A Manual of Pyrotechny; or, A Familiar System of Recreative Fire-works

by G. W. Mortimer

To fire Rockets without Rods.

12. TO FIRE ROCKETS WITHOUT RODS.

Rockets may be made to rise in the air without rods, but in the place of which, they must have attached to them four triangular pasteboard wings, fixed lengthwise on the external of the cartridge, similar to those attached to arrows or darts. The length of these wings should be about three-fourths the length of the Rocket; their breadth at bottom should be half their length, and diminished off to nothing at top. The Rocket may be set over a hole in a board, and fired from the under side; or the four wings may rest on four iron pins, six or eight inches in length, drove into a board at suitable distances from each other, and the Rocket fired from between them.

Though the greatest care be employed in the exhibition of Rockets after this manner, still their ascent is by far less certain than when a rod is used; therefore the Tyro must not be disappointed if he chance to fail of success.