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

by G. W. Mortimer

2. TOWERING ROCKETS.

So called from their ascending to a greater height than any others; it is effected by fixing one Rocket on the top of another of superior dimensions:—thus, suppose the lower one to be a twelve-ounce, then the upper one should be a three-ounce Rocket; the larger one must have a small head formed round its own diameter, then place the mouth of the smaller one in it; the mouth should be rubbed with mealed powder wetted with spirits of wine; the bore in the charge should not be filled, but have inserted in it a bit of quick-match, the other end of which should enter the perforations at the top of the greater Rocket, which will form a communication between them. The large Rocket must be filled only half a diameter above the piercer; if filled higher, it will begin to descend before the upper has taken fire, and produce no additional effect.

The force by which the small Rocket goes off, will be sufficient to disengage it from the other, without the use of powder to effect it; one round of paper pasted round the juncture of the two Rockets will be sufficient to connect them together.

In regard to the rods for Towering Rockets, the same principles are to be applied as for the others.

Honorary Rockets.

3. HONORARY ROCKETS.

Take about a pound Rocket of our first description, such as is represented in [fig. 23]; then on the case, close to the top of the rod, tie on, in a transverse direction, a two-ounce case, which should be filled with a strong charge, and choaked quite close at both ends; then towards each end, and in the reverse sides, bore a hole of moderate size, and from each carry a leader into the top of the large Rocket. When the Rocket attains its greatest height, it communicates fire to the cross one at top; from the holes being made in a transverse direction, will turn round very fast, and represent in its return to the ground, a spiral of descending fire. There are several other methods of adjusting the small case; one consists in letting the rod rise about an inch or somewhat more above the top of the Rocket, and tying the case to it, so as to rest on the Rocket; when adjusted after this manner, the Rockets should be without their conical cap.

Caduceus Rockets.

4. CADUCEUS[13] ROCKETS.

If two Rockets be fixed obliquely on the opposite sides of a rod, they will form in their flight two spiral lines; they must exactly balance each other on the opposite side of the rod, or they will not rise in a vertical direction. Both ends of the Rockets must be choaked close, without either head or bounce, for a weight attached to them would obstruct their ascent. The rod proper for these Rockets should be square, and at top equal to the breadth of a rod for a common single Rocket, of the same weight as those you intend to use, and long enough to be in equilibrium, when suspended one length of the Rocket from the cross piece A, [fig. 24], whose length should be equal to about seven diameters of the Rocket, and placed about six diameters from the top of the large rod; so that when fixed, they will form with the perpendiculars an angle of about 55 or 60 degrees.