PRE 1950s SHIP'S DISTRESS ROCKETS FROM BROCK, PAINS & SCHERMULY

In the images below can be seen some very rare example of pre 1950`s ship's distress rockets. Finding inert/dummy or dead and fired examples of these in the 21st century is very rare. This handful here are the only ones I have ever found, and I was looking from 1980!!

By and large the photos speak for themselves. Ignition often being achieved by a match like striker which was often taped to the rocket during storage. Then this was undone and struck on the striker pad on the rocket's base - thus igniting the rocket, all as the ship was sinking???? This can't have been easy and neither can firing some of the rockets that must have had a stick about 5 feet long or so.

If any of you have any examples of these, artworks or photos of, or any technical manuals of, I would like to hear from you.

The yellow rocket seen later on in these pages - or rather the tube, as it was empty when I acquired it, needs an inert rocket to fill it???...when used was designed to be ignited, then thrown overboard, where it would float and bob about, until the delay burnt through and fired the rocket, hopefully,  - UP!! Also on the next page are some inert examples of firing tubes or "quills." These were designed to fire Victorian artillery pieces and were later used in an adapted form to fire ship's rockets from special launching tubes. These firing tubes, also known as "friction tubes" were also made out of a copper tube....but this is another subject.

I would love to give a more detailed explanation of these devices, but time does not permit. I have had these images for ages and felt  they would never be put up, so I just put up the pics and hope you enjoy them. You can always ask me about the details.

........more images such as these may be seen HERE

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