Cherry bomb

Cherry Bombs (picture: ) (aka "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. They contain a core of explosive composition (i.e., flash powder or, less commonly, black powder) which is generally encapsulated inside a paper cup, which is 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") is inserted into a hole drilled into the hardened sawdust sphere, all the way down to reach the explosive composition. The fuse extends outside the sphere approximately one to one-and-one-half inch. Once the fuse is ignited, it takes about three to four-and-one-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 .

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 nationwide 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 .

Legal Status

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.

Cultural references

The Runaways had a song released in 1976 called Cherry Bomb. In her solo career, Joan Jett has re-recorded it and continues to perform it live
John Mellencamp wrote a song in 1987 called "Cherry Bomb".
Pop/rock band Ash also has a song called "Cherry Bomb" on their album, Free All Angels.
Spoon released a song called "You Got Yr Cherry Bomb" on their 2007 release, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga.
The Notorious Cherry Bombs is a band started by Rodney Crowell.
A song titled CherryBomb is performed by Japanese voice actress and singer Rumi Shishido for the Japanese magical girl anime, Ojamajo Doremi. The song is performed in the voice of the character Onpu Segawa.
Kylie Minogue had a song released in 2008 called Cherry Bomb.
In the TV series 8 Simple Rules, Rory is caught by CJ and Grandpa Jim of possession of a cherry bomb, which he planned to set off at that night's Halloween dance at the high school.
In the television series Boy Meets World in a episode called "The Fugitive" Shawn accidentally blows up Alan Matthew's supermarket mailbox.
In The Simpsons episode "The Crepes of Wrath", Bart takes a cherry bomb to school, "detonates" it in the school's plumbing, which blows Agnes Skinner (the principal's mother) off the toilet.
Flushing cherry bombs down the toilet was a speciality of Keith Moon. He is known to have detonated over a hundred toilets in this manner.
In the television series Code Red, "Fireworks," there is a criminal selling illegal fireworks that Fire Chief Joe Rorchek is adamant on stopping, citing the serious injuries such devices, such as a chernkkljnry bomb, can inflict on the careless.
In 1968, the popular Cherry Bomb performance muffler was created and manufactured. The muffler is known as a glass pack muffler consisting of a red outer shell, louvered inner tube and a fiberglass packing around the louvered core. The loud noise and red color is an obvious reference to the firework.
A cocktail or rather an alcoholic drink is named after this explosive device. A "Cherry Bomb" consists of taking a shot of vodka, splashing with grenadine and dropping the shot glass into a glass 1/2 filled with Red Bull and then you slam the contents quickly.
In an episode of That 70's Show, "The Trials of Michael Kelso", Fez throws a cherry bomb into a rival schools toilet while the gang is locked in the locker room.