This book is included in the Self Reliance Firearms & Weaponry section.
SSRsi Disclaimer & Note on Text:
This text was found on the internet. The author is unknown. The veracity of the information is unknown - and therefore suspect.
SSRsi does not advocate the home preparation of any form of propellant, explosive, or other pyrotechnics. Attempting to do so without specialized training, equipment and facilities will almost certainly result in serious injury to persons and property.
Explosives, pyrotechnics and propellants are generally regulated by law and their manufacture is usually frowned upon (if not outright prohibited) by law enforcement.
This text is presented by SSRsi for information purposes only.
Do not attempt to duplicate the processes described herein.
Preface In following work the object has been to place on file a complete record of the developments of the art of pyrotechny up to the present time. Previous epochs, in what may be considered the modern manufacture of fireworks, have been punctuated by Ruggiere, 1812 in Italian; Chertier, 1854 in French; Kentish, 1878 in English and Antoni 1893 in Italian. There have been writings on the subject as early as the year 1225 and the firs-t authentic manual seems to be in German, written in 1432 but these are mainly museum curiosities. Since 1893 some historical and specialized articles have appeared in connection with pyrotechny but nothing of a general or comprehensive character in the way of a working manual. In the interim great Arides have been made, both in the materials used as well as in the methods employed in the mass production of articles in general use for public celebrations. Powdered aluminum has added many beautiful effects; picric acid is extensively used and potassium perchlorate has greatly reduced the danger from spontaneous combustion. Phosphorus, both yellow and amorphous is largely used and machines to replace manual operations have been devised in many instances. The formulars herein given are all taken from those in actual use and will positively produce the effects for which they are indicated. The machines and tools shown are those in use in the largest and most recently equipped factories. The article on Chinese Firecrackers is the first detailed description of this interesting article ever written in the English language. A caution added here might not be amiss. Never hold any kind of fireworks in the hand while it is burning. Make this rule without exception because sometimes the most unexpected explosions occur and cause painful injury. If firing shell be sure never to look into the mortar after the shell has been inserted. A spark might have in some manner gotten inside. Also never allow the arm or hand to come over the muzzle of the mortar. Long sections of bare match should be used on shells so that the one lighting them has ample time to reach a safe distance in case of the bursting of the gun. There is always enough danger to avoid all unnecessary risk. The beginner is advised to read carefully and memorize the instructions given under “manipulations” before attempting the production of any kind of fireworks. Actions which seem trivials are sometimes fraught with gravest danger. The object of fireworks is to give pleasure so do not compound it with tragedy. In conclusion I might add that in this work pyrotechny is treated rather as a craft than as an art. For the artistic feature, imagination only is requisite but to work out the results of imagination is just plain tedious, patient and often hard work. Consequently, if we have the methods at hand it will be easier to bring to life the artistic ideas. January 30th. 1937. Introduction To those contemplating the making of fireworks, either professionally or as an amusement it is desirable to understand the principles which govern the operations of the various devices as well as the compositions of the chemicals entering into their production. The principle of colored lights is based on: 1st. Producing a mixture that will burn at a reasonable speed while generating an intense heat, 2nd. Adding thereto the salts of such elements, in the spectrum of which, predominate lines of the desired colors. Heat generating compounds consist chiefly of: (a). Substances which yield oxygen freely when ignited in the presence of carbon, viz: Potassium chlorate, Potassium per-chlorate, Potassium nitrate, Sodium chlorate, Barium nitrate, Strontium nitrate. (b). Carbon and carbonaceous sources, viz: Charcoal, Shellac, Fossil gums, Resins, Asphalturn, Dextrine, Stearine, Sugar of milk, Corn flour etc. In addition to the above there are some substances which when added to colored fire compositions increase the affinity of the several constituents for one another thereby improving the colors, viz: Sulphur Picric acid and in the instance of blue and green fires it is almost essential to add an easily volatilized chloride in order to get sufficient depth of color. viz: Calomel Sal Ammoniac. The exact function of these last named substances is not entirely clear but it appears that the best spectrums are yielded by the chlorides of the elements. However most chlorides are deliquescent and therefore unsuited to fireworks making. By adding a substance that yields chlorine freely at the moment of decomposition the necessary conditions are produced for obtaining the best results. The following substances are most generally used for producing pyrotechnical colors. PURPLE Strontium and Copper compounds. ORANGE Strontium and Sodium salts. Bright or “Plain” Mixings Consist almost entirely of: Sallpeter, rarely Lead nitrate, Sulphur, Charcoal or Iampblack. with the addition of Steel filings, Iron borings, Zinc powder, Antimony, Orpiment, Realgar. PINK Calcium carbonate, Calcium sulphate, Calcium oxalate. GREEN Barium nitrate, Barium chlorate, Boric acid, and rarely Thalium nitrate. RED Strontium nitrate, Strontium carbonate, and rarely Lithium salts. BLUE Copper carbonate, Copper arsenate, Copper sulphate, Copper black oxid, Copper & Ammonium sulphate, Copper oxalate, Copper & Ammonium chloride. YELLOW Sodium oxalate, Sodium bicarbonate, Sodium metantimoniate. The intensely bright white sparks are produced by aluminum powder. At one time Magnesium was used for this purpose but it has been entirely discontinued. Table of Contents Part I. - Ingredients SALTPETER (Nitre-Potassium nitrate) POTASSIUM CHLORATE (K Cl O3) POTASSIUM PERCHLORATE (K Cl O4) SULPHUR CHARCOAL LAMPBLACK SHELLAC (and other gums etc.) STEARINE STRONTIUM NITRATE STRONTIUM CARBONATE BARIUM NITRATE BARIUM CHLORATE SODIUM OXALATE COPPER ARSENITE (Paris green) COPPER CARBONATE COPPER SULPWATE ANTIMONY ANTIMONY SULPHURET (Black) RED ARSENIC: (REALGAR - As S2) (ORPIMENT - As S3) ALUMINUM CALOMEL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE (Sal Ammoniac) DEXTRINE GLUE GUM ARABIC STEEL FILINGS (Cast iron borings etc.) CLAY GUN POWDER MEAL POWDER New Ingredients Powdered Magnesium Picric Acid Phosphorous Amorphous phosphorus Fulminate of silver Zinc powder Part II. - Manipulations Mixing Case Rolling Roman Candle Cases Mine Cases Floral Gun Shells Gerbs Shell Cases Drying Cases Formers Paste Crimping Ramming RAMMING with ROD and FUNNEL Matching Priming Finishing Wrapping Wiring Tying Labeling Designing Part III. - ARTICLES OF MANUFACTURE MATCH (Quick Match) French System English System ROCKET and CANDLE MATCH. FUSE (Blasting) TABLEAU FIRE WHITE FIRE BLUE FIRE RED FIRE PINK FIRE YELLOW FIRE GREEN FIRE SMOKELESS TABLEAU FIRE RED GREEN TORCHES RAILWAY FUSEES PARADE TORCHES RED RAMMING CAMPAIGN TORCHES TORCHES for CARNIVAL PARADES RED GREEN PARADE TORCHES BLUE PARADE TORCHES PURPLE PARADE TORCHES AMBER PARADE TORCHES Capping and Matching PARADE TORCHES ALUMINUM TORCHES RED and ALUMINUM TORCH STARTING FIRE PORT FIRES SHIP LIGHTS and DISTRESS SIGNALS Bengolas TOY BLUE LIGHTS ROMAN CANDLES ROMAN CANDLE Composition Hand Combination Candle Rammer Candle Ramming Machine POWDER BOX BATTERIES BOMBETTE FOUNTAINS BENGOLA BATTERY SKY ROCKETS SKY ROCKET CONES HEADING ROCKETs SHORT STICK ROCKETs WILLOW TREE ROCKETs PRIZE COMETIC or SHOOTING STAR ROCKETs GOLDEN CLOUD ROCKETs BOOM ROCKETs ELECTRIC SHOWER ROCKETs BOMBSHEL ROCKETs WHISTLING or CALLIOPE ROCKETs LIQUID FIRE ROCKETs PARACHUTE ROCKETs CHAIN ROCKETs (caterpilars) BOUQUET or FLIGHT of ROCKETs ROCKET STAND TOURBILLIONS FLYING PIGEONS English Cracker or Grasshopper Pin Wheels Serpents or N-gger Chasers (Squibs) Saucissions Mines Devil Among the Tailors ANGLO JAPANESE MINES Fountains, Flower Pots and Gerbs FOUNTAINS. FLOWER POTS. GERBS. STARTING FIRE FOR GERBS GERBS. FOUNTAINS. FLOWER POTS CASCADES WASP LIGHT REVOLVING PIECES. Triangles, VERTICAL WHEELS. SAXONS. Triangle Composition Wheel Cases (Drivers) Saxons STARS. CUT STARS JAPANESE STARS. BOX STARS. PUMPED STARS. Formulas for Cut, Pumped or Candle Stars. White, Red, Blue, Green, Yellow Formulas for EXHIBITION PUMPED STARS GREEN (not for shells), RED, BLUE Formulas for BOX STARS. Red, Green, Blue, Pink, Yellow, White, Purple Formula for LAMPBLACK STAR. Formula for SILVER SHOWER. Formula for GOLDEN STREAMERS. Formula for STEEL STARS Formula for YELLOW TWINKLERS Formula for ELECTRIC SPREADER STARS Formula for GRANITE STARS Formula for GOLD & SILVER RAIN. (cut stars) Formula for ALUMINUM STARS. (box stars only) Formula for MAGNESIUM STARS. COMETS. AEROLITES. COMET STAR COMPOSITION. LANCE WORK LANCES. LANCE COMPOSITIONS. Red, Green, White, Blue, Yellow BOMBSHELLS. FLORAL SHELLS. METEORIC SHELLS. EXHIBITION BOMB SHELLS. SHELL FUSES SHELL CONES (for holding driving charge) JAPANESE BOMBSHELLS - Day and Night MORTARS. BALLOONS BALLOON INFLATORS. DESIGNING BALLOONS Fireworks Attachments for Balloons CANNON CRACKERS. CANNON CRACKER COMPOSITION MAROONS. FLASH CRACKERS. TORPEDOES. SILVER TORPEDOES - Fulminate of Silver JAPANESE or CAP TORPEDOES RAILROAD TORPEDOES PAPER CAPS - for toy pistols. WHISTLING FIREWORKS SON OF A GUN (Spit Devil-Devil on the Walk). SON OF A GUN COMPOSITION PHARAOHS SERPENTS EGGS. MAGIC SERPENT, (Black). SNAKE NESTS (Snake in the grass). COLORED FLAMES. COLORED FIRE STICKS Ruby and Emerald Shower Sticks SPARKLERS. STEEL SPARKLER. WATER FIREWORKS. SMOKE and SPARK POTS. SMOKE SCREENS. SMOKE SMOKE SHELLS (Smoke Clouds) SMOKE POTS or SMOKE CASES White, Black, Red, Yellow (Canary), Yellow (Olive), Green, Blue Part IV. - EXHIBITION FIREWORKS - SNAKE and BUTTERFLY ROCKET WHEEL REVOLVING GLOBE APPENDIX. CHINESE FIRE CRACKERS. FLASH CRACKERS. 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