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c l i c k h e r e t o

Fireworks Nostalgia: Brocks 1 2

Memorabilia, Bygones and Historical Interest items.

Nostalgia p.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Brocks Fireworks

A very old poster advertising a display by Brocks Fireworks, at one time the most well-known pyrotechnics company in the world.
The history of Brocks began before 1720 and for well over 200 years the company was responsible for some of the most memorable firework displays across the globe.
This poster illustrates an early 19th century show at the Ben-Johnson Tea Gardens in Stepney. It was common for posters and programmes in those days to list the exact order of firing and contents of the show in question. Some of the names are very exotic. Item 12 describes a 'Capricious Wheel' (or 'Imitative Cascade') C.P.

Rocket manufacture in the 1800s

This picture from the 1880s shows employees at Brocks factory making fireworks using brass and wooden tools. In this case, the workers are charging large rockets by compressing gunpower into the rocket casings - by hand.

CT Brock (1843 to 1881) played a major role in the drafting of the Explosives Act of 1875, which influenced greatly the working conditions of people employed in the UK fireworks industry. C.P.

Illustrations and notes above courtesy of Chris Pearce of Jubilee Fireworks (Jubilee Fireworks Museum)


Making Catherine Wheels	Making Crackers	Charging Shells

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