Wheel-Lock Spanners ca. 1520-1620

Matchlock · 27th March 2012, 07:01 PM

The flask attached first is the one that is closest to mine; its whereabouts seem to be unknown. The scan is taken from one of the many coffee table books that sadly do not care to give references.

Attached next is the finest known sample from the series, etched all over, preserved in the Odescalchi Collection, Rome, but both the wheel spanner and screwdriver are missing.

The following is said to be in a French private collection, the turn-lever spring of different construction.

Next is a specimen in the Musée de l'Armée Brussels, showing the hinged top mount open, the screwdriver missing.

Follows a plain sample in the Wallace Collection, London, the cut-off and screwdriver both missing.

Finally attached are two plain samples from international auctions.

These are all I have ever come across in more than 30 years of studying.

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 7th January 2014, 08:21 PM

A better image of that Italian all-iron combined flask and spanner, ca. 1560-70, in the Wallace Colln. that is similar to my sample posted above, #19ff.

We can now see that the former screwdriver is missing from the tip of the two-way spanner, opposite to the nozzle.

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 7th May 2014, 06:40 PM

This is about the fine spanner in my collection: North Italian Early Renaissance, ca. 1530, finely wrought, pierced and twisted for decoration by the smith - see post #6.

Meanwhile, I have found references for two more, very similar specimens; although they are notably plainer in terms of craftsmanship - none of their handles is pierced - , I am happy to post these photos.

For easier comparison, I reattached three photos of my spanner on top.

Attached following are:

- a spanner in the collection of the Muzeum Wojska Polskiego (Polish Army Museum), in Warsaw

- another, similar spanner, sold on ebay, 17 September 2013

Best,
Michael

7th January 2014, 08:21 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A better image of that Italian all-iron combined flask and spanner, ca. 1560-70, in the Wallace Colln. that is similar to my sample posted above, #19ff. We can now see that the former screwdriver is missing from the tip of the two-way spanner, opposite to the nozzle. Best, Michael Attached Images

7th May 2014, 06:40 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Unusual and Early Wheellock Spanner, ca. 1530 This is about the fine spanner in my collection: North Italian Early Renaissance, ca. 1530, finely wrought, pierced and twisted for decoration by the smith - see post #6. Meanwhile, I have found references for two more, very similar specimens; although they are notably plainer in terms of craftsmanship - none of their handles is pierced - , I am happy to post these photos. For easier comparison, I reattached three photos of my spanner on top. Attached following are: - a spanner in the collection of the Muzeum Wojska Polskiego (Polish Army Museum), in Warsaw - another, similar spanner, sold on ebay, 17 September 2013 Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 7th May 2014 at 10:26 PM.

27th March 2012, 07:01 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	The flask attached first is the one that is closest to mine; its whereabouts seem to be unknown. The scan is taken from one of the many coffee table books that sadly do not care to give references. Attached next is the finest known sample from the series, etched all over, preserved in the Odescalchi Collection, Rome, but both the wheel spanner and screwdriver are missing. The following is said to be in a French private collection, the turn-lever spring of different construction. Next is a specimen in the Musée de l'Armée Brussels, showing the hinged top mount open, the screwdriver missing. Follows a plain sample in the Wallace Collection, London, the cut-off and screwdriver both missing. Finally attached are two plain samples from international auctions. These are all I have ever come across in more than 30 years of studying. Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 27th March 2012 at 07:15 PM.