Ian L-K

I'm a historical re-enactor, mainly 16th to 18th Century. http://lycett-king.com/ if anyone wants to see what I look like. I do a bit of small scale pyrotechnic work and also get to fire various black powder weapons. As part of my research into the weaponry, particularly early cannon, I have found that fire-masters (experienced gunners) of the time would be expected to have some ability as pyrobolists (firework makers).
Display fireworks, as opposed to military rockets seem to have been around in Europe during the 13th and 14th Centuries, but I cannot find much mention of them in England before Elizabeth 1st.

I've got some recipes for 17th Century fireworks and intend to make some inert versions of them as an occasional part of my re-enactment display.
I'll give one set of instructions below and will add more if people are interested.
I'd appreciate the opinions of experienced, modern firework makers on the tecniques and compositions.
I'd also be interested in any information on early fireworks that you might have.


To make rockets.
The case.
Take a wooden rod, with length 8 times the diameter.
Roll paper tightly round the rod until the thickness is half an inch more than the rod.
Glue the top layer of the paper.
Remove the rod, wet the end of the paper.
Replace the rod half an inch into the wet end. Place a second rod in the other end to within a half inch of the first rod.
Tie a thread around the wet part at three quarters of an inch from the end and contract the paper to choke the bore down to a quarter of the original size.
Remove the rods and let it dry
Use a bodkin to widen the hole if it is drawn too tight.

The composition. Parts are by weight.
For rockets up to 3 ounces.
1 part charcoal dust to 8 parts gun powder
For rockets up to 10 ounces.
3 parts charcoal dust to 16 parts gun powder
For rockets up to 1 pound.
4 parts charcoal dust to 16 parts gun powder

There are more complicated recipes involving different proportions and grades of carbon, sulphur and salt-petre for larger rockets.
e.g. For rockets from 50 to 100 pounds
3 parts salt-petre, 1 part sulphur, 1 part coal.

To fill the case.
Place a piece of paper in the case to cover the choked end of the tube
With a knife, put into the tube as much as you can of the composition.
Insert a rammer and use a hammer or weight to give it three or four indifferent knocks.
Repeat until the case is full to within 1 bore diameter of of the top.
Put in a piece of pasteboard, knock it in hard.
Prick three or four little holes in the pasteboard.
Fill the tube almost to the top with fine gunpowder
Cover with a paper cap.
Cover with a leather cap which is glued and tied to the case.
Tie on a straight twig, which when held two or three fingers breadths from the nozzle, will balance the rocket.

Firing.
Prick the nozzle end with a bodkin
Balance the rocket so that the nozzle is over a flat dry place, e.g. on a gun carriage wheel.
Lay a powder trail under it.
Give fire