Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > European Armoury

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 18th April 2016, 04:00 PM   #1
corrado26
Member
 
corrado26's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Black Forest, Germany
Posts: 1,164
Default 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
Attached Images
     
corrado26 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th April 2016, 04:26 PM   #2
fernando
Lead Moderator European Armoury
 
fernando's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,620
Default

Looks like the real thing. A modern item, though .
fernando is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th April 2016, 09:31 PM   #3
Rick
Vikingsword Staff
 
Rick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,258
Smile 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.
Rick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th April 2016, 10:24 PM   #4
A. G. Maisey
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 6,675
Default

I've seen a cannon similar to this that was used to start sailing yacht races.
A. G. Maisey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th April 2016, 12:46 PM   #5
corrado26
Member
 
corrado26's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Black Forest, Germany
Posts: 1,164
Default

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
corrado26 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th April 2016, 06:04 PM   #6
broadaxe
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 332
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey
I've seen a cannon similar to this that was used to start sailing yacht races.
Yes, noise maker for starting yacht races, early 20th century.
The carriage is an homage to mid 19th c. salute cannons, of full size.
broadaxe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th April 2016, 02:29 AM   #7
Rick
Vikingsword Staff
 
Rick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,258
Smile

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
Rick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th April 2016, 07:12 AM   #8
Philip
Member
 
Philip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: California
Posts: 1,036
Default

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.
Philip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th April 2016, 04:54 PM   #9
Rick
Vikingsword Staff
 
Rick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,258
Smile

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.
Attached Images
  

Last edited by Rick; 20th April 2016 at 06:38 PM.
Rick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st April 2016, 11:24 AM   #10
corrado26
Member
 
corrado26's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Black Forest, Germany
Posts: 1,164
Default

Very interesting!! Thanks a lot.
corrado26
corrado26 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 11:47 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.