The Chemistry of Powder and Explosives - Sciencemadness Dot Org

Roman Candles
ROMAN CANDLES 79
Roman candles are repeating guns which shoot projectiles of
colored fire and send out showers of glowing sparks between the
.shots. To the pyrotechnists of the seventeenth century they were
known as "star pumps" or "pumps with stars."
FIGURE 26. Ramming Roman Candles. (Courtesy National Fireworks
Company.)
For the manufacture of Roman candles, gunpowder and stars
and a modified black powder mixture which is known as Roman
candle composition, or candle comp, are necessary. The candle
comp is made from;
PARTS
Saltpeter 34 (200 mesh)
Sulfur 7 (200 mesh)
No. 4 Charcoal (hardwood) 15 (about 24 mesh)
No. 3 Charcoal (hardwood) 3 (about 16 mesh)
No. 2 Charcoal (hardwood) 3 (about 12 mesh)
Dextrin 1