Provide a circular board about five feet diameter; and out of the middle cut a piece about fourteen inches diameter; then over the opening put a piece of white Persian silk, on which paint a moon’s face; over the whole of the large board draw a seven-pointed star, terminating in the circumference; then on the lines forming the star bore a number of holes at small distances from each other, wherein fix pointed stars. In each of the spaces between the points of this large star, cut out a five-pointed star, and cover each with oiled silk.
When this is to be exhibited, fix it on a spindle in front of a post, with a wheel of brilliant fire behind the face of it; so that while the wheel burns, the moon and stars will appear transparent; and when the wheel has ceased burning, they will disappear, and the large star in front, formed of the pointed stars, will begin, being lighted by a pipe of communication from the last case of the vertical wheel behind the moon, which must be effected as taught in a foregoing article.
Suns fixed and moveable.
21. Suns Fixed and Moveable.
Among the various amusing articles of pyrotechnic produce, none are more beautiful or afford greater remuneration of pleasure, than those under the denomination of Suns. They are of several kinds, as fixed, moveable, and transparent; they are all of simple construction.
Fixed suns after the following manner:—Provide a nave of wood, and in it fix fourteen or sixteen pieces in the form of radii; and to these radii attach jets of fire, the mouths of the jets being towards the circumference. A match must be applied in such a manner, that the fire communicated at the centre, may be conveyed at the same time, to the mouths of each of the jets; by which means each throwing its fire, the appearance will be that of a radiating sun; the wheel must be fixed in a vertical position.
The jets may be so arranged as to cross each other in an angular manner; in which case, instead of a sun you will have a star, or a sort of cross resembling that of Malta. Some of these suns are made also with several rows of jets; when they are so arranged they are called glories.
The wheel, or sun, may be caused to revolve by attaching jets to it in the direction of the circumference, with their heads and tails together. When the wheel is heavy four of the rockets must be fired together, and this in the following manner: supposing there are twenty cases employed, fire must be communicated at the same time to the first, the sixth, the eleventh, and the sixteenth; from which it will proceed to the second, the seventh, the twelfth, the seventeenth, and so on. These four rockets will make the wheel turn round with rapidity.
If two similar suns, with horizontal axes, are placed one behind the other, and made to turn in opposite directions, they will produce a very pleasing effect of cross-fire.
Three or four suns arranged on a similar axis, might be implanted in a vertical one, moveable in the middle of a table; which revolving around it would seem to pursue each other. They must be fixed firm on their axis and this axis must turn in the upright one in the middle of the table; and at the place where they rest on the table, should be furnished with a very moveable roller.