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Author Topic: That Cannon in La Mesa, CA  (Read 1205 times)

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Offline Santa Dave

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That Cannon in La Mesa, CA
« on: December 11, 2005, 08:32:48 AM »
Does anyone know what that piece is on the main drag in La Mesa, CA?
I was running late , had no camera. So I may go back with tape & camera to find out.
I looked like the answer to an amatuer artillerist's dream, not too tall, maybe 28 inches. Not too long, maybe 48 inches. and looked large bore for it's size. it was on an iron carraige (niether a deck gun or a field gun, suitable only for paved surfaces)
The more I think about it the more interested I get.
Santa Dave
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Offline jeeper1

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That Cannon in La Mesa, CA
« Reply #1 on: December 11, 2005, 05:23:25 PM »
I lived in El Cajon from 48 to 60 and in Lakeside from 60 to 04. I never knew there was a cannon there. Where is it exactly?
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Offline Santa Dave

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THAT cannon In La Mesa
« Reply #2 on: December 12, 2005, 02:42:59 PM »
Jeeper I don't relly know, (i was lost, late and trying to find an address, at the time it was WAY down my list) I think it was down by the Fire station, I going to have to go look.
Santa Dave
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Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: THAT cannon In La Mesa
« Reply #3 on: December 12, 2005, 03:30:33 PM »
Quote from: Santa Dave
Jeeper I don't relly know, (i was lost, late and trying to find an address, at the time it was WAY down my list) I think it was down by the Fire station, I going to have to go look.
Santa Dave


I've done that at least several times.  Ran across the statue of Bo Jangles (Richmond, VA) that way - took a long time to find it again a few years later.
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Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Offline jeeper1

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That Cannon in La Mesa, CA
« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2006, 01:25:49 PM »
OK, here's an update.
My brother went to SoCal a few weeks ago and I had him take some pictures of the cannon. Unfortunately he used a disposible film type camera.
Anyhow I took the camera to Costco to get the film developed and get a CD made. I got the pictures and CD back an hour ago.
For the last hour I have been trying to get the CD to work in my computer. The packaging claimed it was auto-run, it's not, at least in my computer. Following the directions on the package I tried using the 'run' feature but that didn't work either. No matter what I did it froze up the computer requiring a complete shutdown and restart.
I finally gave up and looked at the pictures. I discovered he is a lousy photographer and the cannon is a breech loader.
The carriage is all steel except the wheels which are wood with steel tread (?). It also has a set of brakes that rubs against the tread of the wheels which are not dished.
The trail is a double with a loop on it that looks like it will fit on a pintle hook.
There is a bunch of gears and a crank for adjusting the elevation.
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Offline Artilleryman

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That Cannon in La Mesa, CA
« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2006, 09:03:26 AM »


Did it look like this?  If it did it could be a 1.65  Inch Hotchkiss Mountain Gun.
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Offline guardsgunner

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That Cannon in La Mesa, CA
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2006, 03:18:57 PM »
I'd think it would be a ww1 75 given the cranks and leversfor elv. but without a picture..............
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Offline Artilleryman

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That Cannon in La Mesa, CA
« Reply #7 on: January 17, 2006, 03:30:01 PM »
That was my first thought, but Santa Dave said he thought that it was aproximately 28 inches high and 48 inches long.  The specs on this piece are as follows.  It is a little bit bigger but not much.  Another view at the bottom of this post.

Total Weight:  362 pounds
Range:  3500 yards (2miles)

GUN TUBE
Material:  Steel
Total length of tube:  3.83 feet
Length of bore:  3.43 feet
Travel of projectile:  3.10 feet
Calibre:  1.65 inches
Weight:  121 pounds
Grooves:  10
Twist of Rifling, uniform:  1 in 29.83 cals.
Muzzle velocity:  1298 feet per second

CARRIAGE:
Material:  Steel
Weight, complete:  241 pounds
Height of trunnion axis above ground:  27.55 inches
Diameter of wheels:  37.4 inches
Track of carriage:  2.46 feet


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Offline jeeper1

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That Cannon in La Mesa, CA
« Reply #8 on: January 19, 2006, 05:35:14 PM »
Sorry about not answering sooner but my computer has been giving me fits and for the last 4 days was out for repairs. It has not been fixed yet. I got it back because it was going to take another week plus and I have been going thru withdrawal not having a computer.

No that drawing is not what it looks like except in the most general terms.
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Offline jeeper1

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finally some pictures
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2006, 03:54:40 PM »






Still don't have my computer working. I uploaded the pictures with my sisters computer and posted here with my 10 year old desktop that I took out of storage.
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Offline Cat Whisperer

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That Cannon in La Mesa, CA
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2006, 04:41:58 PM »
That's one tough lookin' howitzer!

How big is the bore?
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Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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Offline jeeper1

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That Cannon in La Mesa, CA
« Reply #11 on: January 29, 2006, 04:40:26 PM »
No clue. I have never seen the gun. My brother took the pictures.
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Offline GGaskill

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That Cannon in La Mesa, CA
« Reply #12 on: January 29, 2006, 05:13:42 PM »
Kind of looks like it might be a WW I trench mortar or gas projector (just a guess.)
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Offline Santa Dave

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That cannon in La mesa-
« Reply #13 on: January 29, 2006, 07:09:09 PM »
since I started this mess,
If anyone wants me to I will go down with my camera and a "measurin' stick" and a goex can . and take some pictures. let me know. it,s about 40 miles. or any other cannon in  the San Diego  area for that matter.
Both the Lynx and "the other ship"( Brain blank!) are in oceanside right now.
Dave
Has anyone heard from Dave in PA? he wanted some square 4-40 nuts (& I HAVE "EM! HOO BOY!) but he never got back to me.
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Offline Santa Dave

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That cannon in La Mesa (Again)
« Reply #14 on: February 01, 2006, 01:17:15 PM »
Today( wed) Lori & I went down to La Mesa:
First I must apologise to all & sundry! It Is MUCH larger than I thought.
I photographed and measured it.
It is an interesting piece!
Here"s what I have: Everthing I measured seemed to be in inches--A clue?)
The bore is 6" (153MM) at the groove
and 5.9 across the lands the lands are very narrow compared  to the grooves.
The barrel is 63.75 inches from the muzzle to the breech face (No breech closure present)
the muzzle is 10.75 inches across
the breech is 14.5"  (It looks like it was cast round and machined to a square.)
The trunions are 6.5 "
the wheels (Wood with iron tires) are 48" x 4 (with no dish)
The brake system is like nothing I have seen before, on each wheel inboard of the wheel is a metal drum with a flexable metal cord wound around it. this is attached to a linkage along with brake Pads which contact the steel rim on the wheels. the control is on the left side near the breech.
Even though the barrel is currently at about 45 degree it looks like it could go much MUCH higher!
the site has a curved rack (as in rack & pinion) and looks like it could go much higher also.
On the trail which is Massive & ra\vited are two pockets for "peavies" (My term fos shifting the trail to left & right. the hitch is a typical military ring.
I have 9 "pitchers" I took which I belive show these features(.2.5 megs each)
However I could not get the posting instructions to come up.(Can not find)
IF you want them and have a Wide band server(DSL or better) email me.
at:
kc6old@sbcglobal.net
If you have other cannons in this area to photograph let me know! it was fun!
Dave
Ok you experts! have at it! :grin:
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