Light Landing Carriage for the 1898 One Pound Rapid-fire Naval Gun
 

The historical significance and rarity of this gun carriage is profound. I was amazed when after having started the restoration of this carriage the owner located and purchased a second identical mount. I seldom have the opportunity to restore any type of gun or mount a second time let alone together.
Light landing carriage for the 1898 one pound rapid-fire Naval gun restored  
   
The restoration of these two mounts was extremely challenging for several reasons. The lack of available information was the most difficult part of this restoration. These restorations where only possible because of the generosity of two collectors who allowed me access to their collections to examine the countless parts that needed to be reproduced.
  Second carriage with the reproduction axle, brake parts and hubs in place but prior to restoration
   
Mount front view before Mount front view after
 

The wheels and more importantly the brass hubs were missing from both guns and had to be painstakingly reproduced. The cost of the brass alone was $500.00 for each of the wheels.

 

Detail of second carriage with the reproduction axle, brake parts and hubs in place but prior to restoration Reproduction wheel in place
   
Reproduction wheel in place Another view of second carriage with the reproduction axle, brake parts and hubs in place but prior to restoration
   
The second of the two carriage restorations required reproducing a new axle and all of the brake parts seen in this photo. All made identical to the existing original parts on the first carriage. The cleaning rods and brass fittings, as well as the hand spikes for both mounts are reproductions as well.
  Another detail view of second carriage with the reproduction axle, brake parts and hubs in place but prior to restoration
   
Reproduction cleaning rod Reproduction hand spike
   
There were only two original ammunition boxes. Both were requiring complete restoration. We utilized our own reproduction hardware to replace hardware that was missing and manufactured replacement wooden parts for both.
Reproduction brass hardware
 

We reproduced all of the brass hardware to be used to manufacture two complete reproduction ammunition boxes. One of the greatest discoveries was the existing original paint that we found inside of the original ammunition boxes when we disassembled them. We were able to match the paint perfectly based on this find.

 
Ammo box before Ammo box after
 

As you can see from the photos of the completed restorations, we are extremely proud of these two projects.
Boat Cage Stands for the 1898 One Pound Rapid-fire Naval Gun
   
Deck Mount before Deck Mount after
   

     These boat cage stands were the mounting that permitted the one pound rapid fire gun to be attached to the deck of a ship. They belong to the same customer we did the light landing carriages for. The before photo’s are very deceiving. It took an enormous amount of work to get them in the condition you see in the after photos. The markings indicate that these were made at the Washington Naval Yard in 1902 the weight of each as well as the serial numbers are also present.
 
Before Polishing After Polishing
   
Before After
   

 

    Aside from buffing the brass we fabricated a few small parts that were missing. The steel parts were polished and blued. One of the more challenging aspects of this restoration was reproducing the recoil pad. I think the photo truly shows how well the reproduction came out.

 
  Shoulder Stock Restored
   
Rege After
   

All of the brass was polished with rouge, a red buffing compound. You can see in the photo a very dirty process. This photo of Rege was taken at lunch time he is only about half as dirty in this photo as he was at the end of the day. Heather also did quite a bit of polishing on this job and was often as dirty as Rege.  The first night she went home after polishing she stopped at the local grocery store to pick up something for dinner and hadn’t looked in a mirror. When she got home and saw how dirty her face was she could have died.

  Betty & Heather
 

"Remember the Maine and to Hell with Spain"

 
     
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