(Civil War) Barbette Carriage for 10-Inch Rodman Gun., McClelland - U.S. Govt., c. 1861
Detailed engineering engraving for wrought iron carriage that held the 10 inch gun.
Thomas Jackson Rodman, a graduate of the military academy, developed a revolutionary method for manufacturing cannons. He theorized that cooling the interior of a cannon while keeping the outer surface hot would create a stronger and more durable weapon. This process, known as the "wet chill process," involved casting the cannon with a hollow core and circulating water through it to cool the bore from the inside. Initially rejected by the government, Rodman persisted and obtained permission to test his method. In 1849, it was proven that cannons produced using his technique were superior to those manufactured by traditional methods. During the Civil War, the Rodman guns, weighing 50,000 pounds and measuring 190 inches in length, were the largest in the U.S. arsenal.
Condition is very good. Image size is approximately 15.5 x 21.5 (inches)
