Hi everyone,
This is my first post, so please be kind 
A friend recently sent me a patent for socket distress signals, to be used at sea. The date of the patent was 1888.
I am wondering if any readers have any knowledge of the Cotton Powder company (now defunct, sadly) who used to
make such socket signals? If so, is there any information as to how bright the detonations were? The patent does not
give which chemical, or amount, was used so I have no idea as to how far such a signal fired, and reaching altitude
could be seen.
With best wishes
Paul
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http://www.paullee.com
I did have some experience disabling rockets similar to those you are describing for a museum 20 years ago.
If the Rockets date from 1888, the propellent would be blackpowder, the range and performance could be judged alongside the larger commercial fireworks, the motors I worked on were blackpowder charged and they dated from the second world war or thereabouts.
The intensity of the payload would not have been as bright as signals of today but not that far off. Magnesium, the most effective light producing fuel used in pyrotechnics was first employed in 1865 and would have been included in the formulation. The best light producing mixtures include Sodium Nitrate as a source of oxygen which, prior to the 1930's, was considered too hygroscopic for general, practical use and thus avoided. The most popular oxidisers prior to this time would have involved Barium Nitrate possibly in combination with Potassium Nitrate.
My guess would be that the payload would have outperformed that of any firework in terms of brightness, I imagine in my minds eye the scene in the film Titanic with the distress rockets launched in their desperate attempts to draw attention to the plight of the vessel and I would say that the depiction in the film would be pretty accurate.
I don't like to speculate on performance, I would say however that such a device would be clearly visible on a clear night from a range of five miles, give or take two, depending on conditions, angle of flight and the vision of the individual. Possibly up to ten.
Interestingly, a distant relative of mine was a survivor of the Titanic and possibly the last person to leap off the vessel. Her name was Bertha Mulvihill and I believe she leapt into lifeboat number 8 which (and I will stand to be corrected) was the last boat to be filled from the ship, she was certainly the last person to land in the boat.
