49 replies to this topic

[spectrum]

Just to fill in a gap - the voluntary agreement was NOT to use flash but BP instead. The importers ignored this, everyone else followed and that caused the probs.

[concept]

Thanks for your reply spectrum, it’s really opened my eyes to how fireworks were made in days gone by. A little off topic here but does anyone know when astra was bought out by cosmic and the reason why? My current batch of bp will be dry in a couple of days so I’ve started rolling some tubes and making touchpaper, the 3-2-1's will live again .

[spectrum]

Thanks for your reply spectrum, it's really opened my eyes to how fireworks were made in days gone by. A little off topic here but does anyone know when astra was bought out by cosmic and the reason why? My current batch of bp will be dry in a couple of days so I've started rolling some tubes and making touchpaper, the 3-2-1's will live again .

Astra were not, as far as I am aware bought out by Cosmic. The "Astra" name was in fact a trademark owned by an overseas company / investor and provided under license for use by the former owners of Astra. When the company went under thhe name couldn't be realised as an asset. I was under the impression that the Cosmic "Astra" has nothing at all to do with this trademark, I could be wrong.

[concept]

While researching into the "old firework" companies I stumbled upon this website http://www.firework-art.com/text_companies.htm, it provides a very interesting reading and it’s sad to hear about the fate of some of the manufacturers. Would it ever be possible to revive a company like Brock’s (who were bought out by standard, who in turn were bought out by black cat). Would this mean that black cat own the brand name. Back to the topic in hand, I’ve made a brocks cannon, does anyone know if these were filled with fash or BP.

Cheers, Doug

[Rip Rap]

I’ve made a brocks cannon, does anyone know if these were filled with fash or BP.

Cheers, Doug

This page gives an excellent, nostalgic & entertaining insight into lots of old fireworks - http://www.fireworks-mag.org/news6.htm

It seems that the Brocks cannon was the same as most British bangers - from the 1920's through to the 1950's they were made with flash, then they migrated to B.P. in the late '50's or early '60's.

[concept]

Hi all, just an update here on the progress with my "bangers", I made a couple of prototypes yesterday (without out labels and visco fuse instead of touch paper) they worked brilliantly, my dad said they sounded like they did in "good old days" . Anyway in the next couple of days I will be making some exact replicas, they should be on youtube in the next week or so. Just a short question here was touch paper banned to be used as fuse or when companies stared to import their fireworks they just used visco instead?

Thanks Doug

[pyromaniac303]

As far as I know it was voluntary, as visco is less susceptible to premature ignition from stray sparks, can be seen to be burning and getting shorter, which gives a greater indication of how long youve got to escape, and it also means that smaller fuse holes can be used, as there is no need for the 'spollette' type things seen on old ground salutes.

[dr thrust]

i agree, the problem with touch paper was sometimes you could,nt tell if it was lit,or not where you can see visco no, problem and its a hotter more reliable fuse, although! touch paper and a spoulette would be more technically challenging/interesting to the constructor

Edited by chris m, 23 March 2008 - 01:03 PM.

[EnigmaticBiker]

I found the dark blue spoulette (spollette?) colour could be made with light brown Kraft paper soaked in Quink blue-black ink, wrapped around a ~5mm rod (old printers are great for stainless rods).
The touchpaper would be made by soaking the same paper in saturated KNO3.

I agree it isn't as reliable as visco but looks the part.

3-2-1s need a vermillion red colour on white paper.

If I recall correctly the base of the spoulettes had hardened BP to prevent the contents moving, dextrin? Spectrum might know.

[Arthur Brown]

The problem with blue touch paper was compliance with the cat 1, 2, & 3 fuse timing specifications. While the blue touch paper has historical and emotive importance only a better, more precise timing method will allow fireworks to complu with the BS spec for fuse time and time tolerance.

Blue paper may still be used just not blue touch paper. Wrap some visco fuse in blue paper!

[EnigmaticBiker]

The problem with blue touch paper was compliance with the cat 1, 2, & 3 fuse timing specifications.

Yes of course, the failure rate was a problem with that style of fuse and I recall any movement of the spoulette powder gave significant timimg differences.

[Firefiend]

The main tube on 3-2-1s is exactly 69mm long and the diameter 10.5mm. The fuses stick out between 11 and 17mm, in the box I have and are 5.7mm diameter plus the touchpaper. Standard varied the coulour of the touchpaper from dark to light blue and there was also one with a red and white tube, as can be seen from the pictures. Hope this helps.

[icarus]

the cases were weakened by a slot in the rolled case that formed a deliberate internal weakness This caused the bangers to fail a very important test -. the ability to smash an old tall pint milk bottle that they had been dropped into after ignition

to make a realistic working banger wrap visco in dark blue glued paper to make a reliable spoulette fuse. The visco end is dipped in nc laquer and whilst sticky a little bp. The blue touch paper that ignites the visco is KNO3and blue ink solution treated toilet tissue or paper towelling. Main paper case with clay plug no explanation needed i leave uncovered visco inside main case to ensure ignition of small bp charge (approx one third by volume)

[maxman]

Has anyone got a scan of a label for a 3-2-1 zero? I thought I had one but cant find it. I've looked on fireworks museum but can only find pictures of the banger. " re-creation time "

Maxman

[Potassium chlorate]

the cases were weakened by a slot in the rolled case that formed a deliberate internal weakness This caused the bangers to fail a very important test -. the ability to smash an old tall pint milk bottle that they had been dropped into after ignition

Not very strong then. The biggest Swedish bangers could break bottles easily. They consisted of 0.8 grams of hard packed meal powder with bentonite plugs and many layers of paper, though they were made in China the last years, I think.

Edited by Potassium chlorate, 14 October 2010 - 04:22 PM.