Someone please 'splain "copper flash pan"

[cannonmn]

I noticed the description of one in this online book, but I have no idea what it was used for.  Anyone know?

http://tinyurl.com/8to78s

[seacoastartillery]

     John,  could the purpose of this "Flash Pan" be to "visually verify" the condition of powder in the ship's magazine by burning an ounce of it?  The "two foot long handle" would keep your fingers safe.  This is merely a logical guess backed up by no citation, prior knowledge or anything other than 30 years of technical investigation work in a manufacturing environment.

Regards

Mike and Tracy

[cannonmn]

Thanks, that's certainly possible, if they had some requirement to burn a sample like that it would beat laying it on the wooden deck, and supply some standard for what it should look like.  You'd also get to see if it all burned or left something in the pan. 

One ounce, that's a pretty durn healthy flash, almost wonder if it could have been used for signalling

[Artilleryman]

I don't think the use of this instrument lasted very long, you know it was just a "flash in the pan". 

[navygunner]

Don't really think it was meant for signalling as they had rockets and coston's lights (flares) for that. I have the ordnance instructions but it isn't much help. I posed the question on the CW Navy/Marine forum as some of the members crew on the Constitution and the Constellation.

NG