or light in the midst of the water. Sometimes these balls of
fire or light divide and subdivide splitting into many little fireworks with a
crackling noise like the bouquet of a firework.
To obtain with greater
certainty the latter effect (which is very capricious) I fill the cavity in the
capsules with several small fragments, the result will be (most frequently)
several balls of light or fire in the water.
:
With respect to the employment of potassium I must mention that this

page_text: metal produces very freely light or fire by the slightest contact with water or
even humidity, it is therefore advisable, as a matter of precaution and safety,
when used as a toy, that it should be enveloped in the capsules, as above
described, because besides the inconvenience of extremely rapid combustion
its excessive susceptibility as regards oxidation and its high price render it
much less applicable and desirable than sodium for the purpose in question.
I can also employ an union or combination of these metals or an amalgam of
the same.
For the same purpose as above described, to produce the same effect, I
can also use the phosphor of calcium, though as one objection thereto the
effect is, I think, inferior; and for another, the overpowering garlicky odour
of the phosphoretted hydrogen renders it excessively disagreeable in use, more
especially in the interior of houses or dwellings. It can nevertheless be
employed as the sodium and potassium, more particularly in closed capsules
(as already spoken of) with soluble stoppers so as to prevent evaporation by
contact with the atmospheric vapor.
Now in respect of the oxicarburet of potassium, produced by a com-
bination of the oxide of carbon and potassium, or when [produced by other
known or unknown processes, or by spontaniety in the preparation of potassium,
I must say it is not likely to be much employed, nor do I strongly recommend
its employment for the purposes and uses I propose in the toys above spoken
of, still I can use it for such purposes if I please by reason of its suitable
nature, properties, or qualities. I can also use any and all of the above-named
chemical substances simply, singly, or combined.
The above substances can be employed as above described as toys enclosed
in glass tubes, or in any or all shapes as may best serve the object in
view, or in boxes made of cardboard, wood, metals, or any other suitable
materials.
Many other scientific toys can also be made available for amusement
by adapting and adopting the above chemical substances and the ways
explained of employing them; for instance, little ships in which the port holes
will be used as or for the capsules described by introducing therein small
fragments of the before-named chemical substances arranged as fully described
above, the materials in question being at or under the level of the water will
shortly after immersion take fire, and bursting out so present the effect of
mimic broadside firing. Of course these toys will be capable of frequent
employment by recharging the cavities in question. I should also make other
toys in great variety by employing the same system and materials to be added
for effect to the forms of fish, water fiends, insects, and others, which from

page_text: their nature should be thrown into or on small vessels of water on the tables
in rooms without either danger or inconvenience. Of course in all such toys
there must be small cavities with or without a lining of cotton, or other
suitable materials, as the case may demand, although, as I have before stated,
the effect is better and more prompt where the metals above named are nearly
surrounded by non-conducting bodies. Also I shall use these toys sometimes
with and sometimes without stoppers or coverings to the holes in which I
have introduced the above-named pyrogenic bodies.
All the above toys should, by preference, be preserved enclosed in bottles,
tubes, or boxes which close well, for the purpose of guaranteeing them as
much as possible from contact with the air, water, humidity, or vapour.
I shall also employ the same materials in the way and by the means above
described in the manufacture of large pieces of fireworks, the said materials
being so disposed and adjusted in pieces and devices chiefly composed of
common and ordinary pyrotechnic ingredients, which being thrown in or on
sheets of water in gardens or elsewhere will, by means of the sodium or other
metals and matters above rehearsed, immediately after their contact with
the water communicate the fire to the whole piece or pieces as above
described.
Dated this Twenty-third day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
FREDERIC BARNETT. (L.B.)