Kabar's amazing unknown conversion? breechloading strap gun on Long Island

[KABAR2]

Call ahead before you waste any time at Aberdeen museum looking for old documents.  Last time I did that about 2 years ago, I got a long story about how the National Archives came in waving a stack of public laws or something, and demanded that the old stuff be turned over to them, which of course it was.  They have a small library with a few dozen books in it, but there's nothing much in the way of old documents.  You can talk to my friend Elliot Deutsch, who also is an officer in the local Mil. Vehicle club and you may know him from the annual rally at Aberdeen.

Thanks for the heads up, I had read their rules for researchers but if the documents are not there then it may be a waste of time. I wonder how the National Archives cataloged what they took from the museum, you have to love
a system that can grab up & monopolize research material just because they can.

Allen <><

[jeeper1]

you have to love
a system that can grab up & monopolize research material just because they can.

The first step to rewriting history is to hide the records that tell the truth.

[cannonmn]

I'd call or email Aberdeen to make sure the records aren't still there, then get from them when the big turnover of items occurred.  Then call National Archives (I can give you a person there) and ask where those records would likely be.  Record Group 156 contains Records of the Chief of Ordnance USA, so I'd begin there.

[KABAR2]

Thanks Cannonmn,

I'll do that.

Allen <><

[cannonmn]

I guess now that we know where the patent for this odd piece is, we can see where the inventor's home was, then look for arsenals or cannon contractors nearby that had Army contracts for heavy Rodman guns.  Someday we'll be able to pin down where those fascinating pictures were taken!

[KABAR2]

Cannonmn,

Well we know of a post war patent, is it possible that somewhere he might be listed on a confederate patent?

are there any more state lists with confederate patents?

[thelionspaw]

Kabar,
How does the Grist Mill park on Atlantic Avenue in East Rockaway sound to you?

Also, to me, the photographs look like a scrap yard.

On the line between East Rock' and Oceanside by the marina, there used to be a bit of a junk yard among the boat yards.  I remember he had a few cannons stuck between the donkey, goats and chickens. He was across from the Port Hole Bar and I can't remember his name. My B-I-L would. That was ca. 1970.

Richard

[cannonmn]

Here's the earliest patent I've found with that "diagonal, pivoted" (my words) breech concept.  I found the actual one that shows the exact design used by the gun in NY but can't put my finger on the link to it at the moment.

http://www.google.com/patents?id=o9VdAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA1&dq=breechloading+cannon&as_drrb_ap=q&as_minm_ap=1&as_miny_ap=2009&as_maxm_ap=1&as_maxy_ap=2009&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=1&as_miny_is=1776&as_maxm_is=1&as_maxy_is=1860&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=0_1

[cannonmn]

I forgot we went thru all this back on page one.  Here's Beaupre's patent from 1868 showing this exact piece, see the spearhead-shaped take-up bolts (or whatever you'd call those things?)

http://tinyurl.com/yns7vt

[cannonmn]

I ran across the Navy's test report on this gun by accident while looking for information on R.R. Moffatt, at the National Archives.  I've found very little about Moffatt's life etc., so if anyone finds a biography of him, pls let me know.

Back to the Beaupre' gun, it was actually tested at the Army's Washington Arsenal, and it seems the Navy was invited to participate or watch, thus this Navy report.  I now suspect the old photos showing this gun near some railroad tracks between industrial buildings, were taken at Washington Arsenal, but have no way to check easily-could have been the Navy Yard as well.














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[KABAR2]

Cannonmn,

This was a great find! the actual Test results of the cannon in question, thank you for posting this, I think I will provide a link of this to the historical
society which owns the cannon in question, it would be nice that they had the whole story behind their cannon.


Allen <><