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displayfireworks1
11-10-2018, 11:18 PM
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Here is interesting email I received from Italy. I forwarded it to the Rocket Master. What caught my attention is referencing the term Bickford Fuse. It is term we do not use in United States. In researching the term, I see it is the name of the man that created Safety Fuse or as we called it Visco fuse. I'll post the link here, interesting read.
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William Bickford (1774?1834)
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He is best known as the inventor of the safety fuse, which was inspired by watching a friend, James Bray making rope. With his son-in-law George Smith, he established a factory in Tuckingmill for the production of his invention, and in its first year it produced 45 miles of fuse. He died a short while before his company actually started up. It took a while for miners to use the safety fuses, for the old ones were cheaper. His company eventually became part of the Ensign-Bickford Company.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_fuse
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https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/2/2f/Im1876Wor-Bickford.jpg
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copy of email.
Dear Dave,

Nice to meet you,! It is an honour to me to make your acquaintance. I have watched your videos over and over again. My favourite rocket is "Three ring reports". I would like to ask you if in your video "best fireworks rockets" you have used a normal bickford fuse for reports inside your rockets. They are really amazing and it seems incredible that it was sufficient a normal bickford fuse for such perfect coordination of your three ring reports and three spiral reports or your spiral clockwise and counterclockwise. I would also like to know the diameter of the rockets: it is important for me because I really wish to do this job. Could you tell me which is the composition of your reports? I would also like to know how to do the howls. Thanks so much for your answer.
Best compliments and regards.XXXX from italy

PyroJoeNEPA
11-11-2018, 12:49 PM
Dave, the term "Bickford fuse" refers to 1/4" time fuse--not the everyday small diameter Visco used in 1.4g & 1.3g pyro. You will still hear the term frequently used within the community of pyro builders. ..especially by the "older" guys. [and gals].
The gentleman above is questioning the construction method for TR's timed reports which are made of "cap plugs" and time [Bickford] fuse as I am sure you have seen many times. Hopefully Tom will be able to respond to his questions.
I know the one video from PGI [I think it was 2016] where Tom did his seminar on his rocket construction techniques will have all the info this person might want----is this by chance in your files of videos? If so, a link to it would be great.I know I have seen the video--not sure if it was here or on You Tube.