COSTON’S “NIGHT-SIGNAL” FLARE CARTRIDGE

COSTON’S “NIGHT-SIGNAL” FLARE CARTRIDGE

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$495.00 ON HOLD

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 1268-197

Offered here is a scarce signal flare cartridge. Measures 2.75” long overall and 1” in diameter. White and green wrapper. Excellent condition.

The signals prepared in the form of these cartridges, and were burned from a holder. These “holders” look much like modern flare guns, but these Civil War-era flares were not projected into the air, the signalman simple held the piece at arm’s length. The burning signals displayed a color (or sequence of colors) that correspond with predetermined communications.

Martha Coston was born in Baltimore, in 1826. She was widowed at age twenty-one with four children to take care of. She was determined to work and support the family. In 1859, based on her deceased husband's notes, she determined to find a successful way to make a working signal flare. Signal flares needed to be dependable and also needed to last long enough to be viewed from ship to ship or ship to land communications. Martha used pyrotechnics to make the flares. The green, red, and white combination of flares worked so well that the navy bought them from her for $20,000.

In the 1860s, G.A. Lilliendahl was the fireworks manufacturing company in New York City that held production rights to make the small signaling flares known as “Coston's Composition Night Signals”, a.k.a. the Coston's Telegraphic Night Signal System.  [jet][ph:L]

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