Principles of Pyrotechnics
A. Shidlovskiy, 1964

Originally published in Russia, this is a book for advanced firworkers or scientifically minded readers. The 1997 edition is considered the single best scientific work in print regarding the chemistry of pyrotechnics.

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Purchasing Power for Display Fireworks
Bill Ofca,

Everything you want to know about buying and shooting display fireworks. How to pick the site, get permits, shoot from barges, beaches or inland sites. Or if you are the customer, inside information is given on evaluating a display company and some unsavory practices in the industry to watch out for.

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Pyrocolor Harmony, A Designer's Guide
Joel Baechle,

Written by one of the most respected chemists in the fireworks industry, this book contains many excellent and unique star formulas, including the Veline colored star system. A good reference for anyone studying the art of colored flames and their use in pyrotechnic displays.

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Pyrotechnic Formulary
Donald Haarmann, 1996

An encyclopedia of over 2,600 pyrotechnic formulas, making it the largest collection ever published. Since no information is given regarding the use of each formula, it is not recommended for beginners to work from. However, this book makes a good reference for experienced pyros to browse when searching for new formulas.

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Pyrotechnica I
Pyrotechnica Publications, October 1977

Articles include making cut stars, zinc stars, the use of lead dioxide and flash powders. 20 pages.

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Pyrotechnica II
Pyrotechnica Publications, February 1978

Dedicated to Dr. Winokur's well known "The Pyrotechnic Phenomenon of Glitter," perhaps the best reference for making glitter formulas to date. 46 pages.

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Pyrotechnica III
Pyrotechnica Publications, May 1978

Articles include electric spreader stars, flash powder (part 2), ball milling, chemical abstracts and book reviews. 26 pages.

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Pyrotechnica IV
Pyrotechnica Publications, October 1978

Articles include ammonium perchlorate red stars, titanium sparklers, firecracker design, lead nitrate useage, book review of Shimizu's "Feuerwerk" and chemical abstracts. 30 pages.

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Pyrotechnica IX
Pyrotechnica Publications, April 1984

Articles include George Plimpton's "Tribute to Jimmy Grucci," Fulcanelli's "Traditional Cylinder Shell Construction" Part 1, Ken Kosanke's "The Physics, Chemistry and Perception of Colored Flames" Part 2, Jim Wommack's "Roadside Stands to State Fairs: Fifty Years of Fireworks" and book reviews. 64 pages.

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Pyrotechnica V
Pyrotechnica Publications, October 1979

Articles include strobe compositions, making a rocket wheel, aluminum flash powders, biography of James Cutbush and book reviews. 44 pages.

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Pyrotechnica VI
Pyrotechnica Publications, July 1980

Articles include Shimizu's "Studies of Blue and Purple Flame Compositions Made with Potassium Perchlorate," Winokur's "Purple Fire" and Pyrographs. 32 pages.

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Pyrotechnica VII
Pyrotechnica Publications, May 1981

Articles include Ken Kosanke's " The Physics, Chemistry and Perception of Colored Flames" (part 1), Troy Fish's "Green and Other Colored Flame Metal Fuel Compositions Using Parlon," Maltese fireworks and book reviews. 44 pages.

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Pyrotechnica VIII
Pyrotechnica Publications, June 1982

Articles include Takeo Shimizu's "Studies on Strobe Light Pyrotechnic Compositions," an explanation of triangle diagrams and how to use them and book reviews. 44 pages.

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Pyrotechnica X
Pyrotechnica Publications, August 1985

Articles include Ron Lancaster's "Some Observations on Firework Manufacturing and Safety Concerns," Takeo Shimizu's "Studies on Microstars," Wommack's "Those Were the Days-- A Fireworks Photo Album," Jerry Taylor's "Determination of Height of an Explosion in the Air," Dr. Shidlovskiy's "A Brief Historical Sketch of the Development of Pyrotechnics in Russia," F. Lienhard's "Rocket Stability" and book reviews. 64 pages.

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Pyrotechnica XI
Pyrotechnica Publications, June 1987

Articles include Fulcanelli's "Traditional Cylinder Shell Construction" Part 2, with everything you need to know about making hand rolled bottom shots, multi break shells, crossettes, finale chaining and more. Other articles include Selcuk Oztap's "The Pyrotechnic Whistle and it's Applications," Emmanual Camilleri's "A Maltese Fireworks Photographic Exhibition," Ken and Bonnie Kosanke's "Electrical Firing of Musically Choreographed Fireworks Aerial Displays" and book reviews. 84 pages.

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Pyrotechnica XII
Pyrotechnica Publications, June 1988

Articles include Peter Budarick's "The State of Firework ARt from the Viewpoint of a Firework Artist," Takeo Shimizu's "Studies on Firefly Compositions," Michael Swisher's "Niagra Falls Set Piece," David Penderson's "Star Pumps," and "Of Fireworks and Stones" by C. Philip, W. Scott and A. Smiley. 84 pages.

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Pyrotechnica XIII
Pyrotechnica Publications, August 1990

Articles include Takeo Shimizu's "Tribute to Dr. Alex Hardt" and "Studies on Mixtures of Lead Oxides with Metals," S. Oztap's "The Pyrotechnic Whistle and Its Applications, Part II," J. Barkley's "Chinese Multitube Fireworks Design and Construction: The Parachute Battalion," Dr. Jennings-White's "Some Esoteric Firework Materials," Barry Sturman's "The Knox Pyroballets, 1988," J. Clayre's "Japanese Hand Made Cracker Units" and book reviews. 68 pages.

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Pyrotechnica XIV
Pyrotechnica Publications, August 1992

Articles include Ron Lancaster's "Some Reflections on Roman Candles," Takeo Shimizu's "Investigation of the Pyrotechnic Glitter Phenomenon," C. Jennings-White's "Lead-Free Crackling Microstars" and "Blue Strobe Light Pyrotechnic Compositions," Jorge Ferrando's "Firework Manufacture in Argentina," K. and B. Kosanke's "Computer Modeling of Aerial Shell Ballistics" and book reviews. 80 pages.

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Pyrotechnica XV
Pyrotechnica Publications, August 1993

Articles include Peter Budarick's "Thoughts on the Evolution of Fireworks Art," K. and B. Kosanke's "Lancework-- Pictures in Fire," Jennings-White's "Nitrate Colors," Hideo Hitano's "Sensitivity Tests on Crackling Noise Compositions of Magnalium-Metal Oxide," E. McCaskie's "A New Method for the Production of Blue Strobe Stars," Dr. Christina Leeflang's "A Photometric Method of Analysis for Pyrotechnic Color Compositions" and book reviews. 68 pages.

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Pyrotechnica XVI
Pyrotechnica Publications, August 1995

Articles include Lars Barfod's "Danish Fireworks," Jennings-White's "Hygroscopicity and Double Decomposition of Pyrotechnic Oxidizers," R. Wharton and H. Slater's "Further Studies of the Noise Levels Produced by Fireworks," S. Partin's "Vibrational Whistle Rockets: A Study of Catalyst Selection on Performance," T. Shimizu's "The Omagari Firework Festival," J. Toker's "Experimental Evaluation of Pyrotechnic Whistle Compositions," S. Myatt and R. Wharton's "A Survey of Factors Relating to the Use of Mortars at Firework Displays in the United Kingdom" and Per Alenfelt's "Corrosion Protection of Magnesium without the Use of Chromates." 72 pages.

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Pyrotechnica XVII
Pyrotechnica Publications, November 1997

Articles include Roger O'Neill's "A Systematic Study of the Performance of Charcoals in Pyrotechnic Compositions," Jennings-White's "Lithium, Boron and Calcium" (applied to stars, glitter and color burning liquids), Steve Majdali's "A Selection of Spot Tests for Qualitative Analysis of Pyrotechnic Compositions," Tom Smith's "We Did it Our Way: The Kimbolton Approach to Large Displays," Bruce Blom's "The Flower Pot Fountain: Application of Modern Formulation Techniques to a Classic Effect," Mike Swisher's "Myth and Misinformation in the Early History of Pyrotechnics," Kevin Gendron's "A Survey of Pyrotechnic Resources on the Internet," book reviews and Myke Stanbridge's topics from cyberspace including projectiles, tracers, mortar specifications and clearances, shell lifting charges, rocket sizing, shotshell rocket motors and plant gums. 72 pages.

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Pyrotechnics
Alexander P. Hardt, Ph.D., 2001

The term pyrotechnics encompasses much more than Fireworks. From space shuttle booster rockets to ejection seats, near-infrared flares, and automotive airbags, pyrotechnics finds many industrial and military uses. The last serious attempt to deal with the full spectrum of pyrotechnics in one volume was Herbert Ellern’s Military and Civilian Pyrotechnics, first published in 1968 and later reprinted. In the past 32 years, many works have appeared on the narrower subjects of fireworks and “pyrotechnic chemistry,” but nothing with the broad scope of Ellern’s book. Unfortunately, Alexander Hardt did not live to see his book published, but he envisioned it as an update of Ellern, incorporating the many advances in research, computer technology, and general understanding of pyrotechnic phenomena that have occurred in the past three decades. In the history of its literature, this is certainly not the first time a work on pyrotechnics has been posthumously published. The very first printed book on pyrotechny, the Pirotecnia of Vannoccio Biringuccio, was published in 1540, after the author’s death. The first American work on the subject, A System of Pyrotechny, by Professor James Cutbush of the United States Military Academy at West Point, was published under similar circumstances. The late Dr. Hardt is remembered in pyrotechnic circles for his research and development work during 27 years at the Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory, his numerous contributions to the Encyclopedia of Explosives and Related Items (U.S. Army Armament Research and Development Command), and many other technical reports. In its present form, two new chapters augment the original material of Dr. Hardt: an extensive chapter on fireworks, by Barry L. Bush, and a chapter on the many advances in statistical analysis and computer applications by Dr. Barry T. Neyer, Director of Research and Development at PerkinElmer Optoelectronics and President of Neyer Software. Published in late 2001, the book has a 25-page introductory section, 23 chapters including a glossary, followed by a bibliography and an index along with four appendices. Interspersed throughout its 430 pages are 79 tables, 42 line drawings, and 46 photographs.

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Pyrotechnics
George W. Weingart, 1947

One of the original classic texts of European fireworks manufacture. While many of the formulations are of the chlorate variety and information regarding canister shell construction is sparse, there are plenty of unique items illustrated along with information not found in any other texts.

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Pyrotechnist's Treasury - The Complete Art of Fireworks Making
Thomas Kentish, late 1800s

Among the oldest of pyrotechnic literature still used as a reference. While many of the formulas are outdated and even dangerous, insight into the traditional practices used for the manufacture of classic items such as rockets, roman candles and wheels can be found here. The old line drawings from this text are still finding their way into current pyro literature even today.

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