Author Topic: I want one of these!  (Read 1552 times)

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Offline Spuddy

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I want one of these!
« on: June 21, 2007, 03:50:18 PM »
I took these pictures today in Fort Fairfield Maine.  It is in front of the library.  I didn't have a tape measure with me, so no measurements.  Any idea on the identity of this cannon?   The plate on the side says that it is a relic from the Aroostook War in the early 1800's





Offline Artilleryman

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #1 on: June 21, 2007, 04:18:09 PM »
It appears to be a bronze six pounder, Model 1841.  Bore 3.67, overall lenght 65.6, weight 884 lbs, trunnion dia. 3.67, and bore lenght 57.5. 
Norm Gibson, 1st SC Vol., ACWSA

Offline longcaribiner

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #2 on: June 22, 2007, 06:33:05 AM »
There's two beauties sitting along the road in Wrightsville, PA at some kind of Memorial.  With all the hundreds of such things sitting out there.......  I am really surprised that in my 54 yrs, I only recall hearing that one "VFW" cannon disappeared.

When I lived in Falls Church, VA, there was a nursery (plants) that sold concrete repros of civil war cannons.  Wheels carriage and barrel, all concrete.  Folks would buy them and paint them to look real to put in their yards.  Darn things were stolen left and right.
I wanted one, just never felt like spending the $450 bucks the guy asked.

Offline Captain Earl

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2007, 04:39:01 PM »
 Hey Spuddy, I'm a lucky fella, I have one. I agree Artilleryman. Looks like a 41 6-pdr to me. I have a full scale bronze repo sitting in my garage. Some times Longcaribiner, when it's not at a reenactment, I roll it out into the front yard on nice weekends . I have Jackson on guard duty though. 150 lb. St.Bernard/German Shepard mix.
Give 'em the "BLIZZARD" boys !

Offline Spuddy

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2007, 04:48:44 PM »
Captain, you are a lucky fellow.  Is the carriage in the picture one that would have been original to the gun, or was it made for display purposes?

Offline Artilleryman

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #5 on: June 22, 2007, 04:53:37 PM »
Display only.  This gun would have been mounted on a #1 field carriage.
Norm Gibson, 1st SC Vol., ACWSA

Offline GGaskill

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #6 on: June 22, 2007, 05:17:54 PM »
The plate on the side says that it is a relic from the Aroostook War in the early 1800's

The Aroostook "War" occurred in 1838-1839; it was a boundary dispute between Maine and Nova Scotia.  It did not deteriorate into a shooting war so the cannon was not actually in combat.  If it really was involved in the exercise, it would have to be one of the earliest guns of that pattern actually made.  It would be interesting to know the numbers and other markings on it.
GG
“If you're not a liberal at 20, you have no heart; if you're not a conservative at 40, you have no brain.”
--Winston Churchill

Offline seacoastartillery

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #7 on: June 22, 2007, 05:42:35 PM »
Spuddy,
   
     It looks like you found a really nice tube, there, real good looking bronze patina on that tube.  Captain Earl is right.  He's a lucky fellow to own probably the best looking bronze gun ever made.  Perfect lines, perfect proportions.  Mike and I saw two long rows of bronze tubes in a bastion blockhouse at Fort Niagara just north of Niagara Falls a couple days ago.  There must have been 4 or 5, 6Pdrs. 1841s, 15, 1857 Napoleons with handles and a bunch of bronze 24 Pdr. howitzers and James rifles.  It was truly the "mother load" of bronze field artillery!!
We will be looking at 13" bronze mortars and 8" bronze howitzers tomorrow at Ft. Ticonderoga near the north end of Lake George in upstate New York.  On Monday we will be exploring Ft. Knox in your wonderful state!

Regards,

Tracy and Mike.
Smokin' my pipe on the mountings, sniffin' the mornin'-cool,
I walks in my old brown gaiters along o' my old brown mule,
With seventy gunners be'ind me, an' never a beggar forgets
It's only the pick of the Army that handles the dear little pets - 'Tss! 'Tss!

From the poem  Screw-Guns  by Rudyard Kipling

Offline Terry C.

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #8 on: June 22, 2007, 06:39:40 PM »
That's one fine looking 6-pounder. If it is "a relic from the Aroostook War" then it may have been fired very little (if at all).

A pristine tube for sure.


This thread reminded my of my own park cannon thread, from some time ago. So I went back and repaired the broken image links, and bumped it for the new guys:

I'll see your six, and raise to twenty-four

Offline Spuddy

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #9 on: June 23, 2007, 03:04:47 AM »
GGaskill,  The numbers on the back end of the barrel are a number 2 over 681.  I assume the trunnions have something stamped on them but are obstructed by crud.  I will go back and see if I can get any more info off it.  Where else should I look for number or letters?

Offline GGaskill

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #10 on: June 23, 2007, 06:00:36 AM »
There may be markings on the muzzle.
GG
“If you're not a liberal at 20, you have no heart; if you're not a conservative at 40, you have no brain.”
--Winston Churchill

Offline intoodeep

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #11 on: June 23, 2007, 07:20:56 AM »
According to Wayne Stark's registry it is as follows:

6-pdr Bronze field gun, M1838
Foundry= Alger
Registry= #2
Inspector= none
Year= 1839
Weight= 681

 Two of the details are confirmed by "Spuddy" last post with the weight and Reg. number. Hope this helps and saves you a trip back.  :)

If you make it idiot proof, then, someone will make a better idiot.


Offline GGaskill

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #12 on: June 23, 2007, 12:25:58 PM »
So it appears to be number 2; can't get much earlier than that.
GG
“If you're not a liberal at 20, you have no heart; if you're not a conservative at 40, you have no brain.”
--Winston Churchill

Offline Terry C.

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #13 on: June 23, 2007, 12:37:30 PM »
I wonder what changes were made to the 1838 to make the 1841 (the look the same).

EDIT: Found it!

1841 was longer and heavier than 1838.


1838 = 59.3", 690 lbs.

1841 = 65.6", 880 lbs.

Offline Spuddy

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #14 on: June 24, 2007, 03:02:42 AM »
Thanks for the info guys.  I am going to check with the town to see if they can give me some history on it.

Offline Spuddy

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #15 on: June 24, 2007, 06:18:43 AM »
The rest of the pics.



Offline Double D

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #16 on: June 24, 2007, 07:33:50 AM »
Spuddy to post pictures from MyHostedPicture click on the bottom link called BB Code. It is prformatted for posting picture.

Offline Spuddy

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #17 on: July 02, 2007, 06:08:10 AM »
First , I will apologize for asking this question.  Now the question is, where can I find plans to make a 1/2 scale version of this barrel?  I have tried searching this board with no luck.  Also this has been identified as a m1834,  I will settle for a 1841 plan.  I have spoken with a machine shop this morning that is willing to give me a quote as soon as I give them a plan.  I would prefer to have it done in bronze.  Can someone give me an idea of the difference in price that I can expect between using bronze as opposed to another material.  Thank you for all of your help.

Offline Double D

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #18 on: July 02, 2007, 06:33:11 AM »
How about these?



Drop me an email and I will send a better quality copy.


Offline Spuddy

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #19 on: July 02, 2007, 06:43:08 AM »
Thank you Double D that is exactly what I was looking for.  I will e-mail you.

Offline GGaskill

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Re: I want one of these!
« Reply #20 on: July 02, 2007, 09:08:30 AM »
Antique Ordnance Publishers folio No. 12--AOP Catalog Sheet.  The plans are full scale.
GG
“If you're not a liberal at 20, you have no heart; if you're not a conservative at 40, you have no brain.”
--Winston Churchill