Page:Pyrotechnics the history and art of firework making (1922).djvu/184

 CHAPTER II

SIMPLE FIREWORKS—SHELL CLASS

We now come to a distinct class of fireworks, those whose functioning depends on the propulsion of gunpowder. The first and parent of this class is the shell or bomb.

The original name of the shell was "air balloon," which is now obsolete. Some writers have been misled by its appearance in old amusement announcements into thinking a balloon ascent was referred to, or that a balloon carrying fireworks was to be exhibited, at dates considerably before the invention of gas or hot-air balloons.

In this connection it is interesting to note that Ruggieri claims that his father was the first to release a balloon carrying fireworks in 1786.

As we have seen, the military use of shell dates from at least as early as the middle of the sixteenth century.

Both Babington and Bate, writing in 1635, give instructions for making shell, and although the book of the former is more advanced in this particular matter, he is, generally speaking, considerably more primitive,

Babington describes a hollow sphere of canvas, a part of which is filled with a slow-burning composition, the remainder being filled with stars and grain powder, the canvas is pierced to expose the slow composition. The shell is fired from a mortar having a touch-hole. The following are Babington's instructions in the matter:

"Load your morter piece with one ounce of corne powder, putting after a wadd and tampion, and put on your ball with the vent towards the mouth of your piece: so