History of UK fireworks manufacturers?

[HocusPocus.Pyro]

Hey Meggsy et al,

Maybe I haven't really looked at the right sites, but why is it so hard to find a nice overview of UK's history of it's great fireworks manufacturers.

Astra, Pains, Wells, Brock's, etc etc. There were so many. Some were even leading innovations in fireworks.

I'm just curious, why hasn't anyone tried to create one nice overview? Where were these companies located? How large were they? How many people worked there? What happened to the companies? Was a company specialised in certain items? Etc, etc. In fact, this could be enough to write a small booklet about...
And what's really behind this story of Astra?

OK, I know http://www.fireworkmuseum.co.uk/ and this is great to look at labels and tubes etc. And I also know John Bennett's magazine Fireworks. I own a few copies. I was subscribed for a number of years. But to me that is not really what I look for. I feel it's great that John does what he does, but it seems to appeal a different audience.

Kind regards, Hocus


Sure, enough to whine about about why it's all so hard now currently to survive as a fireworks business in modern Europe, but it's not my intent to start a thread with such a tone...

 

[meggsy]

Yes there is a rich history and there are few people over here working on it right now....its a massive project going back centuries.....I have recently spent a lot of time with Steve Allison (Northern Lights) who has one of the most impressive collections of fireworks and firework memorabilia I have ever seen...some truly amazing historical pyro....stuff that will one day form part of a collection in a museum or exhibit.

I have said I will go back and get some decent photo's of some of the collection for people to ponder as the cataloging of the entire collection really could takes years.

Will try and sort it in the next few weeks…..

Steve

 

[Yuleo]

Hocus and Meggsy..... that topic really attract me....I'm als curious about the histroy. Long lost history is the answer to future...
I would like to be involved in the work of doing some collection work.....
:idea:

 

[meggsy]

Some more history of fireworks in China would be a great start.....earliest factories/manufacturers etc.... if you can help?

It is a massive project as fireworks go back so far in history.....

We can at least chip away at it.....

Steve

 

[Stevenlfirework]

Hi Hocus Pocus, Meggsy et al

I'm working on it! However it is difficult to know what areas to focus on.

Hocus Pocus points out the book by Gerald James of the intrigue at Astra during the 80's and John Bennet covers Norman Shine early days at the founding of Astra. I have evidence of another Astra Fireworks Company existing in Yorkshire way before this and was certainly in production in 1917.

Alan St Brock's book "A History of Fireworks" paints a picture from Brock's perspective and Phillip Butterworth in "Theatre of Fire" portrays an in depth look at the history of stage pyro.

Delving into the patents area produces in 1889 Brock's collapsable frameworks for 'firework pictures' or set pieces or in 1892 of J.Pain's safety ignition method for rockets, signal lights and flares. But delving deeper who was F. Barnett? Did he own a factory or produce fireworks? He patented in 1866 an idea for igniting large fireworks when thrown into water. The idea - to use fragments of potassium, sodium or their alloys encased cotton covered in wax or gum. The capsules to have small holes plugged with soluble stoppers. He added that they could be used for toy fish or ships. Would give HSE and Trading Standards sleepless nights!!

Looking to more modern companies what about Hammonds up in Edinbugh who finished after over 100 years in the 70's. If you carry out an internet search you will be lucky to find more than one page! Going back further Mersey, Phoenix, Brittannia, Harbot, Cranes, Wallop and Excelsior or the better known Lion, Wizard, Wilders, Wells and Wessex?

Other areas are bengal matches and sparkler production involving Octavius Hunt (known for Bronco Brand) and Astra (Cleveland Brand) but Bryant and May produced the 'Congreves' (Congreve rocket connection?) and 'Crystal Fixed Lights' as well as Fusees and Vesuvius matches which appear to resemble small bengals. I have examples from Brock's, Pains and Standard which I believe were made by Mr. Hunt.

Then there are the promotional items - letter opener knives, playing cards, dice, tins, t-lights and ceramics.

Wells old factories (latterly Astra and Unwins) are rapidly deteriating or have gone (ironically one site is now a cemetary), Brock's factory at Sanquar is very much worse for wear and another decade will see much of the buildings disappear forever. Standard's site at Huddersfield has been developed over the last decade.

Any information that people uncover is very greatly received and I am sure that Meggsy will chivvy me along to get everything photographed and scanned to put on the website.

More later.

Best regards

Steve

 

[HocusPocus.Pyro]

Thanks Steve!! Great to see you are seriously giving it a try. I look forward to share some info with you - although I am not from the UK (some of my genes are!)... This type of info should be worth putting in a book, of some sort. Just as a source of inspiration, have you ever seen the book "Feuerzauber" by Buchwald? This describes the history in Germany.

 

[Stevenlfirework]

I'm afraid I know nothing of of any consequence of German firework history. I take it the book is in German (my German is none existent I'm afraid). I do try to follow UK interests abroad though eg Hitt Fireworks Company in 1905 in the States and prior to that Hitt Brothers (He studied chemistry at Westminster College narrowly escaping expulsion for storing fireworks under his bed).

Also Pains' less than successful excursion to the States to work with Thearle on the Pompeii, Vesuvius etc campaigns.

Probably less widely known is that Bernard Wells worked with Atlas firework Company before forming Pyrospectacular Fireworks. It was he who persuaded Walt Disney to have fireworks at Disneyland.

Steve

 

[meggsy]

Hi Steve

I will pop over soon and get some photo's done I have a couple of weeks off from displaying so may give you a call. I know you are very busy with displays so I will pop over during the week.

Steve