PYROTECHNICS
Fireworks.
The chief chemical process is, of course, oxidation. Oxidation may be produced by the atmosphere, but in many cases this is not enough, and then the pyrotechnist must employ his knowledge of chemistry in selecting oxidizing agents.
The chief of these oxidizing agents are chlorates and nitrates, the effect of which is to promote the continuance of combustion when it is once started. They are specially useful, owing to their solid non-hygroscopic nature. Then ingredients are needed to prevent the too speedy action of the oxidizing agents, to regulate the process of combustion, such as calomel, sand, and sulphate of potash. Thirdly, there are the active ingredients that produce the desired effect, prominent among which are substances that in contact with flame impart some special color to it. Brilliancy and brightness are imparted by steel, zinc, and copper {609} filings. Other substances employed are lampblack with gunpowder, and, for theatre purposes, lycopodium.
Fireworks may be classified under four heads, viz.:
1. Single fireworks.
2. Terrestrial fireworks, which are placed upon the ground and the fire issues direct from the surface.
3. Atmospheric fireworks, which begin their display in the air.
4. Aquatic fireworks, in which oxidation is so intense that they produce a flame under water.
Rockets.
| Sulphur | 1 part |
| Carbon, wood | 2 parts |
| Niter | 4 parts |
| Meal powder | 1 part |
Meal powder is a fine black or brown dust, which acts as a diluent.
Roman Candles.
| Sulphur | 4 parts |
| Carbon | 3 parts |
| Niter | 8 parts |
Pin Wheels.
| Sulphur | 5 parts |
| Niter | 9 parts |
| Meal powder | 15 parts |
| Color as desired. |
Bengal Lights.
| Realgar | 1 part |
| Black antimony | 5 parts |
| Red lead | 1 part |
| Sulphur | 3 parts |
| Niter | 14 parts |
Colored Fires.
The compounds should be ignited in a small pill box resting on a plate. All the ingredients must be dried and powdered separately, and then lightly mixed on a sheet of paper. Always bear in mind that sulphur and chlorate of potassium explode violently if rubbed together.
Smokeless Vari-colored Fire.
The following salts, if finely powdered and burned in an iron ladle with a little spirits, will communicate to the flame their peculiar colors.
- Potassium nitrate or sodium chlorate, yellow.
- Potassium chlorate, violet.
- Calcium chloride, orange.
- Strontium nitrate, red.
- Barium nitrate, apple green.
- Copper nitrate, emerald green.
- Borax, green.
- Lithium chloride, purple.
The colored fires are used largely in the production of various theatrical effects.
Blue Fire.—
| I.— | Ter-sulphuret of antimony | 1 part |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | 2 parts | |
| Nitrate of potassium | 6 parts | |
| II.— | Sulphur | 15 parts |
| Potassium sulphate | 15 parts | |
| Ammonio-cupric sulphate | 15 parts | |
| Potassium nitrate | 27 parts | |
| Potassium chlorate | 28 parts | |
| III.— | Chlorate of potash | 8 parts |
| Calomel | 4 parts | |
| Copper sulphate | 5 parts | |
| Shellac | 3 parts | |
| IV.— | Ore pigment | 2 parts |
| Charcoal | 3 parts | |
| Potassium chloride | 5 parts | |
| Sulphur | 13 parts | |
| Potassium nitrate | 77 parts | |
| V.— | Potassium chlorate | 10 parts |
| Copper chlorate | 20 parts | |
| Alcohol | 20 parts | |
| Water | 100 parts | |
| VI.— | Copper chlorate | 100 parts |
| Copper nitrate | 50 parts | |
| Barium chlorate | 25 parts | |
| Potassium chlorate | 100 parts | |
| Alcohol | 500 parts | |
| Water | 1,000 parts |
Green.—
| I.— | Barium chlorate | 20 parts |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | 20 parts | |
| Water | 100 parts | |
| II.— | Barium nitrate | 10 parts |
| Potassium chlorate | 10 parts | |
| Alcohol | 20 parts | |
| Water | 100 parts | |
| III.— | Shellac | 5 parts |
| Barium nitrate | 1 1/4 parts |
Pound after cooling, and add Barium chlorate, 2 to 5 per cent.
Red.—
| I.— | Shellac | 5 parts |
|---|---|---|
| Strontium nitrate | 1 to 1.2 parts |
Preparation as in green fare. In damp weather add 2 to 4 per cent of potassium chlorate to the red flame; the latter causes a little more smoke.
| II.— | Strontium nitrate | 20 parts |
|---|---|---|
| Potassium chlorate | 10 parts | |
| Alcohol | 20 parts | |
| Water | 100 parts |
Yellow.—
| I.— | Sulphur | 16 parts |
|---|---|---|
| Dried carbonate of soda | 23 parts | |
| Chlorate of potassium | 61 parts | |
| II.— | Sodium chlorate | 20 parts |
| Potassium oxalate | 10 parts | |
| Alcohol | 20 parts | |
| Water | 100 parts |
Violet.—
| I.— | Strontium chlorate | 15 parts |
|---|---|---|
| Copper chlorate | 15 parts | |
| Potassium chlorate | 15 parts | |
| Alcohol | 50 parts | |
| Water | 100 parts | |
| II.— | Potassium chlorate | 20 parts |
| Strontium chlorate | 20 parts | |
| Copper chlorate | 10 parts | |
| Alcohol | 50 parts | |
| Water | 100 parts |
Lilac.—
| Potassium chlorate | 20 parts |
| Copper chlorate | 10 parts |
| Strontium chloride | 10 parts |
| Alcohol | 50 parts |
| Water | 100 parts |
Mauve.—
| Chlorate of potash | 28 parts |
| Calomel | 12 parts |
| Shellac | 4 parts |
| Strontium nitrate | 4 parts |
| Cupric sulphate | 2 parts |
| Fat | 1 part |
Purple.—
| Copper sulphide | 8 parts |
| Calomel | 7 parts |
| Sulphur | 2 parts |
| Chlorate of potash | 16 parts |
White.—
| I.— | Gunpowder | 15 parts |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | 22 parts | |
| Nitrate of potassium | 64 parts | |
| II.— | Potassium nitrate | 30 parts |
| Sulphur | 10 parts | |
| Antimony sulphide (black) | 5 parts | |
| Flour | 3 parts | |
| Powdered camphor | 2 parts | |
| III.— | Charcoal | 1 part |
| Sulphur | 11 parts | |
| Potassium sulphide | 38 parts | |
| IV.— | Stearine | 1 part |
| Barium carbonate | 1 part | |
| Milk sugar | 4 parts | |
| Potassium nitrate | 4 parts | |
| Potassium chlorate | 12 parts |
As a general rule, a corresponding quantity of shellac may be taken instead of the sulphur for inside fireworks.
The directions for using these solutions are simply to imbibe bibulous papers in them, then carefully dry and roll tightly into rolls of suitable length, according to the length of time they are to burn.
Fuses.
| Potassium nitrate | 2 parts |
| Lead acetate | 40 parts |
| Water | 100 parts |
Mix and dissolve, and in the solution place unsized paper; raise to nearly a boil and keep at this temperature for 20 minutes. If the paper is to be “slow,” it may now be taken out, dried, cut into strips, and rolled. If to be “faster,” the heat is to be continued longer, according to the quickness desired. Care must be taken to avoid boiling, which might disintegrate the paper.
In preparing these papers, every precaution against fire should be taken, and their preparation in the shop or house should not be thought of. In making the solutions, etc., where heat is necessary, the water bath should invariably be used.
Pyrotechnic Magic.
[Caution.—When about to place any lighted material in the mouth be sure that the mouth is well coated with saliva, and that you are exhaling the breath continuously, with greater or less force, according to the amount of heat you can bear.
If the lighted material shows a tendency to burn the mouth, do not attempt to drag it out quickly, but simply shut the lips tight, and breathe through the nose, and the fire must go out instantly.
In the Human Gas Trick, where a flame 10 to 15 inches long is blown from the mouth, be careful after lighting the {611} gas, to continue to exhale the breath. When you desire the gas to go out, simply shut the lips tight and hold the breath for a few seconds. In this trick, until the gas is well out, any inhalation is likely to be attended with the most serious results.
The several cautions above given may be examined with a lighted match, first removing, after lighting the match, any brimstone or phosphorus from its end.]
To Fire Paper, Etc., By Breathing On It.
Half fill a half-ounce bottle with carbon disulphide, and drop in 1 or 2 fragments of phosphorus, each the size of a pea, which will quickly dissolve. Shake up the liquid, and pour out a small teaspoonful onto a piece of blotting paper. The carbon disulphide will quickly evaporate, leaving a film of phosphorus on the paper, which will quickly emit fumes and burst into flame. The once-popular term Fenian fire was derived from the supposed use of this liquid by the Fenians for the purpose of setting fire to houses by throwing a bottle down a chimney or through a window, the bottle to break and its contents to speedily set fire to the place.
For the purpose of experiment this liquid should only be prepared in small quantities as above, and any left over should be poured away onto the soil in the open air, so as to obviate the risk of fire. Thin paper may be fired in a similar manner with the acid bulbs and powder already mentioned. The powder should be formed into a paste, laid on the paper, and allowed to dry. Then the acid bulb is pasted over the powder.
Burning Brimstone.
Blazing Sponge Trick.
Burning Sealing Wax.
Demon Bowls Of Fire.
Each bowl contains about 2 teaspoonfuls of ether, upon which is placed a small piece of the metal potassium, about the size of a pea. If the ether be pure the potassium will not be acted upon. When the water is poured into the bowl the ether and potassium float up, the latter acting vigorously on the water, evolving hydrogen and setting fire thereto, and to the ether as well.
The water may be poured into the bowl and lighted at command. In this case the potassium and ether are kept separated in the bowl, the former in a little cup on one side, and the latter in the body of the bowl. The water is poured in, and on rocking the bowl it is caused to wash into the little cup, the potassium floats up, and the fire is produced.
N. B.—The above tricks are not safe in any but specially made bowls, i. e., bowls with the wide flange round edge to prevent the accidental spilling of any portion of the burning ether.
The Burning Banana.
Sparks From The Finger Tips.
To Take Boiling Lead In The Mouth.
| Bismuth | 8 parts |
| Lead | 5 parts |
| Tin | 2 parts |
To prepare it, first melt the lead in a crucible, then add the bismuth and finally the tin, and stir well together with a piece of tobacco pipe stem. This “fusible metal” will melt in boiling water, and a teaspoon cast from the alloy will melt if very hot water be poured into it, or if boiling water be stirred with it. If the water be not quite boiling, as is pretty sure to be the case if tea from a teapot is used, in all probability the heat will be insufficient to melt the spoon. But by melting the alloy and adding to it a small quantity of quicksilver a compound will be produced, which, though solid at the ordinary temperature, will melt in water very much below the boiling point. Another variety of easily fusible alloy is made by melting together
| Bismuth | 7 to 8 parts |
| Lead | 4 parts |
| Tin | 2 parts |
| Cadmium | 1 to 2 parts |
This mixture melts at 158°, that given above at 208° F.
Either one of the several alloys above given will contain considerably less heat than lead, and in consequence be the more suitable for the purposes of a “Fire King.”
When a body is melted it is raised to a certain temperature and then gets no hotter, not even if the fire be increased—all the extra heat goes to melt the remainder of the substance.
Second Method.—This is done with a ladle constructed similarly to the tin cup in a previous trick. The lead, genuine in this case, is, apparently, drunk from the ladle, which is then tilted, that it may be seen to be empty. The lead is concealed in the secret interior of the ladle, and a solid piece of lead is in conclusion dropped from the mouth, as congealed metal.
To Eat Burning Coals.
Chain Of Fire.
NOTE.—Have a good hold of the end with the tongs, for if it should fall it would probably inflict a serious burn; for this reason also no burning oil must drop from the cotton.
Biting Off Red-hot Iron.
Water Stirred Yellow, Scarlet, And Colorless.
To heighten the effect, another ale glass, containing only clean water and a solid glass stirring-rod, may be handed to one of the company, with instructions to do the same as the performer; the result is amusing.
QUICK-WATER: See Alloys.
QUILTS, TO CLEAN: See Cleaning Preparations and Methods.
QUINCE EXTRACT: See Essences and Extracts.
RAGS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING: See Cleaning Preparations and Methods.
RASPBERRYADE POWDER: See Salts, Effervescent.
RASPBERRY SYRUP: See Essences and Extracts.