U.S. M 1841 Mt. Howitzer recovered from the wreck of the USS Torrent

[Cannoneer]

Leesecw,

 I couldn't find the original thread so I opened a new one: Did you ever get any more information on the markings of this howitzer from the Ak Ofc of History & Archaeology? If memory serves me, they were in the process of cleaning the concreted areas on the barrel to uncover the stampings.



http://www.sitnews.us/0708news/071608/071608_torrent.html

[leesecw]

No I havent heard back from him at all. The last I heard, the forensics people he wanted to ID the markings kept blowing him off. Maybe they are waiting for bailout money

[Cannoneer]

No I havent heard back from him at all. The last I heard, the forensics people he wanted to ID the markings kept blowing him off. Maybe they are waiting for bailout money

Thanks leesecw; you may be right about them waiting for some G-money, I hear the chemicals they use to remove barnacles is costly.
The reason I asked is because I was in contact with J. Bender the other day, getting some information about the Registry and he asked if there had been any progress on the markings.

[leesecw]

From what he told me it was going to be placed in a tank of water and a light electric current was run through it slowly getting the concretions to come off. if they didnt get there before it went into the tank it might be a while before the markings are known. There is another cannon undergoing this in the state library of michigan. It was recovered a few years back in an excavation of the either a french and indian war or rev war battlefield in michigan. Its a bronze british 6 pounder.

[Cannoneer]

Jim Bender said that he had been in contact with Alas. authorities a couple of times, and he had informed them where to look for the marks on the barrel; someone there told him the tube might be sent to Texas A&M U for conservation work, and that they would let him know when something turned up, but so far no one has contacted him. I'll relay your info to him, thanks.