Verbruggen 3 pndr update

[brass cannon]

I am in the process of writing an article for some magazines on artillery to clarify the confusion surrounding the three Verbruggen 3 pounders that were used during our revolution.  Several books have been written since the bi-centennial (De Beers, Caruana, Strach, Sullivan) but all of them have gotten some thing confused.  Consequently, the question is it a Townsend, a Pattison or a Congreve and which is the proper carriage exists among Rev War artillery buffs.  Recently, I received a CD from George Nielson, another Greybeard participant, which contains over 200 photos showing close ups of the details of an 18th century gunners model at Woolwich of a grasshopper carriage and a Townsend gun with an Irish harp and an elevation loop cast under the neck of the cascabel.  In addition I have had a local printer make me a working copy of Steve Strach's wonderful 280 page book on the Verbruggen 3 pndr in North America.  It is available on line but paging through that on the computer is a pain -you know where.  The printed copy is 2 sided so 140 pages and it is comb bound.  Unfortunately, Steve mixed up the Townsend and the Pattison, but that's easy to deal with.  Pattison is Townsend and vice versa.  For those who would like copies of the CD or Strach's book, contact me at ccresap@sbcglobal.net or 661 297 2010.  The CD is $10.00 and the book is $45.00.  Shipping is included.  BC

[Cannon Cocker]

You may know this, but the book Grasshoppers and Butterflies shows line drawings of the 3pdr barrels and distinguishes them.  Also, has other information on the carriages and how they were used.

[brass cannon]

Adrian Caruana provides the original drawings and specs of the original Brit cannon inventory including the Pattison and light 3 infantry.  However, he doesn't recognize the third gun by Congreve and he makes the assumption that it was the Townsend that was cast from 1775 through 1776 that was put on the Congreve carriage.  Strach points this oops out but Steve got the two 1775 guns confused so he says the Townsend that was identified as 2'8" in length to be the 3' long gun that is in Canada, not the 2'8" long gun at the Smithsonian and West Point. 

[Cannon Cocker]

Sounds like you have more data than I do on this.  If I come up with anything I'll post it.

[Cannon Cocker]

Don't know if this helps, but in my book "The Art of Gunfounding" By Carel de Beer, it lists 8 surviving light 3pdrs, their bore dia, length, weight, who cast it (Jan or Peter), markings, and location at time of printing.  Unfortunately under the pattern column it list some as Townshend, and some as Pattison, but all with question marks after the name.  One 3pdr is listed as Armstrong, but it's a heavy not a light.  Do you have this book or data?

[brass cannon]

You have begun to see the problem that has muddied the water for Verbruggen nuts (afficionados) since Caruana came out with G&B.  The most complete job was by Steve Strach.  He presents all 3 models of the Verbruggen 3s, all the details on their founding, description of each and photos, and where all remaining originals are today with their histories.  It is a great piece of work on the subject and is a must have for anyone interested in the Verbruggens.  Fortunately, it is available on line.  Just google Verbruggen 3 pound cannon and look around.  I can also provide a printed copy which is much handier to work with.  De Beers and Jackson came out with their book which has a good history of the Verbruggens and after Jackson died Carel came out with a second edition which was greatly improved and the Verbruggen prints were in color.  If you have a copy of the 2nd edition in color, careful with it. They are selling on line for over $500.00.  I got mine several years ago still in shrink wrap for $65.  The first edition is still available for about $35.  De Beers and Jackson were apparently confused by Caruara's book because of his confusion with the Townsend.  Strach got all three models but got the two 1775 guns, the Pattison and the Townsend, mixed up, probably because of the poor photos and screwy measurements he got from Canada.  Most of the other photos in his book he took himself.  He even has the transcript of the original letter from 1775 that gives the length of the Townsend as 2'8".  That's the breech to muzzle length, the tip to tip is 35" which he has listed for the Smithsonian and the West Point guns.  Why he said they were Pattisons is a puzzle but the Canadian contributor said the length of the Perth 1775 gun, the only Pattison, was 38".  That gun is actually 36", breech to muzzle or 40 1/2" tip to tip, just like the 1776 Congreve, which accompanies it at the Perth courthouse.  There are other details which were missed and that led to all the confusion.  BC

[Cannon Cocker]

Yes, I can see the confusion.  I would be interested to know what you find.  Sadly, I can't contribute anything above what you already know.  I do have the 2nd edition with the watercolors, and I do take care of it. Didn't know they were worth 500 though. Better start wearing white gloves. 

[brass cannon]

Current prices on book finder.com go from $305 to $2568.72.  I will consider selling mine at that price.  Steve Strach's book is the most useful of all the books on the Verbruggens.  It's on line, too. BC

[Double D]

How about posting a list of the books by title and author.  I can then put them  upon my want list on ABEBooks.com