What is a girandola?
A girandola is a pyrotechnic device which combines the aspects of a horizontal wheel and a rocket.
A lightweight frame, traditionally made from bamboo, spins horizontally from the force of one or more drivers.
When these drivers finish, a much larger number of vertically mounted drivers
lift the girandola off of the stand and into the sky.
At the apex of its flight, headings mounted atop the vertical drivers explode, filling the sky with color and fire.
Girandolas are noted for their unpredictability -
One of the girandolas pictured here flew over the audience and crashed into the top of a parked vehicle!
GIRANDOLAS AT GILLETTE WY.
Bill Kimbrough
Daniel
Tom Dimock
Tom has written a book called "The Incomplete Book of Girandolas"
which contains pretty much all that he knows about the art of building girandolas.
In addition, the American Fireworks News video team went to his place a couple years ago
and filmed a 2 hour video containing most of the same material.
Both of these are available from American Fireworks News and Skylighter.
BUT, if you are impatient, or want a signed copy, you can get the book from him right now.
Just send $25 + $3 s&h (US $, please!) to him and he'll sign a copy and drop it in the mail to you.
Tom Dimock
270 Thomas Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
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