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)