April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2019
These high quality and decorative signal cannons were popular at the turn of the 20th century. R.H. Brown was one of the first to patent a breechloading design. This example with a 1.15" bore diameter and 4 gauge chamber has 18" barrel including cascabel. It is mounted on a two wheeled mahogany naval type carriage held together with brass bolts and decorated with restraining rings. Lignum vitae wheels are retained by large brass washers, and thole pins. Elevation is controlled by a capstan mounted in base of carriage. Gun is fired with lanyard acting through a pulley and firing pin in cascabel. Original secondary pulley is in floor of carriage. CONDITION: Fine, mostly original, as found. Barrel exhibits a very old cleaning and is presently a very pleasing mustard brown. Maker's mark on top was very weakly struck, and is now illegible. 1890 patent date is fairly clear. Breech pivot screw appears to have been replaced and firing mechanism has seen some work with new stainless cable lanyard installed. Cartridge extractor mechanism frozen. Bore is dark, with verdigris around muzzle. Carriage retains most of its original varnish, dark, considerably rubbed and bumped, with numerous scratches. Wheels are good, lightly checked. All original hardware present. A very good example of this lesser known predecessor of the Strong cannon. MGM135.