Because this small outpost near Boston Massachusetts shoots for ceremony, their insurance Nazis want annual inspections for safety. No problem.
Because we made this back in 1837 we still own it, so we load up a camera on a stick and take some pictures.
It's safe. Life is good. Horses are happy.
We've been at the same location since 1813. I feel sometimes that I've been there since 1813, mostly on Mondays.
Dan
Nice boom stick. 
Very cool. That is a piece of history right there.
Brass?
The US arsenal at Watervliet is still in operation. Don't know if they are still making cannons.
iceracer wrote: The US arsenal at Watervliet is still in operation. Don't know if they are still making cannons.
yeah Dan.. the OP (914Driver) works there... He shows us cool pictures every once in a while.
What, do you shine that thing everyday?
EricM wrote: Brass?
Brass tolerates the salty sea environment well. Old oil lamps that were used on ships use more brass instead of copper or steel. I think this is bronze though. More accurate than iron cannons of the day or sumthin' like that.
Somebody does seem to be addicted to the polish though. 
both bronze and brass tolerate seawater better than steel or iron.
And when you have nothing else to do.. but have to do something.. polish. if it can't be polished.. paint
Oh my...as a metal caster in training, I hart that ...a lot. Keep up the good work Dan!!!
EastCoastMojo wrote:EricM wrote: Brass?Brass tolerates the salty sea environment well. Old oil lamps that were used on ships use more brass instead of copper or steel. I think this is bronze though. More accurate than iron cannons of the day or sumthin' like that. Somebody does seem to be addicted to the polish though.
It does look to be bronze (with a high copper percentage). I wouldn't doubt that it would be more accurate than an iron cannon. By machining and polishing you could produce a much smoother barrel than you could get from casting iron in the 1800's. Bronze would also have better elongation than iron, so there's less chance of blowing the cannon apart.
I used to sell bronzes and Watervliet was one of my customers. 
The bronze cannon has a steel liner.
Yep, still here. There's always the threat of layoffs and out sourcing but those are rumors. I was a toolmaker doing R&E, prototype work and then a QC Inspector at the Arsenal. Some years ago I hopped the fence over to Benet Weapons Lab., same site different HQ, funding and mind set. I'm not crazy about travel, but when there's an incident I do the investigation and failure analysis.
I really like what I do, they pay me too much and invite me back every week.
Dan
http://www.wva.army.mil/
http://www.benet.wva.army.mil/
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