Page:Pyrotechnics the history and art of firework making (1922).djvu/210

 When this actually took place is uncertain. Frézier describes its making similarly to that in use to-day, under the name of "étoupilles." Bate uses the word "stouple," evidently a corruption of the French. He gives no actual description of the making of this, but it appears to be of "cotton weeke" dipped in "aqua vitæ wherein camphire hath been dissolved." This would produce only a slow-burning match unless it was his intention to use it wet, in which case the burning of the spirits of wine might quicken the effect. It would, however, be quite out of the question to construct a piece of any elaboration with such materials.

Quickmatch is manufactured to-day in the following manner. Cotton wick is run through a pan containing a paste composed of gunpowder and starch. It is wound on a frame six feet in length, dusted with mealed powder and dried. When dry it is cut off the frame and threaded into paper tubes or "pipes" of larger diameter, leaving an air space round the match.

Before threading in the tubes it is known in the trade as "raw match," and is used for priming and similar uses, and in this state will only burn quite slowly.

Quickmatch is used to connect the units of all pieces. Display cases have a "cap" formed of a few turns of paper pasted on the case at the lighting end. When a piece is fitted up the cases are tied to the cleats provided to receive them on the framework; they are then "lead up." A length of quickmatch has a small piece cut out of the pipe to allow the fire to flash through, it is then doubled at that point and inserted in the cap, which is gathered in and tied round securely. This is continued round the piece, each case having match entering and leaving the cap, and in some cases a further length connecting one series with another. This leading up of set pieces is work requiring skill and knowledge which is only