Author Topic: Maine Mortar Pictures (Read 1832 times)

Spuddy · « **on:** November 29, 2007, 02:12:13 PM »

I thought some of you would enjoy these pictures I took this week of a Mortar that I discovered in Augusta Maine. I found the following information stamped around the muzzle. 38 SCL S. Mc M-------- Co 1865 1949 IBs I didn't have anything to measure the bore with except a legal pad. I am estimating the bore to be approximately ten inches. If someone has any information on this I would appreciate knowing more about it. Thanks. Oh, I forgot to mention that the bore is not plugged as well as the vents are clear. I was tempted to get a can of ff out of the car and light it up, but it points across the river at the State Capital building, and I only had one pound with me.

Artilleryman · « **Reply #1 on:** November 29, 2007, 03:07:24 PM »

It is a Model 1861 (pattern) 10 inch siege mortar cast in 1865 by Seyfert, McManus & Company, and inspected by Stephen Carr Lyford. It was given a registry number 38. The barrel weighed 1949 lbs. This company was located in Reading, PA and they built a second foundry call the Scott Foundry named after Winfield Scott.

The Alger 8 inch siege mortar that I have was also cast in 1865 for which the government paid 11 cents per pound. I would assume that this one would have cost a similar amount.

Only one of the two vents should have been open all the way to the bore. The other should have been drilled to about 1 inch of the bore.

Spuddy · « **Reply #2 on:** November 29, 2007, 03:25:05 PM »

Thanks Norm. Why the two vents with one drilled part way?

Artilleryman · « **Reply #3 on:** November 29, 2007, 04:16:29 PM »

When the first one burned out it could be plugged in the field and the second one opened without having to send it back to a machine shop.

OL CODGA · « **Reply #4 on:** December 07, 2007, 12:12:25 PM »

It is nice to see that there are others in the State that like mortars. It is also nice that you like the one that is in my backyard.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #5 on:** December 07, 2007, 12:32:10 PM »

OL CODGA -

WELCOME to the board!

I know the feeling - it's great to find a friend to shoot with nearby!

lance · « **Reply #6 on:** December 07, 2007, 02:32:56 PM »

Especially one that loves mortars

Tim, looks like i'm working more overtime for the next few weeks, but Sundays are open................ sorry about hi-jacking your topic Spuddy, that's one nice mortar you have up there! OL CODGA, you'll have to get together with Spuddy and fire that big Mortar that's in your backyard

OL CODGA · « **Reply #7 on:** December 08, 2007, 02:14:06 AM »

I emailed him and I am waiting for his replay.

I have a full size repro of a rev war company mortar that belongs to a friend. It is dog food can size, all that I can say is WOW!!!!!!!! when we fire it off.

lance · « **Reply #8 on:** December 08, 2007, 02:43:33 PM »

Quote from: OL CODGA on December 08, 2007, 02:14:06 AM

I emailed him and I am waiting for his replay.

I have a full size repro of a rev war company mortar that belongs to a friend. It is dog food can size, all that I can say is WOW!!!!!!!! when we fire it off.

Hey! you just can't mention a rev war mortar without pics, i like them too!!! and i bet others would like to see it also.............

OL CODGA · « **Reply #9 on:** December 08, 2007, 03:42:52 PM »

I am not good at this computer stuff so as soon as I figure out the picture loading I will post some pictures

Double D · « **Reply #10 on:** December 08, 2007, 05:43:38 PM »

Quote from: OL CODGA on December 08, 2007, 03:42:52 PM

I am not good at this computer stuff so as soon as I figure out the picture loading I will post some pictures

Click on the reply button. At the bottom of the reply window you will see the additional options... link, click on it. You will see the attach window. click onthe browse button and find your picture on your hard drive and select it. If you have more than one picture click on (more attachments) and an additional attach window will open. The total size of the attached picture/s can not be greater than 1024 KB nor can you attach more than 6 pics.

Try it, be patient, you are learning, good luck.

OL CODGA · « **Reply #11 on:** December 09, 2007, 11:42:01 AM »

Thanks for the help DOUBLE D. I am headed that way so you will be able to see the picture soon.

OL CODGA · « **Reply #12 on:** December 09, 2007, 11:45:56 AM »

Here are some pictures of the Rev War company mortar.

OL CODGA · « **Reply #13 on:** December 09, 2007, 12:30:21 PM »

Sorry but that is the only picture that I can post. The other files are larger than 1024 KB.

lance · « **Reply #14 on:** December 09, 2007, 01:12:15 PM »

OL CODGA, that's a cool looking mortar, believe it or not, i like Rev War stuff more than Civil War stuff.

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #15 on:** December 09, 2007, 03:16:39 PM »

We like mortars too and found one at Old Fort Niagara near Niagara Falls, NY. We are not experts at all on Revolutionary War mortars, so we were wondering if anybody knows exactly what this is. It seems to be very similar to OL CODGA's iron reproduction mortar. Anybody have some British Artillery Ref. books? Bore is 2.5". Correction, the Bore Dia. is 4.5", (can't even read my own writing in our field notes journal). Also, there is a Royal Cipher on the top of the tube and the tube is bronze.

Great photos of that seige mortar, Spuddy! We really like that model; we even fished some trash out of one in Cohoes, NY on our last Northeast Trip.

Regards,

Tracy and Mike

Bronze and close to 4.5" bore dia.

Looks like a Royal cipher to us on this mortar.

shooter2 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 10, 2007, 12:08:12 AM »

It looks closest to the Land Service Mortar Coehorn as described in British Napoleonic Artillery 1793 to 1815 (Osprey publishing) The cipher is for George lll. Beyond that I don't have much to assist you.
regards
Shooter 2

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #17 on:** December 10, 2007, 05:37:38 AM »

Thank you, shooter2. Your post made me look at the journal of field notes that we made while hunting cannons in New England and New York State this past summer. You are correct; it is a coehorn and the bore size is 4.5", not 2.5", (can't read my own writing!). Finally found our long-lost copy of Round Shot and Rammers. There on pages 40 thru 43 are some line drawings and artwork depicting the British version of the coehorn. Doesn't look too heavy, either, (only two lifting handles). Love that cipher for George III, very artistic. Maybe Douglas or Tim or Lance will cast one of these for us someday; they're building a foundry, don't you know.

Regards,

Tracy and Mike

Double D · « **Reply #18 on:** December 10, 2007, 05:46:08 AM »

M&T,

The Mortar in your picture does not appear to be spending a quiet retirement on display in a museum. It appears recently fired...what did you two do?

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #19 on:** December 10, 2007, 06:11:24 AM »

DoubleD, you are so darn observant! We were very tempted to break into the Colonial Magazine, grab a can of Curtis & Harvey and a Coehorn shell, grab the gun and a linstock from that display, drag the whole works over to the rear of the French Castle and lob a shell over the Niagara River toward Canadian, Fort George, just for old time's sake!!! But we didn't want to cause an international incident, so we didn't. Ah well, we love our trips to Canada and it would be hard to go there again if you were in prison.

Do you miss anything??

Tracy and Mike

Double D · « **Reply #20 on:** December 10, 2007, 06:23:55 AM »

Do I miss anything...stand behind at a lathe, and ask that question, better yet don't , I couldn't stand the criticism...Shade tree millwright aprentice, barely.

OL CODGA · « **Reply #21 on:** December 10, 2007, 11:17:58 AM »

Double D I have a question. You helped me to post my picture and I got there. Now I have been trying to put the same picture on my profile and I can not get it to go, it has been a day and a half. I am ready to put a hammer to the computer. HELP!!!!!!!!!!

intoodeep · « **Reply #22 on:** December 10, 2007, 11:36:24 AM »

OL CODGA,

I think that your photos file size may be too large. Try reducing the size to around 35k and it should work.

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #23 on:** December 11, 2007, 09:08:58 AM »

OL CODGA, is your reproduction mortar based on the British Coehorn, (2 photos we posted above), or not?

Thank you, Mike and Tracy

OL CODGA · « **Reply #24 on:** December 11, 2007, 02:29:11 PM »

I do not know if it is British. All that I know is that it is a copy of a Rev war mortar. The gentleman that had the original is no longer with us. But the man that owns it now is with us, so I will try to find out more about where it came from.

OL CODGA · « **Reply #25 on:** December 12, 2007, 07:09:53 AM »

i SPOKE WITH THE OWNER OF THE MORTAR NOON TIME, AND HE IS NOT SURE IF IT IS A COPY OF A BRITISH MORTAR.

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #26 on:** December 12, 2007, 08:43:11 AM »

Thanks very much for checking on it. We are inclined to think that it's possible, because of the very, very similar profile of the tube and also it seems that the raised relief swirl that you can see on the reproduction resembles the bottom of the 'R' (Rex) on the bronze coehorn we found at Ft Niagara. Thanks again for following up! And welcome to the mortar and cannon board from us. Glad to have you with us. Now you can see more than just 40 to 50% of the photos that the members post!! That's a darn good reason for becoming a member right there.

Regards,

Mike and Tracy

OL CODGA · « **Reply #27 on:** December 12, 2007, 02:13:19 PM »

I will try to get a picture of the crest. It will be a few days as I will be gone.