Big-Bang Cannon
Encyclopedia
The Big-Bang Cannon is an early 20th century American toy that is still manufactured to this day. Numerous consumer fireworks
injuries convinced a physics professor at Lehigh University
(Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
) to patent a "Gas Gun" in 1907. The manufacturing of Big-Bang Cannons started in 1912.
The original name of the company was the Gas Cannon Company. In 1916, the name was changed to the Toy Cannon Works. In 1924, the company changed names again, to its name, The Conestoga Company, Inc.. An assistant professor from the same physics department at Lehigh was the company founder and owner until 1955. The Conestoga Company currently manufactures Big-Bang Cannons (19 models) in Allentown, Pennsylvania
, Lehigh County.
(mixture 160, 16x80) mixes with water in the chamber of the cannon, producing acetylene
gas. A few seconds after the gas forms, a spark is ignited which results in a loud "bang" or "boom". A key safety feature is that there is no recoil or kick when the cannon is fired. In fact, "glass" cannons were used as a company demo in order to show the chemical reaction taking place as well as the inherent safe quality of the product. "Bangsite" is the name (see "Trademarks" below) given to the calcium carbide mixture.
.
Consumer fireworks
Consumer fireworks are fireworks sold to the general public for use. They are generally weaker in explosive power compared to professional displays.- Examples of consumer fireworks :...
injuries convinced a physics professor at Lehigh University
Lehigh University
Lehigh University is a private, co-educational university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the United States. It was established in 1865 by Asa Packer as a four-year technical school, but has grown to include studies in a wide variety of disciplines...
(Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem is a city in Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 74,982, making it the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie,...
) to patent a "Gas Gun" in 1907. The manufacturing of Big-Bang Cannons started in 1912.
The original name of the company was the Gas Cannon Company. In 1916, the name was changed to the Toy Cannon Works. In 1924, the company changed names again, to its name, The Conestoga Company, Inc.. An assistant professor from the same physics department at Lehigh was the company founder and owner until 1955. The Conestoga Company currently manufactures Big-Bang Cannons (19 models) in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, Lehigh County.
How it works
Calcium carbideCalcium carbide
thumb|right|Calcium carbide.Calcium carbide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula of CaC2. The pure material is colorless, however pieces of technical grade calcium carbide are grey or brown and consist of only 80-85% of CaC2 . Because of presence of PH3, NH3, and H2S it has a...
(mixture 160, 16x80) mixes with water in the chamber of the cannon, producing acetylene
Acetylene
Acetylene is the chemical compound with the formula C2H2. It is a hydrocarbon and the simplest alkyne. This colorless gas is widely used as a fuel and a chemical building block. It is unstable in pure form and thus is usually handled as a solution.As an alkyne, acetylene is unsaturated because...
gas. A few seconds after the gas forms, a spark is ignited which results in a loud "bang" or "boom". A key safety feature is that there is no recoil or kick when the cannon is fired. In fact, "glass" cannons were used as a company demo in order to show the chemical reaction taking place as well as the inherent safe quality of the product. "Bangsite" is the name (see "Trademarks" below) given to the calcium carbide mixture.
Patents
- "Gas Gun".......patent no. 874,952...patented December 31, 1907
- "Gas Cannon"...patent no. 1,352,715...patented September 14, 1920
- "Toy Firearm"....patent no. 1,624,086...patented April 12, 1927
- "Gas Gun".......patent no. 2,754,607...patented July 17, 1956
Trademarks
- "BIG-BANG"...registered July 31, 1917...reg. no. 117,799
- "BANGSITE"...registered June 10, 1952...reg. no. 559,919
- "CONESTOGA COLLECTORS' SERIES"...registered November 26, 2002...reg. no. 2,653,490
Non-Cannon Models
A bombing plane, tank, boat and pistol were manufactured during the 1920's (they all fired on the same principle as the cannons.) The 1930's included a Giant Roller Coaster, Ro-To-Top, Spinning Top, Field Glasses and G-Gun. Many of these antique models can be found on auction sites including EbayEBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
.
See also
- CannonCannonA cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
- Bamboo cannonBamboo cannonMeriam buluh or bamboo cannon is a type of home-made firecracker which is popular during the Hari Raya festive season in Malaysia, and during the New Year's day celebration in the Philippines...
- Boga (noisemaker)Boga (noisemaker)The boga, also known as a PVC cannon, is a noisemaker popular with revellers celebrating the New Year in the Philippines. Use of the device has been banned by the Philippine government since 2006. Originating from the province of Cavite, the device is made from a length of PVC pipe of substantial...
- Calcium carbideCalcium carbidethumb|right|Calcium carbide.Calcium carbide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula of CaC2. The pure material is colorless, however pieces of technical grade calcium carbide are grey or brown and consist of only 80-85% of CaC2 . Because of presence of PH3, NH3, and H2S it has a...
- AcetyleneAcetyleneAcetylene is the chemical compound with the formula C2H2. It is a hydrocarbon and the simplest alkyne. This colorless gas is widely used as a fuel and a chemical building block. It is unstable in pure form and thus is usually handled as a solution.As an alkyne, acetylene is unsaturated because...