8 replies to this topic

[Arthur Brown]

Looking at the threads on old fashioned fireworks, what are the fireworks that we collectively consider to be traditionally British?

Rockets, British method candles, Gerbs/fountains, Wheels ( driver and Catherine), Lancework (static and moving scenes).........?

Are sparklers in the list? I dislike them because of the proximity and the burns due to hot wires. IMO they are NOT children's playthings.

Yes it's dead easy to make the modern stuff, and it's easy to rig and fire. lighting a cake is so simple compared with getting seals bouncing their rotating balls all in lances.

Is the Bang from both lift and burst charges an important part of fireworks.

Has our appreciation of fireworks changed as fewer of us have real experience of the bangs of real war? (one of my friends says he doesn't like fireworks because they remind him of living in London through the war, and he is only 69!)

[icarus]

i would say jumping jacks mine of serpents vto"s the much maligned air b**b penny bangers 3 2 1 zero"s roman candles a good old selection box

[David]

Has our appreciation of fireworks changed as fewer of us have real experience of the bangs of real war? (one of my friends says he doesn't like fireworks because they remind him of living in London through the war, and he is only 69!)

An interesting angle- although I think fireworks were always popular , including after the Second World War.

I think what has changed is the SIZE of fireworks. The old British stuff was never that big. Even the biggest pieces would be tiny when compared with some stuff from China on sale nowadays. I think this is due to changing economic trends- people do have more disposable income now, so spending £100 on ONE firework, or hundreds on a display, is something people can afford to do. Plus people have credit cards for impluse buys too.

The majority of the old British stuff was cheap, single items or small boxes- eg bangers.

Edited by David, 05 October 2007 - 04:02 PM.

[Arthur Brown]

Lots of old stuff I remember had few small drivers but made very visual use of them. Typically the wheels with the two rocket drivers on which made a show 20ft diameter for some seconds. Also the lancework fx that use little compound for lots of effect.

The stuff coming from China is different in that it has compact effects firing out. Which of course makes container shipping easier.

[icarus]

when it gets to the uk tiny fireworks are placed in a large empty tube so it looks more for your money making the new large ones a disappointment .Every year the nanny state gets rid of more fireworks. How many people have been killed or maimed by a jumping jack? incidently they were initially used by the police for crowd dispersal!!!!!

[icarus]

forgot to add ive got a good set of info on making them just sotrting out 4mm spindle might use paper drinking straws if i can find them

[GZ22]

Artstraws might be just the ticket - you can get them at most art and craft shops, or ebay, or here:

http://www.justartsn...s.asp?PID=20329

They generally come in 4mm and 6mm diameters.

Edited by GZ22, 05 November 2007 - 12:34 PM.

[icarus]

thanks i will try 6mm its a bit of a b*ll ache ramming comp down the tubes if they are waxed its awkward to damp them before bending but many tubes bend tight when dry without splitting - will make good formers if not for for rolling my thick walled "crowd shifters"

[Mortartube]

Jumping crackers weren't generally rammed. You get a bit bundle of tubes standing on end, each with the bottom end blocked with twisted touchpaper. Wrap a band of Kraft paper around the top, standing higher than the top of the tubes, and then pour a scoopful of composition over the top of the tubes. Bounce the whole bundle sharply up and down a few times on the bench. Repeat until almost full. Separate the tubes from the bundle. Flatten the small piece of empty tube and bend back on itself. Tape or glue it. When the glue is dry, wrap each tube in damp cloth until pliable and bend in a cracker jig.