POST MEDIEVAL TOY

1700

A complete cast copper alloy "toy" cannon of probable eighteenth or nineteenth century date (AD 1700 – AD 1900.Length: 36.2mm; maximum diameter: 11.9mm. Weight: 4.43g.The toy is described as if it were a functioning cannon:The cascabel (or cascable) which includes the cascabel button is about 6.9mm in length and has a maximum diameter of 11.9mm. The button at the end of the cascabel has a diameter of 4.6mm. A base ring is 11.9mm in diameter. The vent field is about 3.6mm in length with a maximum diameter of 5.9mm and the vent, sometimes referred to as the "touch-hole", is 1.3mm in diameter. In plan, the sides of the vent field are slightly concave in profile. An astragel dividing the first reinforce from the vent field is 1.2mm long and has a maximum diameter of 6.4mm. The reinforce and the chase are combined and their overall length is about 16.5mm and they have a maximum diameter is 5.1mm. The projecting trunnions are situated mid-way along the length of the chase and reinforce. They have an overall length of 11.5mm and each has a diameter of about 2.1mm. The muzzle astragal has a length of 1.1mm and a diameter of 5.0mm. At the end of the flaring muzzle the diameter is 6.2mm. Between the muzzle astragal and the muzzle end the sides are concave in plan. The bore at the muzzle end has a diameter of about 2.9mm.The toy cannon is in fair condition and is generally covered with copper alloy corrosion products. The surface colour of the metal is dull reddish brown.Miniature cannon such as this one 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.