Faversham

Oare Powders. Expls manufd in 1898 by the Cotton Powder Co, Ltd, of Faversham (Kent), Engl. They originally contained, as the main ingredients, Chile saltpeter (Na nitrate) and Dinitrobenzene, but later the latter ingredient was replaced by TNT Ref Daniel (1902), 587... 

Guncotton was made at Faversham in 1847, but manufacture ceased after a serious explosion. It was nearly twenty years before manufacture was recommenced, privately at Stowmarket and also at Waltham Abbey. The initial uses were military. 

Thomas Charnock was bom at Faversham (Kent), either in the year 1524 or in 1526. After some travels over England he settled at Oxford, carrying on experiments in Alchemy. In 1557 he wrote his Breviary of Philosophy. This work is almost entirely autobiographical, describing Chamock s alchemistic experiences. He tells us that he was initiated into the mysteries of the Hermetic Art by a certain James S. of Salisbury he also had another master, an old blind man, who on his death-bed instmcted Charnock. 

John Hall Sons of Faversham, England started to manuf coton-poudre by the method of Schbnbein, but this was abandoned after a terrible expin on July 14, 1847 which destroyed the plant (Ref 44, p 241)... 

Ref Daniel (1902), 769—70 (Tonite or Fulmi-coton Nitrate de Faversham)... 

Accdg to Ramsey Weston (Ref 4), Faver sham Powder was practically flameless, a property which was achieved by impregnating the components with the so-called Trench s Fire Extinguishing Compound which consisted of sawdust treated with solns of Amm sulfate or sulfamide. This gave for Faversham Powder AN 85, DNB 10 Trench s Compound 5%... 

Fulmicoton de Faversham or Tonite. Under these names are known expls consisting of Fulmicoton St Ba nitrate with or w/o other ingredients. The following compns are listed by Daniel (Ref) ... 

Faversham Powder—another type of ammonium nitrate explosive, without nitroglycerine, containing, for instance, 90% ammonium nitrate and 10% TNT. 

Tonite (Fulmicoton nitre de Faversham in Fr). A series of Brit commercial blasting expls manufd by the Cotton Powder Co, Ltd at Faversham from 1874 thru the early 20th century... 

Charnock was born in Kent, either in Faversham or the Isle of Thanet, probably in the year 1524. Charnock was a laboratory assistant to an alchemist named James Sauler, who passed on the secret to Charnock on his deathbed in 1554. However, Charnock suffered a major setback on NewYear s Day 1555, when a fire destroyed his laboratory. His fortunes revived when he was taught by one of Ripley s pupils, William Holloweye, the last prior of Bath Abbey before the dissolution of the monasteries. 

Faversham Powders. Several of the Brit Favier type permissible expls, mfd by the Cotton Powder Co Lad in Kent, England, initially under the formula AN 85, DNB 11, NH4C1 1.5, NaCl 2.5%. This was later... 

Faversham powder is a mixed explosive permitted and much used in coal mines in England. It is ammonium nitrate 47.5 per cent, potassium nitrate 24 per cent, ammonium chloride 18.5 per cent and T.N.T. 10 per cent. 

The following are explosives containing ammonium nitrate Ammoncarbonite, Wetterfulmenite, Chromammonite, Roburite, Dahmenite, Dorfite, Bellite, Securite, Trench s flameless explosive, Faversham powder, Ammonite, Electronite, Amvis, etc. 

Faversham powder, 103, 113 Favierite, 113 Feldmann s apparatus, 39 Ferric ferrocyanide, 82 Ferricyanide, potassium, 81 Ferrocyanides, 79-82 from coal-gas, 79 from sulphocyanide, 75 potassium, 79 sodium, 79 Ferrodur, 67 Ferrosilicon, 104... 

To my friend Mr A. Stanley Fox, F.C.S., of Faversham, my best thanks are also due for his help in many departments, and his kindness in pointing out several references. 

The following report (taken from the Faversham News, 22nd Oct. 1887) of experiments conducted in the presence of several scientific and mining men will show its value -"A large wrought-iron tank, of 45 cubic feet capacity, had been sunk level with the ground in the middle of the yard to this tank the gas had been laid... 

Faversham Powder.—One of the explosives on the permitted list (coal mines) is extensively used, and is manufactured by the Cotton Powder Co. Ltd. at Faversham. It is composed of tri-nitro-toluol 11 parts, ammonium nitrate 93 parts, and moisture 1 part. This explosive must be used only when contained in a case of an alloy of lead, tin, zinc, and antimony thoroughly waterproof it must be used only with a detonator or electric detonator of not less strength than that known as No. 6. 

At the works of the Cotton-Powder Company Limited, at Faversham, the fulminate is mixed wet with a very finely ground mixture of gim-cotton and chlorate of potash, in about the proportions of 6 parts fulminate, 1 part gun-cotton, and 1 part chlorate. The water in which the fulminate is usually stored is first drained off, and replaced by displacement by methyl-alcohol. While the fulminate is moist with alcohol, the gim-cotton and chlorate mixture is added, and well mixed with it. This mixture is then distributed in the detonators standing in a finme, and each detonator is put separately into a machine for the purpose of pressing the paste into the detonator shell. 

The explosive known as tonite, made at Faversham, was at first intended for use as a gunpowder, but is now only used for blasting. 

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