C. Alger foundry records

[willyak]

This forum is great.  I'm pouring through the threads and now have a mountain howitzer high on the project list.

My family has an old C. Alger made cannon from the 1800's that I would really like to find the original history on.  Does anyone know of a source for the old foundry records or any other information for that company?  The Google method just isn't producing much.

Thanks for any help!
Will

[dan610324]

to speed it up a bit I would recomend you to post some photos of the cannon and all visible markings

[Soot]

A real Cyrus Alger gun would be pretty impressive.

[RocklockI]

Welcome willyak welcome ! This is the place . I would like to see some pics of this gun .
By tonight you'll have an answer , nobody can dig thru the books like some here ,If you post all marking and a pic or two ,you'll get your answer .

Gary

[Cat Whisperer]

willyak --

WELCOME to the board!

When you post the pix, show the details of all lettering and proof marks.  Common places are on the muzzle, ends of both trunions, and along the top.

Measurements (ID of bore, depth of bore, etc.) would be good too.

[willyak]

Wow!  You guys are fast.  Thanks for the interest and help.

These are the only pics I have handy on this computer.  It is an 1860's 3 pdr. bronze.  It is embossed with the name "C. Alger & Co.".  There are several distinguishing features, but I haven't been able to find a proof or inspector's(?) mark anywhere. 

The serial number (or at least a portion) is also present.  Please forgive me, as I'm a little cautious to give that number out on the forum.  I would really like to find out its origins and would be happy to give as much information (serial #, dimensions, etc.) on it as I can if someone can lead me to some reputable resources.

From what I've read on this forum, you guys are the right brains to pick.  Again, thanks for any help you can offer!  I will post some more pics in a bit.

Are there any records for Cyrus Alger & Co. in existence?

Thanks again.  This forum is great.
Will

[Cat Whisperer]

Wow!  You guys are fast.  Thanks for the interest and help.
....

It's one of the symptoms of "the addiction".   

[KABAR2]

Willyak,

Welcome!

You Might Contact the State of Massachusetts or the city of Boston and see if any of the records might have been saved by a museum

[Soot]

Make sure you don't clean the gun in an attempt to find markings. Improper restoration will destroy quite a bit of potential value.

Anybody know how to contact cannonmn? He could probably pull the paperwork on this gun out of his pocket.

[RocklockI]

He is a sponser .

[BoomLover]

Willyak, that is a nice old family heirloom you got setting around...like the man said, don't try to clean it up, you could lose 30 -40% of value! Don't be too reluctant to post here, these guys are good and generally quite accurate on their assessments. Looks a bit larger than a 3 lb'er, but pics can be a bit distorted or misleading...these fellows will know!

[Double D]

Make sure you don't clean the gun in an attempt to find markings. Improper restoration will destroy quite a bit of potential value.

Anybody know how to contact cannonmn? He could probably pull the paperwork on this gun out of his pocket.

Send him a PM or Email

[Cannoneer]

Will,
If that is a Cyrus Alger cannon, I think it was made for the civilian market, and if it's not a military gun,  then it wont have an inspector's initials nor an Army or Navy registry number marked on it.
You state that it is marked "C. Alger & Co." (your quotes); is that exactly what is marked on the right trunnion face, and is anything else marked on the same trunnion face?
You also say the gun was made in the 1860's; but sixty what, and where is this date marked, is it on the left trunnion face?
Is the weight of the gun marked somewhere on the barrel?
Is there a number marked on the right rimbase end, and is this the number you're calling a serial number?

"The serial number (or at least a portion) is also present.  Please forgive me, as I'm a little cautious to give that number out on the forum."

Will; I'm just curious what you think you have to be cautious about? If any of us had knowledge of this "serial number," how do you think that might end up having a negative effect on yourself, or your family?

[KABAR2]

Well I emailed John with photo's and got the following:

Thanks Allen, it is one of a zillion different styles of insurance gun that Alger produced mid-19th C.  I've seen at least 20 or 30 completely different styles, like Alger had an order form where you could mix and match any of the features on it when you placed your order.  Bronze Alger guns of this type are pretty scarce.  I wish I knew where Alger's company records wound up, if they weren't trashed.  Why don't you ask if anyone knows? 

[Zulu]

Willyak,
Looking at the muzzle of the gun looks like it has been varnished.  Do you think this is the case?
Nice family heirloom.  I hope you are in line for it.
Zulu

[willyak]

Hi to all and thank you again for all of the information and interest!  I'm typing this with a cell phone so it will have to be brief.  I'll be back at the office Monday and post some more pictures and info.  The shiny finish is linseed oil.  Hopefully it isn't harmful to the bronze.  The exact name on it is "C.Alger & Co. Boston".  Embossed around the top of the back end (sorry, I can't remember the correct term) is "No.       XXX".  The size "3 Pdr" is on top towards the middle, with "18XX" below that.  The last two numbers are hard to make out but appear to be 60.  Honestly it could be 69, 00, etc.  Sorry for the cautious approach with the serial number.  This cannon means alot to the family and I'm just paranoid about the internet anyway.   Those are all of the markings I can find, so it sounds like it may be a civilian build?  All comments and info are very much appreciated.  My thumbs are about to give out, so I'll post more Monday morning.  Thanks, Will

[Cannoneer]

Will,

It would appear that you and your family are the proud owners of a genuine Cyrus Alger & Co. bronze cannon manufactured in 18??, that was intended for "Merchantmen or Steamers to give notice of arrival or departure, as well as for defense if occasion should require."
If Cannonmn says that bronze C. Alger civilian market guns are fairly rare, I would take his word for it.

I don't think that linseed oil is going to harm the finish of your gun; but isn't it going to eventually get very tacky? If I was in your position I would contact some bona fide bronze conservators, and find out what they recommended to protect the barrel. Texas A&M University has a well-known "Centre for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation:" you could e-mail them a letter with photos of your piece, and see what they had to say.

This is a Cyrus Alger foundry pattern brochure from 1858, C. Alger was (1856) deceased, and his son Francis was running the company. Many here will recognize that the bragging (rightfully so) about the endurance of an 11-inch caliber cannon, is the story of the famous proofing of one of John A. Dahlgren's XI-inch shell guns.