Photos: Weird and/or offensive vintage fireworks

The 4th of July is behind us, but not fireworks. We’ll likely be hearing explosions throughout the weekend – even in places that have prohibited fireworks due to the high fire danger. Such bans were rare back in the day, even though a lot of the fireworks made during the first half of the 20th Century look dangerous as hell. As proof, check out the following gallery of fireworks catalog items from a collection assembled at Fireworksland.com. Some of them are odd, others are bizarre and the top pick is so flat-out offensive that our jaw is still on the floor. Check them out below. Number 10: Wild elephant Talk about an endangered species. Number 9: Auto joke bomb Always a favorite with members of the Mafia. Continue to keep counting down our gallery of weird and/or offensive vintage fireworks. Number 8: Battle mines A perfect way to keep the neighborhood kids on their toes. Number 7: White mule It packs one helluva kick…. Continue to keep counting down our gallery of weird and/or offensive vintage fireworks. Number 6: Firecracker cannon Why shoot over people’s heads when you can aim right at them? Number 5: Spark plug bombs Continuing the hilarious theme of making drivers think their car is exploding. Continue to keep counting down our gallery of weird and/or offensive vintage fireworks. Number 4: Fireplane Not recommended for people with a fear of flying. Number 3: Tire bombs Flat tires have never been funnier! Continue to keep counting down our gallery of weird and/or offensive vintage fireworks. Number 2: Yowling Tiger Who doesn’t love watching a majestic beast being ripped apart? Number 1: Smoking Sambo An incredibly offensive sign of the times. At least whoever thought of this is ashes by now….

More from our Calhoun: Wake-Up Call archive circa June 2011: “Elitch Gardens fireworks show lights up the night, but fizzles with some downtown residents.”