Nelson & His World

Discussion on the life and times of Admiral Lord Nelson
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:39 pm

All times are UTC [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: General cannon manufactures?
PostPosted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 8:55 pm 
Offline

Joined: Thu Jan 30, 2014 3:26 am
Posts: 82
In Nelsons time, how many cannon makers were there in England?
Where were the 'iron ore' mines situated?
Am i asking a relevant question in this forum?

David.


Top
 Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject: Re: General cannon manufactures?
PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 7:31 pm 
Offline

Joined: Wed Dec 17, 2008 10:40 pm
Posts: 1088
Hi David

I don't claim to be much of an expert on this subject, but here are a couple of thoughts just to get the ball rolling.

Firstly of course the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich had its own foundry and boring machinery for the manufacture of cannon.

But there were several, probably many, private firms manufacturing cannon as well. The names that come instantly to mind are John Wilkinson at Bilston in the Black Country, the Carron Works nr. Falkirk in Scotland and Walkers in Rotherham. Regarding the latter there was a thread on here some while back. Hopefully this link will get you there. http://www.nelsonandhisworld.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=873&hilit=cannon

What is very frustrating is that I have just a few pages here that I photocopied from a book called Gunfounding & Gunfounders (from earliest times to 1850) by AN Kennard. 1986I believe. The pages I copied were just about the manufacturing process but I imagine the rest of the book could have lots of information about the manufacturers themselves. I think the full book has 172 pages. There are second hand copies on the web for approx £32 upwards or you could most likely order a copy through your local library.

Hope that's of interest just for starters.

MB


Top
 Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject: Re: General cannon manufactures?
PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 7:37 pm 
Offline

Joined: Wed Dec 17, 2008 10:40 pm
Posts: 1088
P.S. This description of the Gunfounding & Gunfounders book is on the Bookfinder website.

"Fantastic book listing all the known cannon manufacturers with their names and dates of working. Published by Arms and Armour press."

So it looks as if it is the "must have " book on this subject.

MB


Top
 Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject: Re: General cannon manufactures?
PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 8:04 pm 
Offline

Joined: Wed Dec 17, 2008 10:40 pm
Posts: 1088
A few more names - from Brian Lavery's book "Nelson's Navy".

Wiggin & Graham
Gordon & Harley
Sturges
Dawson

I don't know for certain that they were actual manufacturers as opposed to "suppliers".


Top
 Profile E-mail  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 

All times are UTC [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 82 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by p h p B B © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 p h p B B Group