1763 Artifice Chinois by P. D'Incarville [Translation Request]

[AzoMittle]

I was going through some scanned archives and came across a pyrotechnic instruction manual marked as published in 1763, the problem is: it is in French. The actual document has no reference to the publication date (as far as I can tell) though the actual file title claims 1763. The file was included in a compressed folder of pyro documents that I downloaded, I can't find the download source now, sorry. [see responding post.]

 

While I'm sure the information is outdated I am still curious about the document and would was hoping to find an English translation but I can't even seem to find anything; let alone, the document itself. I can spend the time using Google Translate to get a rough idea, however that's time consuming and inaccurate.

 

The document appears to be an article of an Academic Journal from the time (specifically pages 66-94 of Memoires Presentes A L'Academie). The specific article/title is:

 

Manière De faire les fleurs dans les Feux d'Artifice Chinois.

Par le P. D'Incarville, Jesuite Missonnaire

 

Google Translate: In doing so the flowers in the Chinese Fireworks. By P.D'Incarville, Jesuite Missonnaire

 

I have attached my copy (Artifice_Chinois_1763_Ocr.pdf) of the document (in French). If anyone can track down a translation or is willing to translate it to English I would be in your debt.

 

Thank you,

 

AzoMittle

Artifice_Chinois_1763_Ocr.pdf

Edited February 19, 2014 by AzoMittle

[AzoMittle]

Update:

 

Online copy: http://www.pyrobin.com/files/artifice%20chinois%20--%201763%20ocr.pdf

 

In Mémoires de mathématique et de physique, v. 4 (1763), p. 66-94.

• Publisher: Paris : De l'Imprimerie Royale
• Creator: Pierre de Incarville 1706-1757.

[Peret]

Whatever it says, it's not OCR. You'll not be able to auto-translate it, even if it didn't use 'f' throughout instead of 's'.

 

"Of making flowers in Chinese Fireworks"

 

"The material of these flowers is nothing other than cast iron ground to sand: as the iron sand [is sorted] through more or less fine screens, it gives more or less flowers." It goes on to describe how they break up old iron cooking pots and reduce the cast iron to powder. Then there's a section of charcoal star formulae with various amounts of iron sand.

 

"10 taels of saltpeter, 8 masses of sulfur, 7 masses of charcoal, 2 masses extremely fine iron sand"

 

Handy note after the formulae: "The Chinese pound is composed of 16 ounces or taels, the tael is composed of 10 masses, the masse of 10 fen."

 

I've skimmed through the rest of it - it's much too laborious to type it out - there are some black powder formulae later on, and over 100 star formulae in a table - mostly iron, looks like some white stars too. The rest discusses extracting saltpeter and sulfur and the kind of shell cases they use.

Edited February 20, 2014 by Peret

[Peret]

Maybe I will have a shot at writing a translation of this after all. It's quite interesting.

[yvariro]

Hi,

 

It's very nice to see a "tutorial" on how to make fireworks,the only one wich is in my language ^^

 

It's very interesting because the firework are made in the original way,but a bit too much;the measurements are very old,I don't know what a "masse" weight.

The formula are basics,It's mainly Iron and metals/charcoal based

There is some interesstings things, for exemple he explain how to make rocket nozzle with wheat paste and argile,how to make a good lift powder,(he describe how the Chinese was making there black powder,how they was making there fuse,their cored rocket...it's funny because he add his personnal note and his remark)

 

Tell me what do you want me to translate it,I'll add some note,but I thinks you know all the things that is report on this book,it's basics information,but it still is interesting !

 

Anyways, thanks you for sharing this,It's touching to see some note from a 1700's french fireworker that make is own rocket

 

Greetings

 

 

Yvariro