Tools of The Trade

Shells/bombs
the most common tool in fireworks, the shell or bomb is a canister fired out of the mortar into the sky containing various pyrotechnic compositions referred to as “stars”. Shells range in size from 50 to 305 millimetres in diameter.
Rocket
a “shell on a stick”, which instead of being fired into the air from a mortar tube, is mounted onto a rocket motor to which a stick is attached. Cylindrical in shape, the rocket has a cone-shaped head filled with stars. Upon ignition, the gases from the propellant erupt out of the bottom of the cylinder and the rocket rises high into the air.
Roman candles
a cardboard tube which contains alternating layers of compacted black powder and single stars. When lighted, roman candles eject a series of coloured stars one by one into the air and often emit a shower of glowing sparks between each shot. Their projection height ranges anywhere from 4.5 metres (15 feet) to 45 metres (150 feet). Roman candles range in size from ½ metre to 1 metre in length and from 20 to 60 mm in diameter.
Fountains
fireworks designed to project brilliant jets of sparks into the air much like a water fountain. Shaped like a cone or cylinder, the fountain's pyrotechnic composition is pressed into the case in the same way as for a rocket motor, but on a short rather than a long central cavity. Both gold and silver are common in coloured fountains.
Gerbs
a variety of fountains shaped like a sheaf of wheat.
Girandole
the “flying saucer” of fireworks, which creates a “whirling top“ effect.
Mines
tubular device, comprised of a plastic bag containing a black powder lifting charge and a number of coloured shells, balanced by a wooden or plastic base. The mine is designed to propel any number of items aloft – stars, whistles, and floating fireworks.
Wheels
revolving pieces turned by drivers. Various effects can be attached to the wheel, such as coloured lights and fountains. Horizontal wheels often have waterfall units and are positioned at the side of the barge or under water to form a ”shower“. ”Catherine“ or ”pin“ wheels are small wheels spinning on a pole.
Waterfalls
made from a series of units suspended fuse end down from a wire or rope strung between two points. The units are ignited simultaneously and produce a curtain of sparks, creating the illusion of a waterfall.

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