5 replies to this topic

[Pyromancer]

Hi All,

I've been asked to do a fireworks display for a victorian re-enactment and they want it to be as historically accurate as possible.

I know that early fireworks in the UK were mainly gold and silver as the colour giving chemicals were either unavailable or not understood, however I do not know what colours had been perfected by the time Queen Victoria was the monarch.

I'm assuming that bangers, gerbs and roman candles were in common use by then, but were rockets or aerial shells?

If anyone can educate me with regard to the effects, colours and chemicals appropriate for this period, it would be most useful.

I look forward to hearing what advice and insight the masses may have to offer.



Pyromancer

[crystal palace fireworks]

Hi All,

I've been asked to do a fireworks display for a victorian re-enactment and they want it to be as historically accurate as possible.

I know that early fireworks in the UK were mainly gold and silver as the colour giving chemicals were either unavailable or not understood, however I do not know what colours had been perfected by the time Queen Victoria was the monarch.

I'm assuming that bangers, gerbs and roman candles were in common use by then, but were rockets or aerial shells?

If anyone can educate me with regard to the effects, colours and chemicals appropriate for this period, it would be most useful.

I look forward to hearing what advice and insight the masses may have to offer.



Pyromancer

Try and obtain a copy of; "A History of Fireworks" by Alan St Hill Brock, and also look at the royal society of chemistry website,..this will give you clues as to when certain chemicals/processes were discovered.

Some of the comps used were; Steel Dust, Wood Meal, Sodium salts, Iron Filings/Powder, Magnesium, Strontium/Barium salts, Aluminium.

Rockets & Ariel shells were used by many display companies during the victorian period, but I am unsure as to consumer bought fireworks.

[phildunford]

Hi Pyromancer.

Chlorates were available thoughout the Victorian era, so most colours would have been available. However, aluminium was not commercially available until 1888 (Hall process) and not seriously used until 1894 by Brocks at Crystal palace (from Alan St H Brocks book). Therefore metal fueled colours would not very appropraite.

Rockets tended to be used in large flights and shells were also present, but from what I can gather, the breaks were very poor compared to modern shells. They were mostly canister and 'dumped' their contents into the sky!

There was much more ground work than generally used today, set pieces, multiple fountains etc. Elaborate lance work was found at many displays, pictures of the Queen and her generals etc. Also battles set pieces with outlines of ships firing roman candles at each other!

Rather than a continuous show (as now) there was often a programme which would tell the audience exactly what to expect, like acts in a play!

Sounds an interesting project! If I can be of any more assistance, maybe we can find a moment tomorrow.

[David]

Sounds like a brilliant project.

(Academcially) I'm interested in Victorian Social attitudes- any writings on fireworks would be facinating to read.

Were they commercially available to the public, or were they "trade" only? Any if they were trade only, what sort of professional's used them- were there dedicated "pyrotechnicians" or was it a sub trade of... (which profession?)

[phildunford]

Sounds like a brilliant project.

(Academcially) I'm interested in Victorian Social attitudes- any writings on fireworks would be facinating to read.

Were they commercially available to the public, or were they "trade" only? Any if they were trade only, what sort of professional's used them- were there dedicated "pyrotechnicians" or was it a sub trade of... (which profession?)

There were many dedicated pyrotechnicians such as C T Brock, but companies such as Wells started out doing street decorations and illuminations and fireworks for the pleasure gardens. Fireworks were more often sold to the public from small 'hight street' shops, which up until teh 1875 act often made them on the premises!

[Potassium chlorate]

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Rockets tended to be used in large flights and shells were also present, but from what I can gather, the breaks were very poor compared to modern shells. They were mostly canister and 'dumped' their contents into the sky!

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QFT! They filled the rockets/shells with stars and had a ridiculously small amount of BP as a break. They actually hardly mention the break charge in older works.