Illuminated Spiral Wheels.
11. Illuminated Spiral Wheels.
Provide a horizontal wheel with circular fells complete, which should be about two feet six inches diameter; on its circumference, and at equal distances from each other, fix three pieces of light deal about four feet long, and at top connect them to a cylindrical block about three inches diameter; this block must be perpendicular to that of the wheel below. The wheel being thus far advanced, have a thin flexible lath or hoop, and having nailed one end to the bottom of one of the upright pieces, proceed to wind it round the three uprights in a spiral line from the wheel to the top block, to which the other end must be made fast; on the top of the block fix a case of Chinese-fire; on the wheel you may place any number of cases, which should incline downwards, and burn two at a time. If the wheel has ten cases, the illuminations and Chinese-fire may begin with the second case.
The axis for this wheel must pass through the bottom nave, and into the block at top.
This wheel may be easily wrought into a double spiral wheel, by winding round it another lath in an opposite direction, and clothing it in a similar manner. At the top of either may be placed a case of spur-fire, or amber-light, or any other article the pyrotechnist may think proper.