Eighteenth Century Gunfounding by Jackson and de Beer, Smithsonian, 1974

[cannonmn]

This is a great little book, but only found the 4 copies avail. on Addall, here:

It contains the most thorough description in existance of the process of casting bronze cannons.  My only complaint is that when they photographed the original contemporary color plates in B&W for the book, they lost contrast, but they are still very informative, if undramatic.

 http://tinyurl.com/5ndfj4

[Double D]

Nine more copies on www.abebooks.com   http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&tn=Eighteenth+Century+Gunfounding&x=31&y=9

[Bob Smith]

You really need this one:

Beer C de (ed) 1991 The art of gunfounding. Rotherfield

The drawings are much larger and in colour.

Then you need this article by my wife, Ruth Rhynas Brown, about the dating: “Gunfounding and watercolourists. The Board of Ordnance’s patronage of artists in the 18th century.” Royal Armouries Yearbook, vol 4 1999, 102-112.

[dan610324]

hey Bob whats that ??
is it the same book but in another print or what ??

[cannonmn]

Thanks Bob.  The book you mention, did it ever come out in hardback, or are the expensive paperbacks the only way this one was published?

[cannonmn]

Then you need this article by my wife, Ruth Rhynas Brown, about the dating: “Gunfounding and watercolourists. The Board of Ordnance’s patronage of artists in the 18th century.” Royal Armouries Yearbook, vol 4 1999, 102-112.

Bob, thanks again.  Since the chances that any of us will be able to locate that publication are slim, would you ask Ruth if she'd make it available for us online?  I'm sure as the author, unless she signed away the rights to it, she still can "publish" it online, maybe just giving us here links to the pages.  What do you think?

[Bob Smith]

The new book is more than a new edition. It has much of the same text as the first version, but it does not have all the footnotes and references, nor the useful map of the Brass Foundry. There is additonal material, mainly general technological stuff and extra illustrations. But the main difference is the illustrations being in colour and on a much larger scale. As far as I know both books were only in hardback, certainly their British publication was.

I am sorry to say that I had one inrun with the Royal Armouries after my departure involving copywright and although I won an apology, neither I nor my wife would risk such a thing again.

Bob Smith

[cannonmn]

Thanks Bob.  The edition I found for sale online was by Jean Boudriot publications, and is in paperback.  I'll keep a lookout for the British hardback one.

[Double D]

Well www.abebooks.com didn't list  the two books, but it did list this book by Ruth Rhynas Brown,    http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=Ruth+Rhynas+Brown&sts=t&x=44&y=10 . She had some help with the book..some guy name Robert Smith.  Mons Meg?

[dan610324]

I just got a book a few days ago that I bought on the us ebay ,
its extremely interesting .

unfortunately its in french , but I will have an friend to read and translate it for me .
just the pictures is worth every cent I payed for it .

its absolutely everything about cannon production , also about powder and fireworks
shows buildings , furnace , machines drawings and everything , including drilling machines for both bore and touch hole , would be possible to build an 18th century gun foundry from this drawings .

it will be very interesting to have it translated .

[Bob Smith]

Unfortunately I am so old, I began publishing in the days before the Internet and google. My wife, knowing she has a common name, always insisted on using her full name for publication (It's Scottish, and very unusual), so now it is easy to track her down. I came belatedly to this and now use my middle name, Douglas, as well. I was pleased to see recently on Google that I am overtaking the Other Robert Douglas Smith, who is on deathrow in Arizona.

Ruth writes a twice-monthly e-newsletter for the arms and armour community; it is hosted here, if you want to have a look: http://www.klm-mra.be/icomam/icomam/basiliscoe_mercury/frame.html

Bob Smith

[Double D]

Hope you aren't as scarey looking as the guy in Arizona...

[Bob Smith]

No, I am much more handsome!