POST MEDIEVAL TOY

1750

A complete cast copper alloy "toy" cannon of probable eighteenth to nineteenth century date (c. AD 1750 – c. AD 1850). Length: 45.6mm; width: 18.2mm; thickness: 11.0mm; weight: 17.31g. The toy is described as if it were a functioning cannon:The cascable (or cascabel) which includes the button has a length of 6.2mm and the cascabel button has a diameter of 4.9mm. Between the base ring and the first astragal, the vent field has a length of c. 2.8mm and the circular vent itself has a diameter of 1.4mm. This vent is sometimes referred to as a 'touch-hole'. The first reinforce has a length of c. 5.6mm and a diameter of 9.4mm. The trunnions are combined with the second reinforce which has a length of 6.1mm. Each trunnion is set well down on each side. They are circular in cross-section and have a diameter of c. 3.0mm. Trunnions sat in the top of the cheeks of the gun carriage and enabled the piece to be elevated. The chase (c. 17.0mm in length) narrows in diameter from the second reinforce towards the muzzle which has a flaring mouth. At the first reinforce the diameter of the chase is 9.1mm and it narrows to a diameter of 7.8mm close to the muzzle. There is no muzzle astragal on this example that would have divided the chase from the muzzle which is plain and does not have muzzle moulding. The muzzle has an outer diameter of 9.2mm and at the mouth the internal diameter is 4.7mm. However, the bore narrows and for most of its length the bore diameter is c. 3.5mm.This toy cannon is generally corroded and pitted but small areas of an olive green patina are present. Circumferential tooling marks on the vent field and the first reinforce appear to have been created during lathe work.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. The terminology used in this description has been taken from Blackmore, H. L. 1976. 216. Blackmore, H. L. 1976. The Armouries of the Tower of London. Vol. 1, Ordnance, 216. London: HMSO.