Author Topic: Bunch of old black powder line throwing cannons--photos (Read 4276 times)

cannonmn · « **on:** October 20, 2009, 04:31:56 PM »

http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums47/?action=view&current=2055a716.pbw

KABAR2 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 20, 2009, 04:38:26 PM »

Cannonmn,

That is quite a collection, what make is the iron tube with the wood base? I haven't seen one of those before.

cannonmn · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 2009, 05:38:15 PM »

Quote

I haven't seen one of those before.

Me neither. Nor has Paul Barnett, the Line Throwing Gun Guru. No one I've asked knows about it. There's a little weighted, pivoted arrow thingy on the right trunnion which acts as a quadrant.

Frank46 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2009, 05:55:06 PM »

Cannonman, some years back I attended a couple courses at King's Point Merchant Marine Academy in New york. In one of the class rooms they had a lyle line throwing cannon. Seem to remember it was painted grey and was in really nice shape. Too heavy to try and get into my car so its probably there still. Frank

SLEEPY BEEPER · « **Reply #4 on:** October 21, 2009, 12:24:57 PM »

Does anybody know how far a line throwing gun will throw a line? What did the projectile look like?

Zulu · « **Reply #5 on:** October 21, 2009, 12:28:30 PM »

The projectile looked like a plunger

cannonmn · « **Reply #6 on:** October 21, 2009, 02:24:30 PM »

Here are what the projectiles look like. Diameter 2.45 inches, shank dia. 1/2-5/8 inch, length about 24 in., weight 17 lbs. We sell them for $100. ea., they are quite scarce.

Cannoneer · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2009, 02:26:47 PM »

Cannonmn beat me to it.

intoodeep · « **Reply #8 on:** October 21, 2009, 02:53:45 PM »

Since, this was not pictured or, mentioned. The bronze "C" Lyle used a projectile like the one below. (Cannonmn, If you have one of these for $100 I'll take it....

)

Quote from: SLEEPY BEEPER on October 21, 2009, 12:24:57 PM

Does anybody know how far a line throwing gun will throw a line?

They could safely throw a projectile to approx. the 1000' mark.

cannonmn · « **Reply #9 on:** October 21, 2009, 04:53:51 PM »

Deep has posted a pic of a replica projectile for a USLSS Bronze Gun "C". I've had several of the guns over the years (still have one, made at Watervliet Arsenal in 1929) and some accouterments, but I've never even seen one of those projectiles for sale, so I might give $125. for one of 'em. Gotta stay ahead of Deep anyway, right?

intoodeep · « **Reply #10 on:** October 21, 2009, 05:21:46 PM »

Quote from: cannonmn on October 21, 2009, 04:53:51 PM

Deep has posted a pic of a replica projectile for a USLSS Bronze Gun "C". I've had several of the guns over the years (still have one, made at Watervliet Arsenal in 1929) and some accouterments, but I've never even seen one of those projectiles for sale, so I might give $125. for one of 'em. Gotta stay ahead of Deep anyway, right?

You are correct. It is a replica and they want more for it then I would pay for an original.

But, it was the best photo I had. Below is a USLSS Bronze C with an original projectile.

Quote from: cannonmn on October 21, 2009, 04:53:51 PM

I've had several of the guns over the years (still have one, made at Watervliet Arsenal in 1929) and some accouterments, but I've never even seen one of those projectiles for sale, so I might give $125. for one of 'em. Gotta stay ahead of Deep anyway, right?

Do you have an original rammer in your list of goodies for sale?

cannonmn · « **Reply #11 on:** October 21, 2009, 09:17:01 PM »

No original rammer, sorry.

rmagill · « **Reply #12 on:** October 22, 2009, 12:24:07 PM »

I have Sculler Lyle gun #2386 Do you have a way to look up the build date for them?
Bob

cannonmn · « **Reply #13 on:** October 22, 2009, 04:59:17 PM »

Quote

Do you have a way to look up the build date for them?
Bob

I don't know of any, but the vast majority of those were made during the 1940's. I don't think any pre-date about 1940 but am not sure about that. There's usually an inspection date stamped on the muzzle, check there closely.

Mohawk · « **Reply #14 on:** November 27, 2009, 10:34:07 AM »

When I lived in Las Vegas with would take a Line-throwing cannon into the desert. Out projectiles were empty beer cans filled with cement. Never measured the distance but it would surely put it out there!

Ex 49'er · « **Reply #15 on:** November 27, 2009, 10:55:10 AM »

We've had a few line throwing cannons at the local cannon shoots. I think a line thrower won the mortar competition 4 years ago. I think I've got a picture of another one from a different shoot.

RocklockI · « **Reply #16 on:** November 27, 2009, 11:08:38 AM »

Are these projectiles loaded with the loop end up ?

cannonmn · « **Reply #17 on:** November 27, 2009, 11:33:48 AM »

Quote

Are these projectiles loaded with the loop end up ?

Affirmative.

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #18 on:** November 27, 2009, 11:37:17 AM »

In 2005, when Mike and I were checking out the two 20" Rodman guns that exist today at Ft. Hamilton in Brooklyn, New York and also at Ft. Hancock on the tip of Sandy Hook, New Jersey, we came across a very beautiful line throwing gun at a tiny museum on the beach a couple miles south of Ft. Hancock. I took a photo of Mike holding the projectile attached to the gun. It was not made of metal, but looked like a very dense hardwood, perhaps lignum vitae, with which we are sure Cannonmn is familiar, it being used in ship building as a bearing material for the huge shafts which rotate the ship's screws. The sign said the projectile was 15 pounds and mentioned the tedious line packing around the polished, tapered pegs of the line play-out box. All in all a very interesting, but tiny, museum.

If anyone could I.D. the type of line throwing gun from the photo, we would be thankful. We do not know its Type or Date of manufacture.

Thanks,

Mike and Tracy

Bronze line Throwing Gun on the Jersey shore.

cannonmn · « **Reply #19 on:** November 27, 2009, 12:48:15 PM »

That's the US Bronze Gun "C." They were manufactured from about late 1870's through 1929. The largest production contract I know of was filled by Richmond (Va.) Ironworks in 1905.

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #20 on:** November 27, 2009, 02:32:11 PM »

Thanks John, appreciate that.

T&M

rmagill · « **Reply #21 on:** November 27, 2009, 03:44:16 PM »

Ex49er, I've had mine down to the misery shoot a few times over the years, never did shoot the competition though. I just went went down for the practice in the days before to play and see what everybody else was doing. Was always a good time, hope they manage to do it this year.
Bob

Ex 49'er · « **Reply #22 on:** November 27, 2009, 05:33:43 PM »

Quote from: rmagill on November 27, 2009, 03:44:16 PM

Ex49er, I've had mine down to the misery shoot a few times over the years, never did shoot the competition though. I just went went down for the practice in the days before to play and see what everybody else was doing. Was always a good time, hope they manage to do it this year.
Bob

I've heard that the Misery shoot may be cancelled this year; but, that the June shoot is probably a go. When i find out I'll post it. It's always fun
watching the Lyle guns shoot. Very minimal noise and a very graceful arc of the concrete can up in the air and back to the ground.