RARE RODMAN SMOOTHBORE PROTOTYPE CANNON.

RARE RODMAN SMOOTHBORE PROTOTYPE CANNON. This 2″ smoothbore bottle-shaped 23-3/4″ iron tube is undoubtedly made by Thomas Jackson Rodman. Rodman cannons were not only distinguished by their shape, but also by the huge lifting tackle knob that spanned the entire diameter of the rear of the cannon. That, together with the notched grooves, were characteristics of these cannons. This one is stamped at the mouth of the bbl “NO 8 115400LB TGRV +” and at the top of the mouth, “FO PITT PA 18”..?? Rodman was a graduate from the military academy in 1841 and assigned to the Ordinance Department. Some time after 1844 and a notorious accident at Fort Washington in which a then-considered state-of-the-art 12″ cannon exploded, killing the Navy Secretary Gilmer, Secretary of State Upshaw, and others, Rodman began to experiment with means of creating a stronger, more powerful, and safer cannon. His idea was based around an internal cooling process. During the casting of the cannon, water was circulated through the interior tube, thus causing the interior to cool whereas the exterior of the cannon was continually heated. This process drove impurities to the surface, while the outer metal shrank against the hardened interior. This became known as the “wet chill process”. Rodman offered his ideas to the government and they, in typical bureaucratic fashion, rejected them. After receiving permission from his superiors, Rodman patented his new ideas of hollow casting guns and arranged for the Fort Pitt Foundry to cast and test his cannons. In 1849, it was determined that his cannons and their production methods were superior to all others. Rodman went on to design and construct a number of large cannons with which various coastal forts were fitted. We believe that this small smoothbore may have been one of Rodman’s earliest prototypes, perhaps built and tested prior to the costly construction of the much larger shore-defense cannons. Indeed a rare opportunity to acquire an early American artillery piece which, because of its small size, will accommodate even the smallest of collection rooms. CONDITION: Entire surface, interior and exterior, overall pitting and brownish-black rust. 4-32269 JJ64 (3,500-6,500)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2008

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1420	$5,175.00	RARE RODMAN SMOOTHBORE PROTOTYPE CANNON. This 2″ smoothbore bottle-shaped 23-3/4″ iron tube is undoubtedly made by Thomas Jackson Rodman. Rodman cannons were not only distinguished by their shape, but also by the huge lifting tackle knob that spanned the entire diameter of the rear of the cannon. That, together with the notched grooves, were characteristics of these cannons. This one is stamped at the mouth of the bbl “NO 8 115400LB TGRV +” and at the top of the mouth, “FO PITT PA 18”..?? Rodman was a graduate from the military academy in 1841 and assigned to the Ordinance Department. Some time after 1844 and a notorious accident at Fort Washington in which a then-considered state-of-the-art 12″ cannon exploded, killing the Navy Secretary Gilmer, Secretary of State Upshaw, and others, Rodman began to experiment with means of creating a stronger, more powerful, and safer cannon. His idea was based around an internal cooling process. During the casting of the cannon, water was circulated through the interior tube, thus causing the interior to cool whereas the exterior of the cannon was continually heated. This process drove impurities to the surface, while the outer metal shrank against the hardened interior. This became known as the “wet chill process”. Rodman offered his ideas to the government and they, in typical bureaucratic fashion, rejected them. After receiving permission from his superiors, Rodman patented his new ideas of hollow casting guns and arranged for the Fort Pitt Foundry to cast and test his cannons. In 1849, it was determined that his cannons and their production methods were superior to all others. Rodman went on to design and construct a number of large cannons with which various coastal forts were fitted. We believe that this small smoothbore may have been one of Rodman’s earliest prototypes, perhaps built and tested prior to the costly construction of the much larger shore-defense cannons. Indeed a rare opportunity to acquire an early American artillery piece which, because of its small size, will accommodate even the smallest of collection rooms. CONDITION: Entire surface, interior and exterior, overall pitting and brownish-black rust. 4-32269 JJ64 (3,500-6,500) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2008 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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