Static electricity in synthetic clothing can ignite fireworks. Those who make fireworks wear cotton all the way down to their underwear.
multi shot repeater
The first multi shot repeater imported into the United States was the Flying Dragon & Jumping Tiger.
Fireworks usage increase
Fireworks use in the United States increased 2½ time since 1992 going from 87,100,000 pounds in 1992 to 220,800,000 in 2003. During the same period, actual injuries decreased over 70% going from 14.3 injuries per 100,000 pounds of fireworks used in 1992 to only 4.2 injuries per 100,000 pounds of fireworks used in 2003.
Firework shows
30 years ago professional fireworks shows lasted on average over an hour, in comparison to today’s shows which last approximately 20 minutes.
Synchronized fireworks
In today’s public display shows, computers are used to control the launching of the fireworks and the synchronization of the aerial bursts with music.
First gunpowder use
The earliest recorded use of gunpowder in England, and probably the western world, is by the Franciscan monk Roger Bacon.
Chinese arrows
In Arabic countries, rockets were called Chinese arrows.
Warfare fireworks
Fireworks were soon applied to warfare by attaching them to arrows. The first such use, circa 1200 A.D., involved placing powder into paper tubes with a fuse or a trail of gunpowder wrapped in tissue paper that was attached to the arrows.
Birth of a firecracker
Placing gun powder into bamboo stalks and then throwing them onto a fire to be ignited produced a louder and more powerful bang; hence the firecracker was born.
Gunpowder
It is believed that gunpowder was discovered accidentally by a Chinese alchemist who mixed sulphur and salt peter (potassium nitrate) over a fire. The Chinese name for gunpowder is “huo yao” (fire chemical).