POST MEDIEVAL TOY

1750

An incomplete cast copper-alloy toy cannon of probable eighteenth to nineteenth century date (about 1750 - 1850). The toy is described as if it were a functioning cannon. Only the breech end of the cannon survives.The cascable (or cascabel) and the cascabel button has a length of about 6.8mm. The base ring diameter is 9.3mm. Between the base ring and the first astragal, the vent field has a length of about 4.3mm and the circular vent itself has a diameter of 2.1mm. This vent is sometimes referred to as a 'touch-hole'. The astragal has a diameter of 9.1mm. The length of the rest of the surviving cannon is 14.8mm. At the break, the diameter is 6.8mm (external) and 3.8mm internal. Over all the cannon is 29.7mm long, and weighs 6.72g.This toy cannon is reddish brown with patches of a dark green and black patina.The cannon is probably a working model and miniature cannon such as this example may not have been toys for children but may have been used by adults.Following IOW-445AD3, the terminology used in this description has been taken from Blackmore 1976: 216.Blackmore, H. L. 1976. The Armouries of the Tower of London. Vol. 1, Ordnance. London: HMSO.