WWA Info Exchange

Okay, I'll start trying to wake this forum up.

I am working on replacing a worn out rotten carriage for a neat little cannon barrel.
The gun was made by a company called Lapan sometime in the 1960's.

The barrel weighs 84 lbs. and has a 2 1/8" bore.

The carriage was in pretty bad shape.

This is how you dismount a cannon barrel.




Here are the wooden parts that have to be replaced. For some reason, it was made out of pine. The axle housing is oak and doesn't need to be replaced.






Tracing the cheeks on new 2" thick oak.




Cleaned up the old iron work. The leveling screw is bronze. I only lightly cleaned it up with steel wool to preserve the patina.




















The wheels are cast aluminum and seem pretty heavy to me. Maybe 40 lbs. each. I had them bead blasted.






Stripping the axle housing. The axle is a piece of 1 1/4" galvanized pipe.

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Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

The capsquares need work. They are entirely wrong. I will have to do some machining on them and convert to the proper system.




Stripping the paint off the barrel.








The carriage lacked axle bands so I made some.




It also lacked rigging rings so I made a pair.




Right now, the carriage has been painted red and all I have left to do is finish the capsquare system.

Stay tuned. I'll post final pictures when I get the thing finished.
Zulu

Thanks Zulu, your postings are always interesting.

Duan

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Duan Packard
Kerrville, Texas

dum vivimus, vivamus

wow you do do nice work

Great to see you are alive & well, Zulu! Looks like you enjoy restoration as much as I do. It is reall a treat to enjoy your photos...gifted craftsman AND photographer!

Thanks,

Don

Finished!
I'm happy with it.

Machining the capsquares and changing out the bolt system worked great

Before




After

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

Stunning work. The only thing that impresses me more than your work is how big the demand is for all of the cannons you deliver. Amazing

Hey Zulu,

Magnificent work, as per your usual.
Do you have a historical context for the gun and carriage?

Cheers,
Tom

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"There is no path to peace, peace is the path."
Mohandas K. Ghandi

RixWorx,
The demand amazes me also. I currently have over 420,000 hits on my website.


Tom,
Here is a page from the original "Lapan" catalog. It is a replica of a gun found in New York.



This is from the 1960's.
Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

Hey Zulu,
The carriage looks English. But as it was found in a lake, it’s just as likely not based on the original.
Interesting though all the same.
Cheers,
Tom

_________________
"There is no path to peace, peace is the path."
Mohandas K. Ghandi

Looks great as usual Zulu! Is there any brand/type of paint and primer you like best for exterior iron work? I have an iron railing that i need to paint this spring.

Ron

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"To all those who work come moments of beauty unseen by the rest of the world." Norman Maclean

Ron,
I just use Rustoleum flat black in a spray can. I usually put three or four coats on it.
Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

A short video of the Lapan.
Zulu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwzXjvU ... e=youtu.be

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com