Cherry Bombs and M-80s

Cherry Bombs (also known as Globe Salutes) are approximately spherical shaped exploding fireworks, ranging in size from three-quarters-inch to one-and-one-half-inch (1.9 cm to 3.8 cm) in diameter.

An array of some of the most common Cherry Bombs and Globe Salutes commercially available in the US. Picture Scale: the blue lines in the background are ½-inch apart. The salutes in the top row from left to right are: Kent Cherry Flash Salute, circa 1958; Havre de Grace Cherry Bomb (aka Arrow Brand), circa 1946; Peacock Standard Globe Cracker Bomb (India Export), circa 1995; United Cherry Salute, c1964; Row two from left: J.L. Morse Globe Salute, c1932; Po Sing Phantom Bomb, c1977; National Globe Salute, c1937; New Jersey Fireworks Cherry Bomb Salute, c1962; Row three: Miller Cherry Bomb, c1958; United Globe Salute, c1934; Victory Globe Salute, c1931; Triumph Colored Marble Flash Salute, c1938; Bottom row: United Cherry Salute, c1950; Victory Globe Flash Salute, c1937; Rozzi Cherry Salute (very faded), c1951; Unexcelled Cherry Salute, circa 1934.

Contents

Composition

A typical cherry bomb contained a core of explosive composition (i.e., flash powder or, less commonly, black powder) which was generally encapsulated inside a paper cup, which was in turn most commonly surrounded by a layer (approx. one-quarter inch thick) of sawdust infused with a mild adhesive (usually sodium silicate). An ignition fuse (aka "wick") was inserted into a hole drilled into the hardened sawdust sphere, all the way down to reach the explosive composition. The fuse extended outside the sphere approximately one to one and a half inchs. Once the fuse was ignited, it took about three to four and a half seconds to reach the explosive composition and initiate detonation (i.e., explosion) of the firework.

The color of the salute's exterior varied, depending on the manufacturer and the time period during which the salute was produced. Early on, in the late-1920s and 1930s, Globe Salutes had fuses which were tan, red or striped and multi-colored, and their body color varied, ranging from brown and tan to silver and red, and some were even decorated with multi-colored confetti. However, by the 1940s the most common color of the spherical salutes being marketed was a deep pink to red, with a green fuse, which is when the name Cherry Salute and Cherry Bomb entered popular use.

Legal status

These original spherical salutes were powerful enough to cause very serious injury and even death. Many hundreds of eyes and fingers were lost annually to these exploding toys of yesteryear, until they were totally banned in the USA in 1966, by the federal Child Protection Laws ("CPLs"). Historically, these Globe Salutes and Cherry Bombs were originally charged with 5 to 10 times the amount of explosive composition a standard inch-and-a-half paper firecracker had. But, after the enactment of the CPLs, all commercially produced spherical salutes, as well as all other powerful and deadly^[ exploding fireworks, such as silver tube salutes and M-80, could not contain more than a certain government specified quantity of explosive composition, which typically amounted to less than 5% of their original amounts.

Original potency Cherry Bombs are now considered illegal explosive devices in the United States, Possession, manufacture, or sale of cherry bombs in the USA is illegal.

Posted by Bob Wallace, who makes do with Black Cat firecrackers and bottle rockets.