POST MEDIEVAL TOY

1750

A complete post-Medieval copper-alloy "toy" cannon of probable eighteenth to nineteenth century date (c. 1750-c. 1850).The toy is described as if it were a functioning cannon.The cascable (or cascabel) and the cascabel button has a length of about 7.0m. The base ring diameter is 9.1mm. Between the base ring and the first astragal, the vent field has a length of c. 4.0mm and the circular vent itself has a diameter of 2.1mm. This vent is sometimes referred to as a 'touch-hole'. The trunnions (length: 19.3mm) divide the first reinforce from the chase. The trunnions are set about mid-way down the side of the barrel. They are circular in cross-section and have a diameter of c. 2.6mm. The trunnions sat in the top of the cheeks of the gun carriage and enabled the piece to be elevated. There is a muzzle astragal, 6.9mm in diameter. The muzzle flares outwards and has a maximum diameter of 8.5mm and the bore at the muzzle has a diameter of 5.2mm. The bore reaches the base ring.This cannon is brown and has no patina as it has been cleaned.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.Length: 51.5mm; width: 19.3mm; thickness: 9.1mm. Weight: 8.30g.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.