Cherry bomb

For other uses, see Cherry bomb (disambiguation).

Cherry Bombs (also known as Globe Salutes or Kraft Salutes) are approximately spherical shaped exploding fireworks, ranging in size from three-quarters-inch to one-and-one-half-inch (1.9 cm to 3.8 cm) in diameter.

An array of some of the most common Cherry Bombs and Globe Salutes commercially available in the US. Picture Scale: the blue lines in the background are ½-inch apart. The salutes in the top row from left to right are: Kent Cherry Flash Salute, circa 1958; Havre de Grace Cherry Bomb (aka Arrow Brand), circa 1946; Peacock Standard Globe Cracker Bomb (India Export), circa 1995; United Cherry Salute, c1964; Row two from left: J.L. Morse Globe Salute, c1932; Po Sing Phantom Bomb, c1977; National Globe Salute, c1937; New Jersey Fireworks Cherry Bomb Salute, c1962; Row three: Miller Cherry Bomb, c1958; United Globe Salute, c1934; Victory Globe Salute, c1931; Triumph Colored Marble Flash Salute, c1938; Bottom row: United Cherry Salute, c1950; Victory Globe Flash Salute, c1937; Rozzi Cherry Salute (very faded), c1951; Unexcelled Cherry Salute, circa 1934.^[1]

Composition

A typical cherry bomb contains a core of explosive composition (i.e., flash powder or, less commonly, black powder) which is generally encapsulated inside a paper cup, which is in turn most commonly surrounded by a layer (approx. one-quarter inch thick) of sawdust infused with a mild adhesive (usually sodium silicate). An ignition fuse is inserted into a hole drilled into the hardened sawdust sphere, all the way down to reach the explosive composition. The fuse extends outside the sphere approximately one to one and a half inches. Once the fuse is ignited, it takes about three to four and a half seconds to reach the explosive composition and initiate detonation of the firework.^[2]

The color of the salute's exterior varies, depending on the manufacturer and the time period during which the salute was produced. Early on, in the late-1920s and 1930s, Globe Salutes had fuses which were tan, red or striped and multi-colored, and their body color varied, ranging from brown and tan to silver and red, and some were even decorated with multi-colored confetti. However, by the 1940s the most common color of the spherical salutes being marketed was a deep pink to red, with a green fuse, which is when the name Cherry Salute and Cherry Bomb entered popular use.^[3]

Legal status

Canada

Cherry bombs are not authorized under the Explosives Act, thus making importation, possession, transportation, storage or manufacturing illegal in Canada.^[4]

United States

These original spherical salutes were powerful enough to cause a legitimate safety concern. They were used in the civil war to either stun or hurt the enemy.^{[citation needed]} They were banned in the USA in 1966, by the federal Child Safety Act of 1966. Historically, these Globe Salutes and Cherry Bombs were made in two halves. One half was filled with powder and the other half was glued in place on top of it, and the whole globe was covered with glue-coated string or sawdust. This left an air-gap which created a louder bang when the case ruptured. [source: 1965 Pyrotechnics Manufacturing Handbook) Another source says they were originally charged with 5 to 10 times the amount of explosive composition a standard inch-and-a-half paper firecracker had. After the enactment of the Child Safety Act of 1966, all "consumer fireworks" (those available to individuals), such as silver tube salutes, cherry bombs and M-80s, could not contain more than 50 milligrams of powder mixture, which typically amounted to less than 5% of their original amounts.^[5]

Original potency Cherry Bombs are now considered explosive devices in the United States and possession, manufacture, or sale is illegal for individuals unless that individual has an explosives manufacturing license issued by the BATF/BATFE.^[6]

The Who drummer Keith Moon became infamous for playing practical jokes involving cherry bombs during the band's tours during the 1960's onward. It is estimated that over the years, he caused around US$500,000 of damage to hotel toilets, resulting in his lifetime ban from Holiday Inn, Sheraton and Hilton Hotel chains, as well as the Waldorf Astoria. According to a biographer, he bought his first 500 cherry bombs in 1965. He later progressed to M-80's and even dynamite.

See also

• Salute (pyrotechnics)
• M-80
• Glasspack - an automotive muffler, often known by its genericized trademark name, Cherrybomb.

References

1. ^ (whitepaper, data sheet) Globe Salutes & Cherry Bombs of the 20th Century, by John Chunko. J. Chunko. 2006. 
2. ^ (trade paperback, book publication) A Professional’s Guide to Pyrotechnics, by John Donner (ISBN 0-87364-929-X). Paladin Press, Boulder, CO (303-443-7250). 1997. 
3. ^ (hardcover, book publication) Fireworks, Principles & Practice, 3rd Edition, by Ronald Lancaster, MBE (ISBN 0-8206-0354-6). Chemical Publishing Co., Inc., NY, NY. 1998. 
4. ^ Authorization Guidelines for Consumer and Display Fireworks
5. ^ (government publication, soft-cover reference book) A Safe Practices Manual for the Manufacturing, Transportation, Storage & Use of Pyrotechnics, by U.S. Dept. of Health, Education & Welfare, Public Health Service, Center for Disease Control, National Inst. Of Occupational Safety and Health, Div. Of Safety Research (Request Government Publication: PB-297807). National Technical Information Service, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161. 1977, 1991. 
6. ^ (PDF) Police and Fire Services Fireworks Enforcement and Safety Guide. New Hampshire (USA) Office of the State Fire Marshal. 2005. http://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/firesafety/fireworks/documents/fwenforcementguide.pdf. Retrieved 2006-06-04.