Batman

What powder do you suggest for the best fireball effect. Specifically please mention any commercial product that works really well.

We always used to use a mixture of lycopodium powder and napthalene - you get a nice burn from the lycopodium, and black smoke and more flame from the napthalene. A bursting charge is needed to kick the whole thing off, but it looks OK. Lactose based smokes are all right for smoke generators but the smell used to confuse the heck out of the cows that grazed the proofing field If really intent on using a lactose for the effect, you will probably need a bigger and longer burning bursting charge to start everything off IMHO.

Of course, you guys (and girls) may well already know all this already, but hey, if I don't contribute, I won't learn, and things have probably changed a bit in the last 30 years lol.

Looking that list don't forget Unwin Pyrotechnics that bought the Wells site before Astra took it over - true, their core business was military simulators but they also kept making displays and GFN fireworks. It was a small team from Unwins that did the fireworks in Hyde Park following the marriage of a certain Charles to a Diana. There's a story behind that as well which many of today's operators and firers would do well to heed. Unwins also developed an early electronic firing system for remote long range initiation of pyros over a decent range - I seem to remember it was about 100 cues, with an auto sequence.

Unwins put a lot of business in Brock's direction for several years before buying the Wells site, certainly Sanquhar did well out of it.

And what about Schermuly - do they count?

My other half used to come and help set up when I did an annual display for a charity at Goodnestone House every year - she turned out to be brilliant at wiring and helping me convert all the fused pyros to electric ignition. Didn't even mind if it was raining!

To be honest, getting her involved was a good plan, but before the first time it took a bit of explaining and preparation before hand so she knew what was going on. Then a mate of mine who was helping out brought his other half along as well, and the team became four (well, actually five but the lead organiser tended, maybe rightly, to focus on maintaining a strategic overview of operations in between QC activity and digging large holes) - it still took us all day though. The last year the charity did the event we used about 5 miles of twin core, and the nail board was getting very, err, busy. There were still loads to be hand fired, so the ladies pitched in there, too.

In between times I've got more into vintage vehicles - which she really doesn't share, but then I don't ring bells, so that equals out. The logical approach to the fairer (not always - it depends if they want their own way) sex does not always work as expected IMHO. I doubt I'll ever get her to compete in a ploughing match, but my daughter may yet, and they both enjoy a good day out.
There will be a solution, compromise and diplomacy will be called for . Failing that, coercion

As a newbie I had better introduce myself a bit I suppose . . . . . . .

It was the 'One Show' that got me to look this forum up - mainly because I used to work at the now defunct Unwin Pyrotechnics site in Joyce Green Lane in the early 80s. Great fun, but I doubt we'd get away with much of what we did then, now . I was based mainly in the London office on sales, but used any available chance to get out and do 'stuff' on site whenever possible.


Somewhere on this site I found a link suggesting one of the old huts was going to be moved from Dartford to a museum? Really? Is there anyone else on this forum who remembers that time?


I still mess around with pyro - but only from a user point of view - occasional displays for the fun of it, and for charities, that sort of thing.