defective red apple shells?

[bani]

I'm seeing quite a few reports last night and today of red apple shells detonating inside mortar tubes or low breaks. Specifically american glory shells.

[270jonathan]

I can't say on the American Glory Shells. But as for the Geisha, Kobushi, & Ganja Killa Shells I had 0 issues with any of them. They actually out of some local other shells were the best ones I fired this year.

[cduesman]

Red Apple shells are made from several factories (and could vary year to year). Those same factories will make product for other brands.

I saw someone else mention Red Apple shells, I thought they were talking about the "Triumph merica AF" shells.

Here's some of the factories that Red Apple uses:

6718

It would be nice to know exactly which items had the issue and what factory/year. The factory codes are usually on the outside of the case. For example, something like 49F435/208/22 would be factory 435 made in 2022.

Chris

[bani]

https://www.reddit.com/r/fireworks/comments/14rf43p/american_glory_red_apple/

https://www.reddit.com/r/fireworks/comments/14qxpua/tested_fate_again_beware_of_american_glory_shells/
https://i.redd.it/r4hl5u9x32ab1.jpg

https://www.reddit.com/r/fireworks/comments/14rf0eb/epic_fail/
https://i.redd.it/sbj7fijy66ab1.jpg

https://www.reddit.com/r/fireworks/comments/14rp53i/yet_another_american_glorymurica_af_failure_this/
https://i.redd.it/z88j3e1808ab1.jpg

https://www.reddit.com/r/fireworks/comments/14rijo0/american_glory_failure/
https://i.redd.it/9ds1dph0t6ab1.png

[edspens]

I had the same issue. i mixed Kobushi shells and American Glory shells in my racks. I honestly thought it was the Kobushi shells that were blowing up. i am so glad i put up plywood between my racks and the racks. i had a tube blow in half after it destroyed my rack and hit my cobra module ripping out wires. i had to light rest of show by hand excluding the shells i had loaded up those are now in the hands of red apple....looks like they just pulled american glory off the site

[Engineer Cat]

OH jeez, The odds of that with consumer shells shouldn't be. Somethings not right. 1 maybe, but not 4.

[bani]

looks like red apple erased american glory mortar shells from their website.

[Smily0]

Red Apple shells are made from several factories (and could vary year to year). Those same factories will make product for other brands.

I saw someone else mention Red Apple shells, I thought they were talking about the "Triumph merica AF" shells.

Here's some of the factories that Red Apple uses:

6718

It would be nice to know exactly which items had the issue and what factory/year. The factory codes are usually on the outside of the case. For example, something like 49F435/208/22 would be factory 435 made in 2022.

Chris

Where can I find that spreadsheet? I would love to see more breakdown. (I moved from Lantana a few years ago, otherwise we could have had a pyro meetup!)

[cduesman]

Where can I find that spreadsheet? I would love to see more breakdown. (I moved from Lantana a few years ago, otherwise we could have had a pyro meetup!)

The spreadsheet is available at http://pyro.duesman.net/factory-codes/view

I'm just a hobbyist (retired from seasonal pro work). I just add factory codes as I see them either in person or from pictures of the cases.
I find it interesting to see when some product changes factories. It can sometimes mean a change in quality or timing.

I haven't seen anyone mention the factory code for the Red Apple American Glory for 2023. In 2021 it was factory 313. That factory has made Red Apple Giant Panda and Chroma 5" XL in the past. It's also made product for other brands.

I haven't heard of other shells having as big of an issue as America Glory. It's possible they had a quality issue that was concentrated on that specific production run. Perhaps those exact shells aren't used in other kits or they were just unlucky to get the bad ones.

Chris

[Smily0]

Thanks Chris! I'm about out of product now, but I'll do my best to update as I go along as well. I really appreciate you sharing.

[Smily0]

Looks like they have now recalled American Glory and Merica AF shells sold this year.

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/13131-Imports-Recalls-Red-Apple-Fireworks-Brand-American-Glory-and-Merica-AF-Fireworks-Due-to-Explosion-and-Burn-Hazards-Violation-of-Federal-Firework-Safety-Standards?

[displayfireworks1]

Good pickup and follow up by all those involved on this, great post, it lets us know there are protections in place. Would be interesting to learn the first link to the CPSC. I can't imagine the average consumer would file a complaint to CPSC. I can imagine they would complain to the place they purchase. These were ball shells correct?

[cduesman]

Looks like they have now recalled American Glory and Merica AF shells sold this year.

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/13131-Imports-Recalls-Red-Apple-Fireworks-Brand-American-Glory-and-Merica-AF-Fireworks-Due-to-Explosion-and-Burn-Hazards-Violation-of-Federal-Firework-Safety-Standards?

Per the recall the Manufacturer is "Liuyang Xiaohe Fireworks Manufacturing Co, of China".

Per https://www.xiaohefireworks.com they are factory code 49F313.

That matches who manufactured the American Glory shells in 2021 (the only year I had them in my spreadsheet). They've also made Chroma and Giant Panda shells for Red Apple in the past and shells for a few other brands.

Chris

[Engineer Cat]

Per the recall the Manufacturer is "Liuyang Xiaohe Fireworks Manufacturing Co, of China".

Per https://www.xiaohefireworks.com they are factory code 49F313.

That matches who manufactured the American Glory shells in 2021 (the only year I had them in my spreadsheet). They've also made Chroma and Giant Panda shells for Red Apple in the past and shells for a few other brands.

Chris

Quality information there Chris! SO since they were in your spreadsheet does that mean you had them in inventory and shot them? Or just tracked them for pricing and such?

[cduesman]

Quality information there Chris! SO since they were in your spreadsheet does that mean you had them in inventory and shot them? Or just tracked them for pricing and such?

I haven't shot those. I do have all the items I have bought in the spreadsheet, but most of the stuff is from either pictures of the cases on the internet or pictures I took at pyro events. I have 1700+ items listed so far.

When an item changes factories, it's a flag to retest for quality/performance/timing changes.

Chris