Galbraith cannon
 

I have in my collection a miniatur cannon or maybe a real cannon, made bei GALBRAITH New York of brass or bronce. I hope that someone here may be able to find out if this is a just a model with 17kg or a real life saver cannon. The barrel is unscrewable and has a calibre of 50mm, the total length of the cannon is 780mm, the barrel length is 500mm.
Thanks a lot
corrado26

Looks like the real thing. A modern item, though :shrug: .

Lyle Gun
 

Realized at auction:
http://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/2684M/lots/8
Not the same barrel configuration, but still looks like a Lyle Gun.

I've seen a cannon similar to this that was used to start sailing yacht races.

Thanks for your answers. So I learnt that this is not a model but a real thing for starting sailing races (?) or throwing lines in order to safe lifes. I wonder how this item came for which purpose to Germany...........
corrado26

Yes, noise maker for starting yacht races, early 20th century.
The carriage is an homage to mid 19th c. salute cannons, of full size.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2478/3...83b_z.jpg?zz=1

The one thing that puzzles me is the flare of the muzzle; I've only found one other example in a search that revealed many straight muzzles. I guess it would still work even flared.
The Lyle gun does not have to be too large as it shoots a weight carrying a 'messenger' or light line to the vessel in distress to which a heavier line is bent on to and sent out; then the breeches buoy or whatever rescue rig is set up.

A nice cannon to have; wish it could talk. :)

These were pretty much the standard in the US at the turn of the century for starting yacht races; newer versions still are.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWFSVc1DIoo

If this was made as a starting-gun for yacht racing, why is the elevation adjustable to 3 settings? One would think this feature superfluous on device that would essentially be a noisemaker. Throwing life-lines is a more plausible function, the flaring muzzle is not a common feature but might make loading the cannon easier on a rocking boat in stormy seas.

The Lyle gun was employed from shore by the Livesaving Service here in the US. I'm unaware of them being used on board a vessel; I suppose it could be used that way.
The most difficult part of employing the device was the proper faking down of the messenger line. If this was not done properly the shot would fall short and the line would have to be faked down again properly, which is time consuming.
Pictured a Lyle gun display and a picture of the faking board.

Very interesting!! Thanks a lot.
corrado26