caps
Cap guns  weren't the only things to shoot caps!
 
It wasn't too long after the paper cap was invented, that "neat" methods were developed to explode them. Dozens of cap cannons were invented and patents granted. Although many patents were issued, not all went into production. There are several cap cannon for which patents were never obtained.

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This is a very rare, elaborate cap cannon designed in 1894.  It used roll caps (repeating). 

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   Cast iron cap cannon Circa 1900

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   Cast iron - "Rapid Fire" Circa 1890 (very rare)

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    Cast iron - "Swamp Angel" 1896 (very rare)
  Made by the Ideal Toy Company

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  Cast iron "Cap Bomb"

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  Platform cannon 

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 This is a early 20th century English made rapid fire cannon, supporting the "Jolly Boy" trade mark.  A roll of caps was fed in one side near the rear of the cannon.  As the crank was turned, the caps fired and advanced the caps.  The barrel is just over 8 inches long.   It has "Patent applied for" written on it.

One series is referred to as "rat traps" because of their being mounted on a wooden base of similar size and the cocking and loading of the spring activated hammer.
Carl E. Wenzel was awarded several patents (729,985 - 738,584 - 738,585) - for very similar rat trap type cap cannons in 1903.

Although there isn't any finger lever on the production model shown, and it only has two hold down feet, I believe this is the cannon that made it into production from the above patent, No. 738,585.

This one was originally patented (no.958,043), as being mounted on a sheet metal base. Later,
it was changed to a wooden base.

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 This tin version was made by inxld, patented 1910

Ives Manufacturing introduced this cannon in 1900. The figure acted as the hammer. A single cap was placed in the receptacle (touch hole) and the figure was released from its cocked position by pulling on the string.

Cannon was 4.5 X 9 inches and sold (wholesale) for $ 48.00 a gross!

 

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