POST MEDIEVAL TOY

1750

A complete post-Medieval copper-alloy miniature "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 12.0mm. The base ring diameter is 10.0mm. Between the base ring and the first astragal, the vent field has a length of c. 7.6mm and the circular vent itself has a diameter of 2.1mm. This vent is sometimes referred to as a 'touch-hole'. The base ring and first astragal are flattened on the upper face. The trunnions (length: 22.1mm) divide the first and second 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. 3.3mm. The reinforcing band at the trunnions is also flattened on the upper face. 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, 8.7mm in diameter. The muzzle flares outwards and has a maximum diameter of 10.6mm and the bore at the muzzle has a diameter of 5.4mm. The bore reaches the base ring.Length: 64.7mm; width: 22.1; thickness: 10.0mm. Weight: 16.41g.This toy cannon is drab reddish brown with some light green corrosion products.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.