Inverted, I collected the gas and then placed the lid on. I made a pin prick hole with a finishing nail, thinking it would be large enough to flame through the opening like a torch.
I set it on the garage floor and looked away as I brought a flame from an alcohol burner to the opening.

Bang! What resulted was extreme, immediate pain at my fingers. The lid blew off into my hand and a few glass pieces cut into my thumb and finger. I have a scar on my right thumb knuckle and the back of my little finger. It was a good thing I wasn't blinded from the glass shards.

I have a book called "Henley's Formulas for Home and Workshop" 1979 edition of a book that came out in 1907.
There is everything you can imagine listed in the book. From laboratory equipement, adhesives, inks, dyes to soaps and water proofing but the information is all based on turn of the century knowledge.

Two entries from section on Pyrotechnics:

Demon Bowls of Fire -The performer has three 6 1/2- inch brass bowls on a table, and openly pours ordinary clean water into the bowls, until each is about half full. Then by simply passing the hand over the bowls they take fire and produce a flame 12 to 20 inches high.



Each bowl contains about 2 teaspoonsfuls of ether, upon which is placed a small piece of the metal potassium, about the size of a pea. If the ether be pure the potassium will not be acted upon. When the water is poured into the bowl the ether and potassium float up, the latter acting vigorously on the water, evolving hydrogen and setting fire thereto, and to the ether as well.

The water may be poured into the bowl and lighted at command. In this case the potassium and the ether are kept seperated in the bowl, the former in little cup on one side, and the latter in the body of the bowl. The water is poured in, and on rocking the bowl it is caused to wash into the little cup, the potassium floats up, and the fire is produced.





The Burning Banana -Place some alcohol in a ladle and set fire to it. Dip a peeled banana in the blazing alcohol and eat it while it is blazing. As soon as it is placed in the mouth the fire goes out.

regards,