If some of you are interested in this turn-of-the-century artillery and you want to purchase some of these and similar documents, pamphlets and books for your own use, then we invite you to take a look at the "Mother Load" of Military Documents which Mike and I discovered about 3 years ago. They are for sale and each has it's price clearly displayed right after the title.
http://www.military-info.com/Index.htm An example of what they have for sale is this one which has an astounding amount of information in it:
Benton, Brevet-Col.J.G..Chapter III. Cannon, "Ordnance and Gunnery" (1867); 107 Pages, 33 illus. Price 11.00 {Item No. 20503} [Includes: History of Cannon: Early cannon, Construction of early cannon, Ancient guns, Ancient mortars, Ancient howitzers, Calibre, Devices, Materiel system, First system, Second system, Valiere's system, Gribeauval's system, Stock trail system, Louis Napoleon's system, Recent improvements. Construction, &c., of Cannon: Definition, Classification, Nonmenclature. Interior Form: Division of parts, The vent. Seat of the Charge: Seat of the charge, Heavy charges, Light charges, Effect on strength. Windage: Definition, Loss of force. Length of Bore: Ancient theory, What governs the length, Experiments to determine it, Conclusions. Charge: Maximum charge, Effects on recoil, Effect of length of bore on maximum charge, Most suitable charge. Materials: Requirements, Strength, Effect on cooling, Weight, Hardness, Corrosion &c., Kinds of metals, Bronze, Steel, Semi-steel, Wrought iron, Cast iron, Combined metals Exterior Form: Thickness of metal, To determine the pressure by calculation, Determination of pressure by experiment, Nature of force to be restrained, Various kinds of strain, Division of the exterior, Trunnions, Preponderance, Rimbases, Knob of the caseable, Handles, Position of the center of gravity, Weight of cannon. Different kinds of Cannon: Gun, Howitzer, Mortars. Rifle Cannon: Definition, Rifles how classified, Form of groove, Uniform groove, Variable groove, Method of cutting grooves, Comparative advantages, Number, width, and shape of grooves, Inclination of grooves, Effect of length, Effect of resistance of the air, Position of center of gravity, Limit of inclination, Most suitable inclination. Used to which cannon are applied: Field cannon, Napoleon gun. Mountain and Prairie Cannon: Mountain howitzer. Siege and Garrison Cannon: Siege guns, Siege howitzer, Siege mortars, Coehorn mortar. Sea Coast Cannon: Object, Large cannon, Projectiles, Kinds of sea coast cannon, Columbiads, Howitzer, Mortar. Manufacture of cannon: Where made, Moulding, Cooling, Boring and turning. Inspection of Cannon: Inspecting instruments, Inspection, Bronze cannon. Proof of Cannon: Powder proof, Iron cannon, Bronze cannon, Inspection marks. Injuries Caused by Service: External, Internal]
Have fun,
Mike and Tracy