each end of this goes another smaller tube, all having communication with one another. These are filled with mealed powder, covered over with paper, dipped in wax or pitch, and a counterpoise being fixed below, it is fired. As soon as the composition is burnt down to the cap, it is conveyed through small tubes to the lower part, where beating out the partition, it disperses the powder, stars, &c. into the air. See fig. 32. Charges for Water-rockets. MEALED powder six ounces, resin one ounce, charcoal three quarters of an ounce, nitre one ounce, corn powder one ounce. Nitre one pound, sulphur eight ounces, mealed powder eight ounces, and charcoal four ounces and a half. Nitre four ounces, sulphur three ounces, and charcoal three quarters of an ounce. Mealed powder one pound and a half, nitre half a pound, sulphur four ounces and a half, charcoal six ounces, coarse coal two ounces and a half, and lead, for sinking, one ounce. Mealed powder two pounds, nitre one pound, sulphur ten ounces, charcoal eight ounces, coarse coal three ounces, sinking lead one ounce and three quarters (for three quar- ter ounce rockets.) Mealed powder two pounds, nitre two pounds, sulphur one pound, charcoal four ounces, coarse coal three ounces, tanncr's-dust two ounces and a half, saw-dust two ounces, glass powder one ounce, sinking lead one ounce and three quarters, for one pound rockets. Mealed powder half a pound; nitre three quarters of a pound, charcoal five ounces, saw-dust half an ounce, and a quarter of an ounce of fine chopped cotton, boiled in nitre lye. Charges
[24]
Charges for Water-crackers.
Mealed powder two pounds and a half, nitre one pound and a half, sulphur ten ounces, charcoal eleven ounces, coarse coals nine ounces ; the sinking to two ounce crackers, quarter of an ounce of lead.
Mealed powder two pounds and half, nitre two pounds and half, sulphur one pound five ounces, saw-dust twelve ounces, charcoal three quarters of pound, coarse coals half pound the sinking, quarter of an ounce.
Mealed powder four ounces, nitre five pounds, sulphur two pounds and three quarters, tanner's-dust one pound and half, charcoal one pound, coarse coals two pounds and three quarters, glass-dust four ounces, lead three quarters of an ounce to sink it.
Charges for Tumbling Water-crackers.
Mealed powder one pound, nitre one ounce, and charcoal one ounce and half.-
Mealed powder one pound, nitre eight ounces, sulphur three quarters of an ounce, and charcoal one ounce and three quarters.
Mealed powder three quarters of pound, charcoal four ounces for one and half, or two pound rockets.
Charges for Water -cats.
Mealed powder two parts, nitre four parts, sulphur one part, coarse coals two parts, saw-dust two parts, and antimony three parts, moistened with linseed oil.
Mealed powder two ounces and half, nitre three ounces and half, sulphur two ounces and half, and antimony
half an ounce.
Mealed
Charges for Water-crackers.
Mealed powder two pounds and a half, nitre one pound and a half, sulphur ten ounces, charcoal eleven ounces, coarse coals nine ounces ; the sinking to two ounce crackers, quarter of an ounce of lead.
Mealed powder two pounds and half, nitre two pounds and half, sulphur one pound five ounces, saw-dust twelve ounces, charcoal three quarters of pound, coarse coals half pound the sinking, quarter of an ounce.
Mealed powder four ounces, nitre five pounds, sulphur two pounds and three quarters, tanner's-dust one pound and half, charcoal one pound, coarse coals two pounds and three quarters, glass-dust four ounces, lead three quarters of an ounce to sink it.
Charges for Tumbling Water-crackers.
Mealed powder one pound, nitre one ounce, and charcoal one ounce and half.-
Mealed powder one pound, nitre eight ounces, sulphur three quarters of an ounce, and charcoal one ounce and three quarters.
Mealed powder three quarters of pound, charcoal four ounces for one and half, or two pound rockets.
Charges for Water-cats.
Mealed powder two parts, nitre four parts, sulphur one part, coarse coals two parts, saw-dust two parts, and antimony three parts, moistened with linseed oil.
Mealed powder two ounces and half, nitre three ounces and half, sulphur two ounces and half, and antimony half an ounce.
Mealed
Original from -
Mealed flour one pound, nitre two pounds, sulphur one pound, and charcoal one pound.
Nitre fifteen ounces, sulphur five ounces, saw-dust eight ounces, and antimony two ounces.
Some general Remarks upon Rockets.
1. Your rockets must have their proportionable height, according to the diameters of their orifices.
2. Their necks must be drawn, or choaked, firm ; and, to prevent the cord giving way, they must be glued over.
3. Prepare your composition just before you want it.
4. Let it be neither too damp nor too dry, but sprinkle
it over with a little oily substance, or a little brandy.
5. When you drive your rockets, put always equal quan¬tities of composition in your cases at a time.
6. Carry with your mallet an even and perpendicular stroke, when you charge your rockets.
7. The cavity must be bored upright and perpendicular, exactly in the middle of the composition.
8. Bore your rockets just before you use them ; then handle them carefully, lest their form should be spoiled.
9. Let the sticks and rods be well proportioned, strait and smooth.
10. Put your rockets, when completed, in a place that is neither very damp nor dry.
1 1 . Let most of your rockets have at top a conic figure, by that means they will the easier shoot through the air.
12. Avoid, if possible, a damp, foggy, rainy or windy night, to play your rockets.
Defective Rockets are chiefly discovered by the following
Observations.
I. When they are fired, and in mounting two or three perches, they break and disperse, without performing their proper effects.
2. When they remain suspended on the nail, and waste away slowly, without rising at all.
3. When they form an arch in their ascent, or a semi~circle, and return to the ground before their composition is burnt out.
4. When they mount in a winding posture, without an uniform motion.
5. When they move on slowly and heavy.
6. When the cases remain on the nails, and the com¬position rises and disperses in the air.
More of these vexatious accidents will sometimes fru¬strate the hopes of a young practitioner ; but as the above are the principal ones, he must endeavour to avoid them in his first beginning.
Of Rocket-flyers, and the Manner of charging them.
These are of two sorts, namely, the single and dou¬ble ; the latter are made after the following manner :
Have a nave, or button, turned, the dimension of three inches, together with two knots upon perpendicular, one against the other, of an inch and half long, and so thick that both rocket-cases may fit over them (there must be hole, of the third of an inch in the centre of the nave, for the iron pin to go through, on which to fly;) after this, take two rocket cases, of equal dimen¬sions, which are choaked quite close at the neck, and glued ram in the charge, so far as to leave only room to fix them on the two knobs upon the nave this done, bore into both rockets, near the closed-up necks, small touch-holes, (and one more near the pin) in that which to burn first from this hole, carry little pipe to the hole near the neck of the other rocket, having first filled with mealed powder, that when the rocket almost burnt out, the second may be lighted by the first. The three touch-holes are to stand in one row and you may on the other side fix a couple of reports, which will cause a swifter motion.
The single flyers are made with more ease ; the neck in these must not be tied close, as in the former, but they must be fired in that place ; but these do not turn so well as those that are made double.
Of Fire-wheels.
Of these there are three sorts, viz. single, double, and triple ; some of their fells are of a circular form, others an hexagonal, octagonal, or decagonal form ; some like a star, without fells ; some, and the most of them, are made to run perpendicular to the earth ; others horizontal ; all may be ordered so as to serve either on land or water.
Horizontal wheels are often fired two at a time, and made to keep time like vertical wheels ; only they are made without any slow or dead fire : ten or twelve inches will be enough for the diameter of wheels with six spokes. Fig. 34, represents such a wheel on fire, with the first case burning.
The fire-wheels that are used on land, turn upon an iron pin or bolt, drawn or screwed into a post. The nave is turned of close and firm wood, in which the joiners glue the spokes, according to the number of the fells, which must be carefully joined together ; then have a groove hollowed round, so deep that the rocket or case may be about half lodged therein. See fig. 35.
The double wheels must have their fells turned stronger and wider, with a groove for the rockets, not only at top, but also on one side thereof; plying the necks of the rockets at top, to the right, and those of the sides to the left hand. See fig. 36.
Your rockets being ready, and cut behind a little shelv¬ing, bore them ; the first, three diameters of its orifice ; the second, two and three quarters ; the third, two and a
quarter; the fourth, two diameters ; the fifth, one and three quarters ; the sixth, one and a half; the seventh, one and a quarter ; the eighth, one diameter ; always the latter something shorter than the preceding :— after this,
they are primed with mealed powder worked up with
brandy, and when dry, glued in the above described
grooves ; you must bear the first-fired rocket's neck above the rest, underlaying it with a tin plate, or any thing else ; the same you must observe in the head of the last fired one, wherein you put the charge of a report , you may also glue on every end of the rockets, a report of paper, with small pipes of copper, or goose-quills, which are fixed one end in the side of the rocket, and the other in the report. When all is dry, then you may cover your wheel on one or both sides, with linen or paper, in what form you would have it.
Of Tourbillons.
Having filled some cases within about one and a haff diameter, drive in some clay ; then pinch their ends close, and drive them down with a mallet ; when done, find the centre of gravity of each case, where nail and tic a stick, which should be half an inch broad at the middle, and a little narrower at the ends : these sticks must have their ends turned upwards, so that the cases may turn horizon¬tally on their centres : at the opposite side of the cases, at each end, bore a hole close to the clay with a gimlet ; from these holes draw a fine round the case, and at the under part of the case bore a hole, with the same gimlet, within half a diameter of each line towards the centre ; then from one hole to the other draw a right line : divide this line into three equal parts, and at X and Y, fig. 38.
2. bore hole, and from this hole to the other two,
lead quick match, over which paste thin paper.
A fire wheel which is to whirl horizontally in the water must be thus ordered :
Take a pretty large wooden dish, or bowl, that has a broad flat rim ; (see fig. 39 ;) also a smooth dry board,
something larger than the dish, and formed into an octa¬gon ; in the middle of this board make a round hole that will hold a water-ball, so that one half be received in the dish, and the other half rise above the surface of the board ; nail this board upon the rim of the dish, and fix the ball in the middle, tying it fast with wire ; then glue your rockets in the grooves which are made round the
edges of the board, laying them close to one another, so that successively taking fire from one another, they may keep the wheel in an equal rotation. You may add, if you please, on each side of the wheel, a few boxes, filled with crackers or cartouches, erected perpendicular ; and also fix double and single crackers, following in a range, one after another, for two or three fires ; or as many as the extent of the wheel will admit.
For your private fuzees, observe that you conduct one from the rocket, which is to be fixed to the composition of the ball, in a channel.
Fill these channels with mealed powder, and cover them close with paper : also lay a train of fusees of communi¬cation from the rockets to a cartouch, and from that to the rest. See fig. 40.
Lastly, when all is ready and covered, dip the whole machine into melted pitch, and secure it from the injury of the water ; the ball is fired first, and, when lighted, you place it gently on the surface of the water, and then lire the. rocket.
To try a fire-wheel ; first weigh one of the rockets, and tie it to a fell, with cord, and according to the weight, fill little long bags full of sand, tying them likewise on the
rest of the fells ; then, hang the wheel on an iron pin, and
and fire the rocket, and if it turns the wheel, then yon may assure yourself it will be complete.
Wheels formed like stars, are to have their spokes fixed upright in the nave, like other wheels, only with grooves on one of the sides of each, where you glue the rockets; at the bottom of each rocket is made a little hole, whence the fire is conveyed through little pipes, filled with mealed powder up to the next, and so on, all round ; then cover it with linen cloth, or paper, in the shape of a star, and place it on the iron axis.
Observe, that all the rockets used in fire-wheels have their necks tied close, leaving only a small conveyance from one rocket to another :— the last of all must be well secured below, where you may place a strong report of corn powder.
Charges for Fire-flyers and Wheels, of four, five, and
sir Ounce Rockets.
Mealed powder three pounds, nitre two pounds, char¬coal five ounces, and sea-coal three ounces.
Mealed powder fourteen ounces, nitre six ounces, char¬coal three ounces and a half, sulphur three ounces, and sea-coal three ounces.
Mealed powder fifteen ounces, nitre six ounces, sulphur three ounces, and charcoal three ounces.
Nitre five pounds, sulphur three quarters of a pound, charcoal one pound four ounces.
These charges are bored with a round bodkin.
Mealed powder two pounds, sea-coal eight ounces, and
charcoal ten ounces.
Mealed powder three pounds, sulphur eight ounces, and charcoal ten ounces.
These charges may be used for triple wheels, and must be bored, one-third, with a bodkin.
For