16 replies to this topic

[Monocle]

Stumbled across this splendid site a few days ago and I've spent a very enjoyable time wallowing in firework nostalgia and revisiting my childhood memories. However I do need some specific information and I wonder if any forum members might be able to offer some advice?


I was rooting around in my usual antique and charity shops the other day when I came across something that made me rock back in amazement. There, strewn casually across the floor, was a small group of old fireworks which were still live and unlit! Now I've been collecting bits and pieces for years but I must admit that this was a first for me. Although I normally seek out old bits of music etc, the site of these fireworks lit my own nostalgic blue touch paper and I was transported back to the many happy hours I spent in the 60s making my own 'Penny for the Guy' dummy when I'd trundle him out in our old pushchair and spend the raised coppers and sixpenny bits on a wondrous array of fireworks from my local newsagents. I can't think of anything much more thrilling then the day when Bonfire Night appeared on the horizon and the shop's glass cabinets were cleared to make way for small boxes of 'Jack in the Boxes' , 'Spitfires' and 'Silver Fountains' and other seasonal delights. Needless to say I bought that handful of fireworks and have spent the last few days showing them to all my middle-aged chums. You cannot believe the amount of memories they have rekindled and the happiness they have created!


However, my dear wife is a little less happy about having old live fireworks in our house - even if they are sealed in an airtight plastic box. So I am reluctantly going to have to considering selling them...although I'd love to try and plead to keep one! With this in mind I need to find out whether it's legal to sell on old fireworks? I assume that they would have to be emptied of their powder if they went on Ebay and the like? Although it would seem a shame seeing they've survived so many years not to keep them intact? Anyway, I'd welcome your advice and also your help in identifying their age. They all have pre-decimalsation old money on their casings and I'll happily pop up some snaps if you are happy for me to do so.

[Monocle]

Electric Roman Candle
Wells Fireworks
Dartford Kent
3s
11.5 inches x 1 inch diam

Edited by Monocle, 16 July 2012 - 08:09 PM.

[Monocle]

Brock's Crystal Palace Repeating Spangle Shell
Hemel Hempstead
1s 6d
8.5 inches x 1 inch

[Monocle]

Wessex Firework
Southern Cross Roman Candle
Waeco Ltd
2s
10 inches x 1 inch

[Monocle]

Wells Electric Rocket
6d
3.5 inches long (7 inches including stick)

[Monocle]

Wizard Fireworks Ltd
Whizz-Bang
roughly 3 inches long

Does anybody know how old these fireworks might be? Late 60s?

[bangkokpyro]

Wow! Nice find, I remember all of those items and was 10 years old in 1967 so I guess they must be from around that era. Unfortunately I live overseas and you would be unable to post them to me otherwise I would take the lot.

[Creepin_pyro]

Nice find! In terms of identifying and clarifying the legality etc, you might be better off posting over at UKFR, I'm sure someone will be able to help.

I'm not sure, and you should check, but I think you're OK to store these up to a weight limit, and they're not going to be unstable just because they're old, unless they've been stored improperly.

http://www.fireworks...and-history.34/

[exat808]

Nice find! In terms of identifying and clarifying the legality etc, you might be better off posting over at UKFR, I'm sure someone will be able to help.

I'm not sure, and you should check, but I think you're OK to store these up to a weight limit, and they're not going to be unstable just because they're old, unless they've been stored improperly.

http://www.fireworks...and-history.34/

You may keep a maximum of 5kg ( net explosive content) of fireworks for an unlimited time without any need to licence the storage. (Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 - Regulation 10(2) )

Disassembly of the fireworks is an act of manufacture for which you would require a manufacturing licence. (Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 - Regulation 9(1) )

Edited by exat808, 17 July 2012 - 12:10 PM.

[bangkokpyro]

Monocyle, private message sent.

[martyn]

... So I am reluctantly going to have to considering selling them...

No one has answered this bit, it's probably best answered by Exat808 but as far as I'm aware there is no exemption to the regs concerning selling fireworks just because they are old. In fact they probably are technically unsaleable as they won't comply with BS 7114 and are possibly of a prohibited type and won't be labelled correctly blah blah. I imagine collectors are still 'general public'
You (premises) also need to be licensed.
Having said all that it's (in my opinion) bureaucratic bollox when it comes to collectors fireworks. We already choose which laws we comply with and which we bend, like driving at 80 on a motorway.
A private transaction between two adults probably won't upset anyone important. sounds like one is in hand anyway

[exat808]

No one has answered this bit, it's probably best answered by Exat808 but as far as I'm aware there is no exemption to the regs concerning selling fireworks just because they are old. In fact they probably are technically unsaleable as they won't comply with BS 7114 and are possibly of a prohibited type and won't be labelled correctly blah blah. I imagine collectors are still 'general public'
You (premises) also need to be licensed.
Having said all that it's (in my opinion) bureaucratic bollox when it comes to collectors fireworks. We already choose which laws we comply with and which we bend, like driving at 80 on a motorway.
A private transaction between two adults probably won't upset anyone important. sounds like one is in hand anyway

I nearly commented on the sales issue earlier!

Martyn is correct in his assumption that any transaction will be subject to the requirements of the relevant consumer legislation ( as indeed was the purchase by "monocle" in the first place). Martyn is also correct when he talks about conformity with BS7114.



Not sure what advice to give - maybe consider having them made inert by someone with a manufacturing licence - Digger?. Maybe just keep them and enjoy them. Maybe......

[Monocle]

Well everyone has been very helpful thus far. As I have no idea what they're worth my first thought was to pop them up on Ebay once I'd found out exactly how old they were etc. I basically am keen not to mislead anyone with a false description. My notes with the photos are simply me reading the stuff off the decorative cylinders. Unless someone was to pick them up directly assume I would have to empty them of powder to enable then to be sent through the post....'er, not that I know how to do that without damaging them! Seems a shame but I suppose whoever wants them is unlikely to light them. Anyway, I am holding fire on any emptying for now. My main concern would be to avoid setting light to an unsuspecting postman...

Thanks for the link to UKFR. I'll take a peek pronto and see if any further precise info as to their age can be garnered. Am I right in thinking that the banger might be older still. They do look as if they're from an earlier era but perhaps the packaging never changed?

[crystal palace fireworks]

Hi Monocle,

Thanks for posting the images etc, there are some I have not seen before (maybe 1950`s) for whom there are many collectors who would pay a premium.

That said, with them being live (very rare), would you consider donating or selling them to the UKPS for safe keeping or for research/heritage & scientific reasons?

As you may or may not know, part of the UKPS remit is to preserve the UK`s pyrotechnic heritage & science, and when funds allow at a future date, we would like to try and hire the services of a specialist explosives laboratory to analyze the contents of old fireworks from yesteryear in detail, so we can hopefully recreate/replicate these smells/colours/formula`s for future generations, not only that, we would also like to display the casings (contents removed) at our meetings or at a future fireworks museum.

You would be most welcome to come along to our next AGM - where one of our committee members would happily take them off your hands - maybe we could could offer you one years free UKPS membership in return?

[Monocle]

Thanks for your message Keith. I genuinely wish I was in a strong enough financial position to do so as I am somebody who feels very strongly about preserving this country's history. That being said, I am sadly in receipt of a mortgage shortfall and I think my dear wife would kill me if I simply gave them away. God bless the mortgage endowment companies of the 1980s!

I will make sure I let the forum know when I have finished researching and are ready to sell them. I'm sure I'll soon be able to dig up some definitive dates sooner or later. I have to admit that I'd long forgotten about them printing the prices on the fireworks themselves. Part of me would love to let off just one and film it!

Edited by Monocle, 19 July 2012 - 11:14 PM.