mystery cannons

On the base plate it reads: *AMSLER / SCHAFFHAUSEN SCHWEIZERISCHE*	This cannon has the flavor of being a "trap" gun. The brass plate is about 12 x 5 inches. It is all brass except for the firing mechanism which is steel. The spring loaded steel plate is released to hit a percussion cap. First, you push the steel plate all the way down, Then adjust the brass levers to engage and hold it down. A string tied to the end of the lever located near the muzzle would release it. Picture no. 3 shows it in the cocked position. What's very unusual is that the base does not have any mounting holes. The cannon came in a well made box with various tools, including lead ball ammo (45 caliber). This discounts my thought that it was a starter cannon... It was made in Switzerland.
	This cannon is in the possession of the Cranford Historical Society. It was found in 1880 when the Gov't was dredging a channel near Willets Point NY. I'm attaching a photo with dimensions in hope someone knows something about English cannon. It has the Broad Arrow, a Crown, numeral 2, date 1774. See attachment for dimensions. The carriage was added later to display the barrel. Feedback! Regarding the mystery cannon from the Cranford Historical Society. The number 1774 cannot be the date because this type of gun was only invented after the caronade which first appeared in about 1790. The Cranford gun is actually a gunade, a longer version of the carronade which was only introduced after the range limitations of the very short carronade were realised. The fact that the trunnions have shoulders also indicates a date considerably later than 1774, probably nearer to 1810 - 1830 during which period most gunades were manufactured. The crown is a clear indicator of English origin, but the foundry could be anywhere in England as these were cast as off-the-shelf items for sale to any nationality for merchant ship or yacht use. Gunades were not officially listed as part of the stores in HM Service as they were already disenchanted with the carronades, the broad arrow (HM Service) is thus an anomaly as none of the 45 odd gunades that I have studied had this marking. The single numeral "2" indicates that it is a 2 pounder, a calibre never used by English Forces. Nothing is ever as simple as it first appears ! Regards, G dV - Cannon Association of South Africa
	Does anyone have additional information about this cannon? This cannon is stamped as being number 2 of 4, made by Colt. Pat 1863. It is a black powder cannon with a 45 caliber bore. On the bottom it says "Colt hand made sample no. 2" On the barrel, "Sample not for sale" Feed back: Two qualified cannon experts and myself do not believe this cannon was made by Colt. The main reason is the quality just isn't there. Further more, during the Civil War, Colt was up to their ears in gun production. Additional feedback 11/03 ....the font style alone gives this piece away as being made in the 20th century... Sometimes it's difficult telling the owner what your opinion is, as they truly believe in what they have.
Q 58	Typical looking antique toy cannon until you look at the breech. This is a 6 shooter, 38 caliber. Each time the lanyard is pulled the cylinder rotates. The date on the side of the cannon is 1874! Does anyone have any information about this cannon? (Cannon-Mania collection)
Q57	This neat little 6 inch cannon was sent in by Bob Wilkinson (Anchorage Alaska). It shoots 45 caliber blanks. They are loaded by unscrewing the barrel and inserting. There is a logo consisting of a small sailboat in a circle on the breech. Has anyone seen one of these? Feedback: I am only guessing but Q57 looks like it may be an "Echo" cannon. I think it may be a device used on ships used in Arctic areas where visibility is at a minimum. When fired, the return echo would tell the seamen approx. how close an Ice Berg may be. like I said before, I am only guessing. Respectfully: Chuck Mc.
Q56	I have two toy cannons that my dad brought back from Argentina in the 60's. I have never seen anything like them in the states. I am trying to find more information on them in hopes of getting some more fuse/powder material. They shoot small ~3/16" pellets. There is a small ~3/8" dia piece in the front of the cannon. You push a pellet in the hole in the middle of this piece. This piece is a spring loaded tube that can be pushed into the cannon about 1/8". When you push it in, a hole in the tube lines up with a hole in the barrel. When the holes line up, you put the fuse/powder stick in the hole. This fuse/powder stick is like a hard brittle stick made out of some kind of powder. It is about 1/16" dia and about 3/8" long. You light the part sticking out. It fizzles and then gives a good "pop" and the little pellet will shoot out at a good velocity. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Tom Babcock
Q55	It is very heavy ( approximately 10 pounds) and all carriage parts are made of metal. The overall length is approximatly 13 inches and the barrel is approximately 9.5 inches. The bore diameter is slightly larger than a half inch. I have not disassembled it yet, but I can see no markings on the barrel. Jim Thomason
Q54	I was hunting (metal detecting) a site that dates back to at or before 1792. The site is located in Meredith Parade, New Hampshire just out of Laconia. While there I found many nice finds, it seemed that most activity around the site took place between the late 1700s and mid 1800s this I concluded from dating the finds I could.Some of them include a 1771 Imitation British Half pence struck in New York and a rare coat button from the Strafford guard of Dover, NH (1834). Well, David now for the cannon, Its 3 1/2 inches long and 1 1/4 inches tall. It has no markings. The cannon seems to have been functional. Has five spoke wheels. at the back there was maybe a third wheel or something at one time. The cannon is currently in a contest for the top ten best finds of the year at www.thetreasuredepot.com. I plan on having it restored someday if it can be ID'. Dan Miller
Q53	This bronze tube is 26 inches long and weighs 95 lbs. It has a 1.5 inch bore. Sent in by T.P., California. Any ideas??? (I know, it looks like the original Nut Cracker cannon...)
? Q52	I have a cannon from a shipwreck off Lunenburg Nova Scotia.The cannon is 16"long and weighs 30 lbs.Could you tell me how old it is and if it is British,French,exc.I can see any markings on it. Thanks. Edward d'Entremont
? Q51	Ron Spawn sent in these photo's. This rather substantial cannon weighs 65 lbs. It appears to fire using a "cap" as a primer. There is a small hole leading into the barrel. The word "Sentineal", appears in relief on the barrel. The barrel is 8 inches long with a 1 15/16 inch bore. It breaks down into 3 major parts. Does anyone know anything about this cannon?
?Q50	Dennis Zablocki sent in this photo of his black powder cannon, found in the woods, 38 years ago. It looks like a Winchester carriage, with no markings, however "The Naval Co." also produced these types of sides for a carriage. The cannon is a whopping 28 inches long (barrel 18 inches with a 7/8 inch bore). It weighs 47 lbs. Can anyone make comment?
?Q49	Joe Girard sent in this photo. This very well made muzzle loading cannon has a 20 inch barrel with a 1 inch bore. It uses a percussion cap firing mechanism. It also has a low power sighting scope! To top it off, the wheels have grease fittings.

?Q48	Here is another one from Joe Girard. This breech loader takes a 12 gauge shell, and has a 20 inch barrel. It has an elaborate recoil system and elevation adjustment. Feedback! Q-48 is or was a metal shop project from Frankford High School in Philadelphia. These were made in the 20's to 1930. I have seen quite a few of these at various Gun Shops in the Philadelphia area and presently there are two of them at Locke's Gun Shop in the Frankford section of the city. The two on display at Locke's are not for sale. They vary in size but all seem to use an interrupted step screw breech mechanism. They are found in 10 and 12 ga. blank. J.J. Murphy Col. SF (Ret.)
?Q47	Here is an awesome cannon found by Sean Trapane. It has a steel barrel(16 inch), brass carriage, brass and wood base. Takes a 10 gauge shell is breech loaded and lanyard fired. It is fully operational.
?Q46	Matt McLaughlin sent in this photo. It is a 12 gauge brass salute cannon with a complicated breech block.
?Q45	Matt McLaughlin also asked for help in identifying this WW1 style clockwork tank. It is made out of sheet metal and the tracks are made of canvas with metal plates attached. It is assembled similar to an erectors set using nuts and bolts.
?Q44	Alex Spencer sent this photo of a circa 1910 pressed steel cannon, with cast iron wheels. It shoots bullets that are loaded into the top of the barrel by lifting a trap door. A lever cocks the trigger which is then released by squeezing the spring steel clip in the back. Only lettering on it, is on the back which says "PATENT" Any ideas?
?Q43	This isn't a real old cannon, however it is quite interesting. It is battery operated! The spring / plunger is pulled back and attached to a small pin on a swivel arm. Small wires are positioned on a relay arm that are released when the solenoid is activated. The trails and barrel are made of wood, the wheels are cast iron. Anyone know anything about this piece?
?Q42	Cast iron, may be an alarm gun? Fires using black powder, triggered by a percussion cap. Cannon is cocked by placing the breech in the "up" position. A wire lanyard is pulled to release it. The barrel is 9 inches long. Circa 1880

	Signal cannon made by the Strong Manf. Co. New Haven, CT, Circa 1890
	Lyle gun, line throwing gun
	Stevens & Brown, Cromwell, CT Circa 1872