Firing fireworks simultaneously

Here is a recent video of one of our test firing sessions. As part of our on-going quality controil we frequently test fireworks to ensure that the quality control has been maintained by the manufacturer. The fireworks will have been tested in China prior to shipment to the UK but we find it does no harm at all to check that the products perform as we expect them to. 

We recently batch tested some of our Maximum Firepower fireworks. We had had 10% of the stock tested in China but still wanted to do our own testing under the conditions that our customers would be firing them under. We randomly pulled 5 from stock as we also wanted a new video for our web site. However we did let the last two off together to give you an idea of how much more spectaular fireworks can be if you fire two simultaneously. No special equipment was used to light the fireworks just the normal portfire firework lighters. The fireworks were placed just a few metres apart behind one another. It was just a  simple case of lighting one and then moving quickly to the second one to light that. The fuse that is fitted to our fireworks has a burn time of between 5 and 15 seconds. We try to aim for a burn time of around 10 seconds so that you have plenty of time to move away to a safe distance. As fireworks are all hand made there can be variations in the firing time of the same firework. It is not therefore worth panicking to try and light two identical fireworks at exactly the same moment. As long as you are within a couple of seconds, as in this case you've just as much chance of them ending together.

Fireworks for St. George's Day 23rd April 2013

The medieval legend of St George and the dragon is over a thousand years old. At a spring in Libya the local people offered sheep to a dragon that had its nest nearby, in order to draw water. When there were no more sheep to offer the dragon the local people drew lots as to who would be offered to the dragon instead. The Princess Cleolinda’s name was drawn and despite protest from the King she was duly put before the dragon. Right at that moment St George was riding by. He got down from his horse, killed the dragon and saved the princess.

George's Day is celebrated on 23 April, the traditionally accepted date of Saint George's death in AD 303. Whilst other countries enthusiastically celebrate St George’s Day, the celebrations in England (where he is the patron Saint) had declined by the end of the 18th century and it is only in recent years that it has started to regain its original popularity. In the early 15th century St George’s day in England was celebrated as a national holiday and feast comparable to Christmas, so it still has some way to go.

All of this talk of celebration brings us on to the subject of fireworks. National events in England in recent years, such as the 2011Royal Wedding and the 2012 Diamond Jubilee have encouraged communities to get together and hold community parties and fireworks have quickly become a popular form of entertainment to end the events with.

Whilst large civic organisations can afford large scale professional displays, smaller communities have a more restricted budget to work to. The recent advance in firework design though, enable smaller groups or organisations to put on a professional looking display for a fraction of the cost. Commonly know as the ‘single ignition box’, ‘display in a box’ or a ‘single fuse firework’, this style of firework has made it easy to fire a continuous aerial firework display lasting up to 2 minutes by lighting just one fuse. Several of this type of firework can easily be lit one after each other to provide a display lasting 10 minutes and there is no longer a need to run around with a lighter to light them as there are now simple to use remote control firing systems that cost just a few pounds.

So ‘Cry God for Harry, England and St George’ and lets celebrate our patron saint and have some fun.

Our Spring Sale is up and running. It will end on 30th May so take advantage of our bargain prices whilst available. If you buy now but do not want to take delivery or collect your fireworks until later in the year, that is not a problem as we will store your order free of charge until required.

So what has been happening at Jordans Fireworks recently. Well we have been doing some testing of fireworks, the most spectacular being two Maximum Firepowers let off together (video to follow shortly). We are still waiting for one of our major suppliers to confirm their 2013 range so we have not yet finalized our range for the coming Bonfire Night season yet but hope to shortly.

Also, here is a video of some of our old dummy fireworks, which are basically just empty cardboard tubes being put to great effect in the EU.