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CS011- Edition 5,000
BROCKS FIREWORKS
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The discovery of gun powder and the invention of the first fireworks are traditionally credited to the Chinese, although India is also a likely source. The sound of these first fire-crackers, which appeared about 1000 years ago was so loud that the Chinese believed the noise would scare away evil spirits. Then almost any event such as a birth, weddings, Coronation, or New Year celebration, even death, became a fitting occasion for their use! (If they chase away evil spirits, maybe we'll send a few in Taff's direction). Fireworks, as we now know are not a million miles away from what they were like centuries ago - instead of explosives built into a cardboard tube as now - it was bamboo cases or rolled paper tubes filled with explosives. Of course today, fireworks are still used world-wide for celebrations, but none more than in the UK on November 5th to commemorate the 'Gunpowder Plot' and dear old Guy Fawkes. The good old favourites like 'bangers' 'catherine wheels' 'jumping jacks' (or bettys) rockets and volcanoes and not forgetting the sparklers are still very much part of the old traditional fireworks box along with many more elaborate ones today! Years ago opening a box of of Brocks or Lion's fireworks was in itself almost like opening a Christmas present - seeing the various fireworks with their blue touch paper wicks. The times these fireworks were handled in and out of their box before the big night. The bangers at 1p each, ideal to throw through someone's letter box or in their dustbin (not for young members reading) or placed like a mine in the ground and watching the earth fly everywhere as it exploded, and letting off jumping jacks behind folks backs and waiting for them to jump all over the place as well. Anyway, back to the plot (sorry)! Fireworks made there way into Europe around the end of the 12th century, probably carried back from the East by the Crusaders and used in religious festivals and other events. The Italians were the first manufacturers of fireworks in Europe and the undisputed masters through to the end of the 17th century. Keith Brueton - COULD THIS BE ONE OF 'BROCKS FIREWORKS ' OLDEST PIECES - HAND HELD 'CANDLE " ? THIS ANTIQUE HAND HELD 'WAX TORCH - CANDLE' MADE BY 'BROCKS FIREWORKS' Crystal Palace Ltd ( FAMOUS MANUFACTURER OF FIREWORKS TO THE UK MARKET ' The story behind this most unusual item; Whilst working in the London commercial property market, I received a bid on the old Manor House Bus Garage : known locally as the 'IVY HOUSE ' because the whole building was covered in the Ivy plant. We inspected the whole building including a massive basement with high ceilings. The vendor informed us that the basement of this English Heritage listed building used to be the garage where the some of the old LONDON TRAMS were serviced. There is a long concrete ramp descending from Green Lanes, London N4, down underneath the ' Ivy House' and running down the middle were ' tram lines ' ( similar to railway lines. There's more ,,, the building was totally without electricity or light, which was fine above ground level, but the basement was eerily dark. No - one had a lamp, so in the dark we scurried around looking for a suitable object; an old newspaper or cardboard box or something which we could set alight, when I stumbled across a two of these Brocks Fireworks - torches hiding in a box in one of the storage cupboards. I was instructed by the vendor to light one, which I did with a lot of nervousness. The torch light with the first flame from my lighter and the wax and cloth ,mixture lit up a fair amount of the basement. It was a really strange feeling, holding the 100 year old equivalent to a modern fluorescent lantern, for a moment my mind was cast back to those 'Olde Victorian Times' as I tried to imagine what working life must have been like for those young mechanics and maintenance folk as they struggled to keep London's trams on the road. The mechanic frantically shouting to his young oil smothered apprentice to ' hold the light closer and steady' whilst he struggled to crank a nut on the gearbox. The whole scene; our long wavy shadows being cast across the cavernous hall, created from the the slow burning light from my Brock's Fireworks - Wax Torch, this could have come straight out ot the film set of Oliver Twist. by Keith Brueton ( 2003 ) Letter from Andrew Brock last pyrotechnist to carry the Brock’s surname
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