Posted 10 years ago
ron1939
(135 items)
A photo taken 2013 at fort glanville at our first night opening
The cannon a Armstrong 16 pdr Muzzle loader there was
originally six only this one on carriage and two barrels left
They were used to defend from coastal attack by Volunteer
artillery drawing by six horses to wooden platforms on sand dunes
along the beach used between 1880 1900..
Semaphore South Australia.
As soon as I saw the pic, I knew it was a continuation on the Armstrong! That or Whitworth. Maybe a Wiard.
Pic is a great example of how dished wheel were canted by an angled axle so that the bottom spokes were perpendicular to the ground for max. strength. Few people realize this or even notice it in old pics.. Yes, I have restored artillery wheels from the U.S. War of northern Aggression. Very interesting old technology. Restored an orig, 1863 3" Ordnance rifle carriage. Wheels & all!
Thanks blunderbuss2 the barrel and carriage original , wheels replaced
We found it hard to find someone to make them took over a year and not
cheap but well worth it had to go out side our state, Thanks again.
Ron, only a few old-timers with experience, like me, understand that old technology. The wheels strength relied on the moisture level in the wood basically. I have had to take my wheels off & drop them in a pool or pond to keep them "tuned". When the gun is going around a slope, the lower wheel takes the most weight & the "dish" actually works to tighten that wheel & a concept that isn't all that easy to explain to many people. It's easy for people throw the idea of technology in wheel design to the side as purely accidental, but it goes much further than that. The wood, angle of the "dish", size of the tire etc. are all important. Hope your people knew what they were doing as there is a lot more to it than just looks. It's actually a science!
Also we have a Whitworth Two pdr Mountain Gun with hexcon twisted barrel
We believe only two left other one in Royal Arsenal Artillery Museum Woolwich.will take photo and post after next open day.
Looking forward to seeing it. How about some good pics of the breech mech. as I have some unanswered questions.