Strong Cannon Restored

[Machine Tom]

A club I belong to has a Strong Signal Cannon. It has been with the club for all of its 100+ year life. not had a easy life, sometime in the past it was dropped and broke off the firing release, Firing pin, extractor, breech lock, eyebolts and added some serious dents. Repairs were completed by a half blind butcher. This happened 50+ years ago, but the cannon continued to be used, and put away wet. Having been varnished many years ago, this helped to retain the salt water, which turned the bronze shades of green to black. Recently there has been difficulty in inserting the shells as the chamber was chocked with many years powder residue.
 
I volunteered to clean up the old dog and the photo is the result. The barrel is 16 inches to the back of the breech block 10 ga. It is not marked as a strong brand, but matches exactly all models that are. I sanded down the barrel which remove most of the small gouges and dents, plugged the hole for the firing release, made matching eyebolts and varnished the carriage, shot the barrel with clear coat. Yes I know its a life sentence with clear coat, but it looks so nice for a few years.
 
   

[aboatguy]

It looks nice, now.   Where's the before picture?  More importantly, where's the picture of it making smoke?

[cannonmn]

I sanded down the barrel
(response unprintable)
Well matey, ya trew away all the character and patina, for shame!
The carriage is an imperfect replacement, looks like made of oak.  The wooden "naval" Strong carriages were mahogony with either one or two oak axles, and of course two or four wheels, usually with white rubber tires.

[GGaskill]

Well matey, ya trew away all the character and patina, for shame!

Well, I guess it looks like it did when first delivered now unless the markings are damaged.  They'll have to wait another hundred years for the patina to return.  At least they can clean the bore after firing now.   

[Victor3]

 Beautiful job on the refurb. Hope it serves your club for another century. 

[Machine Tom]

What "Patina" it had was not the same as that of a well treated work of art, but rather the Grime of misuse, abuse, and neglect.
 
The Oak puzzled me, as the photos online did lean towards Mahogany. But as stated it had a bad fall in its past. The lag studs were a mix of homemade, and factory made, the through bolts were steel not bronze. It is what it is, they fire a couple boxes a year through it for the races.
 
If the club wants the old patina, they can drop it in the bay, drag it through the mud, and put it away like that. And the Old Patina will be restored. LOL

[SHOOTALL]

for what it is worth - Years back we were putting plumbing in a very expensive addition to a very large home. New copper gutters were being added and they contrast poorly with the new ones. Well rich people often want what they want and are willing to pay. They were having a party in a week and the gutters would not do. The plan was to remove them and put them back after the party. We suggested they allow us to coat them with sodering paste and warm them up a bit. We did so then wiped them down with a wet rag. In a couple days they were not a perfect match but close enough. If you want that look then you might try it but keep the paste away from any operating parts where it could get into the bore or action. I would try it on scrap brass / bronze first.

[Cannon Cocker]

If the club wants the old patina, they can drop it in the bay, drag it through the mud, and put it away like that. And the Old Patina will be restored. LOL
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The gun looks good, and I'm not making any judgment about whether you should or shouldn't have cleaned up this gun, but the only thing that makes a 100 year patina is 100 years.  NO combination of chemicals, talent, or artistic ability will do it. 

[Artilleryman]

The question is preservation vs restoration.   

[flagman1776]

One does what the owner wants.  None of us can see what it looked like before or the prior damage the OP mentions.  I own an 18" bronze swivel cannon...  when I clean the bore by standing the barrel in a bucket of Murphy's Oil Soap, pumping it through the touch hole, it pretty much trashes the patina.  I end up cleaning it with Never Dull & then waxing.  Over many months it still gets a patina.  If one wants a patina, just clean the bore & not the exterior.  It won't be long before the oxidation starts. 
PS:  This is with storage in the house, dehumidified, heated.

[Cannoneer]

I can attest to the reality of flagman's statement concerning both bronze and brass. After burning black powder in my barrels, and then cleaning with soap and water, a patina has already begun to form (even if polished to the nines to begin with).

[Machine Tom]

When I had posted this I did not have a before photo to add. A member of the club found one and I thought some might enjoy the old "patina". It looked somewhat worse in person. as the dents and gouges do not show well in the photo.

[cannonmn]

It had more than just patina, it had character.