I so well remember balmy summer evenings of my youth with pop bottle rockets soaring into the sky with their “swoosh” then tiny flash and distant report. As kids are kids, it never failed that someone would discard the standard Coke bottle launcher for some scrap of downspout grabbed out of the garage. “Hey guys, a bazooka!!!” And again, as kids are kids, the trajectory of the rockets would become steadily less elevated until we had to duck and weave to avoid being hit. And then, invariably, one of those rockets would get past us, the backdrop not taken into consideration, and would detonate in front of poor old Mrs. McGraw’s picture window. At that point it was a case of “feet don’t fail me now”. With the real and imminent threat of adult or law enforcement intervention the show was over and there was only to retire to a feast of popsicles or the occasional Boston Cooler. Memories.
Part of the greatest joy of what I do is to be able to bring memories alive. This year’s annual offering does just that. I decided that there would only be six pieces offered, three of each of two version. One version features a body made entirely from an acrylic that I call “StarsNBars”. The other version is a more narrow profile featuring a nose cone made from 6063 grade aluminum and a lit fuse. Both versions utilize nickel silver for the “stick”, 6063 grade aluminum for the tamp end, and brass for the wick. The stick and wick fit into an aluminum lined channel. Each of the six tampers are all a little different from each other. Two of the tampers, chosen at random, in each version are shown above. All six pieces are sold and are either with their new owners or will be in the next 48 hours.
Wait until you see what I have in store for next year!
Have a safe and wonderful Fourth. And if I may I would like to offer a little advice. If your holiday is to include real pop bottle rockets leave the piece of downspout in the garage. No good will come of it.