Fixed suns are usually employed as a decoration for other works. They are sometimes sixty feet in diameter, and variously decorated. They are commonly, however, ten feet. The fire extends a considerable distance, sometimes, it is said, to the distance of thirty feet; but this must depend on the size of the cases.
Sec. V. Of Fixed Suns with Transparent Faces.
Fixed suns may be made with transparent faces in the following manner: Two rows of cases must be fixed in radii from the face of the sun, the sun being in the centre; and these cases, being placed alternately one above the other, and preserving the same distance all round, present what is called a double glory, and make the rays strong and full. The frame or sun-wheel is made thus: Have a circular flat nave, made very strong, 12 inches in diameter, and fix six strong flat spokes, proceeding from the circle that contains the sun's face to the extremity of the wheel, and also two other hoops, placed between it and the sun. To these, and the external wheel, the cases are tied. When the cases are tied on, leaders are attached from the upper to the under cases. The front of these spokes supports a circular fell, five feet in diameter. Within this is another fell, smaller in diameter by the length of one of the sun cases; and within this also is a third fell, whose diameter must be less than the second by the length of one case and one third. The fells are divided into as many equal parts as we employ cases, which may be from twenty-four to forty-four. At each division, fix a flat iron staple. These staples must be made to fix the cases and hold them fast on the wheel. The staples must be so placed, that one row of cases may lie in the middle of the intervals of the other. There is a spindle in the centre of the block of the sun, to which a small hexagonal wheel is put. The cases of this wheel must be filled with the same charge as the cases of the sun. Two cases must burn at a time, and begin with them on the fells. The pipes of communication are to be carried from one to the other, and from one side of the sun to the wheel in the middle, and from thence to the other side of the sun. They will hold the wheel steady, when the sun is fixing up.
A sun thus made is called a brilliant sun, as there appears nothing but sparks of brilliant fire, the wood-work being covered with fire from the wheel in the middle. A transparent face is usually made with pasteboard, by cutting out the eyes, nose, and mouth, for the sparks of the wheel to appear through. A face may be painted on oiled paper, or Persian silk, put over a hoop, and supported by three or four pieces of wire at six inches distance from the wheel in the centre. The silk may be painted according to fancy.
As to the size of cases for a sun of five feet in diameter, half-pound cases, filled ten inches with composition, is considered a good proportion.
Sec. VI. Of the Rose-Piece and Sun.
This exhibition may be made in such a manner as to produce a pleasing effect. A rose-piece may be used for a mutation, or change of a regulated piece, or fixed by itself. It makes the best appearance, when made large. If its exterior diameter be six feet, it will be a good size. Let the exterior fell be made of wood, and supported by four wooden spokes. All the other parts, on which the illuminations are fixed, must be made of strong iron-wire. On the exterior fell, place as many half pound cases of brilliant charge, as will be sufficient; but the more, the greater will be the effect, for the nearer the cases are placed, the stronger will be the rays of the sun. The illuminations should be placed within three inches of each other. They must all be fired together, and burn some time before the sun is lighted, which may be done by carrying a leader from the middle of one of the illuminations to the mouth of one of the sun cases.
Sec. VII. Of the Manner of changing a Horizontal to a Vertical Wheel, and representing a Sun in front.
In order to produce this change, the wheel for this purpose should be about three feet in diameter, and its fell circular, on which tie sixteen half-pound cases, filled with brilliant charge. Two of these cases must burn at a time. On each end of the nave is to be a tin barrel of the same construction as those on the regulated piece. We must then have a stand, made of any height, about three or four inches square, and saw off from the top a piece two feet long. This piece is then to be joined again, at the place where it was cut, with a hinge on one side, so that it may lift up and down in the front of the stand. Then fix on the top of the bottom part of the stand, on each side, a bracket, which must project, at right angles with the stand, one foot from the front, for the short piece to rest on. These brackets are to be placed a little above the joint of the post, so that, when the upper stand falls, it may lie between them at right angles with the bottom stand; which may be done by fixing a piece of wood one foot long between the brackets, and even with the top of the bottom stand. Then, as the brackets rise above the bottom stand, they will form a channel for the short post to lie in, and keep it steady without straining the hinge. On the side of the short post, opposite the hinge, nail a piece of wood of such a length, that, when the post is perpendicular, it may reach about one and a half feet down the long post; to which, being tied, it will hold the short stand upright. The stand being thus prepared, in the top of it, fix a spindle ten inches long. On this spindle put the wheel; then fix on a brilliant sun, with a single glory. The diameter of this sun must be six inches less than that of the wheel. When we fire this piece, attention must be paid to light the wheel first, and let it run horizontally till four cases are consumed. Then, from the end of the fourth case, carry a leader into the tin barrel that turns over the end of the stand. This leader must be met by another, brought through the top of the post, from a case filled with a strong port-fire charge, and tied to the bottom post, with its mouth facing the pack thread, which holds up the stand; so that, when this case is lighted it will burn the pack thread and let the wheel fall forward, by which means it will become vertical. Then from the last case of the wheel, carry a leader into the barrel, next the sun, which will begin as soon as the wheel is burnt out.
Sec. VIII. Of Caprices and Fire-Wands.