Author Topic: CANNON PIC . FROM BRIDGEPORT ... (Read 1223 times)

opatriot · « **on:** June 19, 2007, 08:03:34 AM »

Gday friends ... Went to Bodie ghost town in CA. and found this cannon in front of A neighboring town of Bridgeport ... Thought it was interesting ....

opatriot · « **Reply #1 on:** June 19, 2007, 08:07:31 AM »

Another pic ..........

Rickk · « **Reply #2 on:** June 19, 2007, 08:08:13 AM »

Is it my imagination, or does something look "odd" about the breech end of the barrel?

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #3 on:** June 19, 2007, 08:10:34 AM »

Interesting to note the side touch-hole (perhaps on the top - maybe just crud on the bottom), the single trail bolted to the two cheek pieces, and the banding of the tube.

Looks like red-brass (lots of copper).

opatriot · « **Reply #4 on:** June 19, 2007, 08:12:57 AM »

Yea .. FUNKYYYY......

opatriot · « **Reply #5 on:** June 19, 2007, 08:16:16 AM »

for some reason sight wont let me load more than one pic at a time....

Rickk · « **Reply #6 on:** June 19, 2007, 09:09:16 AM »

The "side touchhole" is too far to the rear. Could it be a flat head screw? ... i.e... is this a total lawn ornament?

jeeper1 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 19, 2007, 10:01:36 AM »

A close up picture.

The side mark looks like bullet damage and in the upper left there looks like more damage.

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #8 on:** June 19, 2007, 05:04:21 PM »

Mike and I agree with Rickk. The breech looks "odd" alright, oddly like sheet metal. It might be thick sheet metal or sheet metal backed up by concrete, but it still looks like sheet metal.
Davey, did you rap on this object with your knuckles? If so, what sort of sound did this make?

Mike and Tracy in Mansfield, Ohio, again.

GGaskill · « **Reply #9 on:** June 19, 2007, 05:17:24 PM »

Where exactly in Bridgeport is this object? I am driving through there this Sunday.

Since the bore is filled with concrete, it's not likely that a lot can be determined about this gun.

opatriot · « **Reply #10 on:** June 19, 2007, 07:01:42 PM »

If your driving through Bridgeport dont blink or you will miss it ... only takes two minutes to pass through town ... cannons infront of the city hall/court house .. interesting specimen .. sign says it was made by a local machinist in 1881 at the town of bodie ... must have had a huge lathe ..

opatriot · « **Reply #11 on:** June 19, 2007, 07:07:41 PM »

MMMMM .... not sheet metal ...giant piece of brass /bronze .... has a large open bore but the fuse hole is filled with something ..... maybee someones attempt at art ...

Double D · « **Reply #12 on:** June 19, 2007, 07:22:49 PM »

Vent hole plugged with Cement. Typical render harmless process...George take your ruler with you!

GGaskill · « **Reply #13 on:** June 20, 2007, 05:36:21 AM »

I was thinking tape measure and 6" caliper.

opatriot · « **Reply #14 on:** June 20, 2007, 07:34:09 AM »

OK ... last picture I have .. look for this building , cannon is infront .. public building so just walk through old gate in the front fence ..... I thought the carriage was interesting , with the wheel at the rear of the trail ..... my next project is going to be a 1780 or so early howitzer type gun on a double trail and ive seen some wheels like that on the british carriages .......

jeeper1 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 20, 2007, 12:08:15 PM »

As near as I can figure, the cannon is located on Main st. between N. Sinclair st. and N. School St. under some trees.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=bridgeport+ca&ie=UTF8&ll=38.256131,-119.228209&spn=0.003294,0.007081&t=h&z=17&om=1

The building with the red roof.

GGaskill · « **Reply #16 on:** June 20, 2007, 06:50:59 PM »

That was my guess. Now I will have to remember to do it.

I did it on my way home. More to follow.

GGaskill · « **Reply #17 on:** July 01, 2007, 09:21:26 AM »

Since the bore is filled with concrete, it's not likely that a lot can be determined about this gun.

First, a correction to the above comment. The bore is actually plugged with a piece of wood.

The bore diameter is about 3.8" and the shot stacked below are about 3.75".

The muzzle has endured some vigorous abuse with a hammer.

At this link is a drawing from my crude measurements of this gun. The bore lines are strictly speculation as the bore is filled. If any important dimensions are missing, let me know.

Although the associated plaque says the gun was never fired, the date "July 4 1881" on the breech makes me believe it was fired during Independence Day celebrations. Never fired in anger I could believe.

You can see all my pictures at this link.

sign says it was made by a local machinist in 1881 at the town of Bodie ... must have had a huge lathe ..

STANDARD CONsolidated was a large mining/milling company in Bodie and I would expect they had some large machinery there for maintenance purposes.

jeeper1 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 01, 2007, 01:35:27 PM »

Maybe I missed it, but what is the over all length? I don't feel like doing the math.

GGaskill · « **Reply #19 on:** July 01, 2007, 02:55:57 PM »

By doing the math (to check on my "measured" overall length), I come up with 46.75" versus the 47" that I got measuring in 10" increments. 46.75 should be close enough.

Double D · « **Reply #20 on:** July 01, 2007, 05:37:17 PM »

George,

Could you tell if teh bands were turned or sweated?

GGaskill · « **Reply #21 on:** July 01, 2007, 07:39:56 PM »

Judging from the big pictures, they certainly could be press fitted as there doesn't appear to be any fillet between the barrel and the rings. And it certainly would have been easier to make the trunnion band separately than integrally. But it wasn't obvious from looking at it.