ph0ebus Posted 22 March , 2010 Author Share Posted 22 March , 2010 The big work is in the wheels, we have few wheel wrights remaining. Of course our Rand is weak but an estimate on a gun of this type would be about USD 2 500 should you wish to expose the brass/bronze. We are rethinking this as it is then exposed to being stolen. We only do so on guns that are under some sort of protection. If not you could knock off about USD 300 or so. We have an application into our Lotto to fund a restortaion workshop. The cost to the owner will then only be the transport, we will do the work for free, and that would be about USD 1 500 complete for both ways. The paperwork is always an issue but we are OK with "friendly" countries. A bit more of a problem from countries on any sort of "list" Hi Frank, Thanks so much for the information. I will pass it along to those directly involved with the restoration effort. This gun sits outside the library and has no protection from theft or even the elements so exposing the brass/bronze is probably not appropriate. As the project unfolds I will hope to coordinate with the library to get pics and will add them to this thread where possible. -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Frank Posted 22 March , 2010 Share Posted 22 March , 2010 See http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...howtopic=143912 Will keep it updated as we go along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 14 July , 2010 Author Share Posted 14 July , 2010 Good news from my contact at the Locust Valley Library: The cannon was sent out in early May for restoration. They are hoping to have it back by the end of the summer but apparently wheel restoration is a slow moving process. When I get a date for the return, I will let you know. I will post updates as I get them, but this makes me very happy. By the way, a brief video of the cannon and War Memorial tablet can be viewed here: Locust Valley Gun -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 19 July , 2010 Author Share Posted 19 July , 2010 Good news from my contact at the Locust Valley Library; restoration work is largely complete on the Locust Valley gun and it should be returned within the next month, give or take. Once there is a clear ETA will post it as well as pics of the gun post-restoration. -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 19 September , 2010 Author Share Posted 19 September , 2010 The cannon is back, and it looks fantastic: Read more, here: What a Beautiful Cannon I will see if they have finalized the official dedication date. -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calibre792x57.y Posted 20 September , 2010 Share Posted 20 September , 2010 For the U.K. don't forget the Graincourt Gun (FK96nA) captured by tank action at Cambrai and now in the Tank Museum at Bovington, Dorset. There is another somewhere in Cumbria I think. The town was presented with a FK at the end of the War but apparently felt insulted because it was German and they wanted a British one. They therefore heaved it into a lake. Years later, sometime in the Nineties the gun was retrieved and refurbed, I think as an Army exercise. The townspeople promptly returned it to the deep, where it is supposed still to lie. There will be someone who remembers more than I in the Forum no doubt. SW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 20 September , 2010 Author Share Posted 20 September , 2010 For the U.K. don't forget the Graincourt Gun (FK96nA) captured by tank action at Cambrai and now in the Tank Museum at Bovington, Dorset. There is another somewhere in Cumbria I think. The town was presented with a FK at the end of the War but apparently felt insulted because it was German and they wanted a British one. They therefore heaved it into a lake. Years later, sometime in the Nineties the gun was retrieved and refurbed, I think as an Army exercise. The townspeople promptly returned it to the deep, where it is supposed still to lie. There will be someone who remembers more than I in the Forum no doubt. SW That is a very interesting (if not disturbing) story. If the guns you mention are not on the web page, you might, erm, shoot an email to the page creator so he can add them.... If they don't the FK, I will happily take it off their hands...where's my snorkel? -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 18 July , 2011 Author Share Posted 18 July , 2011 Hi all, I found an old photo showing two WWI cannons...the picture is not great but I was wondering if you recognized the type of cannon shown: I am trying to track them down; at one point they were part of a War Memorial on Long Island. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. Take care, and Happy Holidays.... -Daniel Well, I stumbled upon the memorial itself....still around after all these years! Here is the plaque: They added plaques for WWII, Korea and Vietnam on the other faces. As to the guns? Well..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 18 July , 2011 Author Share Posted 18 July , 2011 This is what sits beside the memorial now: One of the tags on one of the guns: The original cannons are still MIA. -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 18 July , 2011 Author Share Posted 18 July , 2011 Aha! Looks like the cannons are indeed at Hoyt Farm: Hoyt Farms Cannons What do folks think? Are these the same guns? Anyone know what type/nationality these guns are? -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 18 July , 2011 Author Share Posted 18 July , 2011 I have a new lead on confirming the identity and origin of these guns...updates as they occur Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Story Posted 18 July , 2011 Share Posted 18 July , 2011 Aha! Looks like the cannons are indeed at Hoyt Farm: Hoyt Farms Cannons What do folks think? Are these the same guns? Anyone know what type/nationality these guns are? -Daniel 37x136mm Model 1916 guns made by Bethlehem Steel.. You see these alot - or used to - in front of VFWs (I don't think they saw much action, used mostly for training). They've tended to disappear as the wheels rotted and the WWI-era VFWs closed down. http://www.historicreproductions.com/restore8.htm The French Purchasing office ordered 150 Bethlehem Steel Co 37 mm SA landing guns in 1916 from the U.S.- using the Higher velocity 37 x 136 U.S. One Pounder AP Shell. After tests in 1918 proved that the 37 mm French Mle 1916 solid shot could penetrate German tank armor they returned the guns to Persingg who would not use them and returned them to the U.S. http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=154799&view=findpost&p=1597692 See also http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=156016 \ and http://pages14-18.mesdiscussions.net/pages1418/Pages-d-Histoire-Artillerie/Artillerie/37mm-bethlehem-usa-sujet_842_1.htm Bethlehem Steel's history is worth reading http://www.mcall.com/all-bethsteel-printingchapter-3,0,6698701.htmlstory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Boonzaier Posted 19 July , 2011 Share Posted 19 July , 2011 Some of these need some serious restoration work...any takers? <img src="http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> -Daniel S'funny you should mention that.... I AM in fact restoring a Minenwerfer in my basement... Its a long story... the Son of my neighbour came knocking on the door saying "You wont believe...." And here I am spending a few hours a day covered in oil, rust, paint and muck..... Its a labour of love... and the wife does not love it.... :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 19 July , 2011 Author Share Posted 19 July , 2011 37x136mm Model 1916 guns made by Bethlehem Steel.. You see these alot - or used to - in front of VFWs (I don't think they saw much action, used mostly for training). They've tended to disappear as the wheels rotted and the WWI-era VFWs closed down. http://www.historicreproductions.com/restore8.htm That would be the gun...well spotted, sir! I wonder how many of these still are around? These two do not appear on the Passion and Compassion page so I will notify them of these guns so they can be included. S'funny you should mention that.... I AM in fact restoring a Minenwerfer in my basement... Its a long story... the Son of my neighbour came knocking on the door saying "You wont believe...." And here I am spending a few hours a day covered in oil, rust, paint and muck..... Its a labour of love... and the wife does not love it.... :-( Chris, That is pretty awesome. Any chance of a 'before' pic? -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 19 July , 2011 Author Share Posted 19 July , 2011 I found the burial of one of the men on the Smithtown memorial: Egbert Eugene Raynor - Born March 19th 1892 “Died at Camp Upton during the World War" on Dec 28th 1918. Buried in Hauppauge United Methodist Churchyard, Smithtown, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. And, the fates of some of the others: Hemmer, Valentine Andrew Smithtown Pvt., 42d Co., 152d Dept. Brig. Died of lobar pneumonia, October 5, 1918 King, William Thomas, care of Le Mart, Kings Park. Cook, 29th Co., 8th Bn., 152d Dept. Brig. Died of broncho pneumonia, December 8, 1918 McHugh, John J M. D., Kings Park Hosp., Kings Park, L. I. Accidental drowning, May 24, 1919 Munro, Donald C., Kings Park Pvt., Co. F, 165th Inf. Died from explosion of oil (lubricant) June 16, 1918 Nichols, James M., Hauppauge, L. I. Corp., Co. C, 7th F. Sg. Bn. Died of broncho pneumonia, February 20, 1919 Sherwood, George P. Jefferson Ave., St. James. Pvt., 1st Cl., Co. V, 313th Inf, Died of wounds, November 6, 1918 Sherwood, William J., Jefferson Ave., St. James Pvt., Co. H, 316th Inf. Died of lobar pneumonia and pleurisy, October 16, 1918 Thompson, Herman Albert, Smithtown Pvt., 43d Co., 152d Dep. Brig. Died of broncho pneumonia, October 15, 1918 Vitello, Fortunato, Smithtown Pvt., Co. A, 26th Inf. Died of wounds received in action, October 7, 1918 Searching for the others now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 19 July , 2011 Author Share Posted 19 July , 2011 I have found two listings Donald C(arlisle) Munro on Find-a-Grave. One says he is in Aisne Marne American Cemetery and the other says he is in Meuse-Argonne Cemetery. Any way to figure out which is the right one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8HANTS Posted 19 July , 2011 Share Posted 19 July , 2011 Can't comment on the guns, but it does look as if the Smithstown eagle has been replaced at sometime, as the original seems to have its wings outstretched, but the modern photograph shows that the eagles wings appear more folded. Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 19 July , 2011 Author Share Posted 19 July , 2011 I think you are right about that. I have more info on some of the other fellows, which I will post shortly. No reply yet from my lead on the cannons... Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 19 July , 2011 Author Share Posted 19 July , 2011 A few more facts: Crowe, Allan - Corporal, Co. I, 165th Infantry Hemmer, Valentine Andrew: buried in Smithtown Cemetery, Smithtown Miller, James Ely - KIA at Corbeny March 9, 1918. Captain, and an Avaitor. Buried in Oise-Aisne American Cemetery. A VFW post is named in his honor. Munro, Donald Carlisle - Died 'Accident & Other Cause' - PFC. A VFW post is named in his honor. Sherwood, George Frederick - 313 Inf., 79th Division. Buried in Meuse-Argonne Cemetery, France. Thompson, Herman Albert - born 9/9/1894; Mounted Police, 152nd Depot Brigade. Died of Spanish Flu. Buried in Landing Cemetery, Smithtown Vitello, Fortunato - Buried in Meuse-Argonne Cemetery, France Williams, Leon Buel - born 8/29/1894, died 6/16/1918. Buried in Northport Rural Cemetery, Northport, NY. All images linked directly from Find-A-Grave. -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 20 July , 2011 Author Share Posted 20 July , 2011 I figured out which Munro is the right one. Would you believe there were two Donald Munroes that were both Privates, both killed in action in France on the same day! One was from Washington state, and the other one from Smithtown. The one I am researching is buried in Meuse-Argonne Cemetery. What are the odds of that! -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Story Posted 2 August , 2011 Share Posted 2 August , 2011 SWAMPSCOTT -- The last American World War I veteran died this February at the age of 111. But firefighters are ensuring that Swampscott's veterans of the so-called "The War to End All Wars" are remembered well into the future by starting a fundraising drive to repair a memorial cannon. In research, Thompson found that the town of Haverhill had a similar weapon that had been recently restored by a local farmer. They contacted the farmer and received an estimate of $3,000 for a full restoration. The wheels will be sent to an Amish workshop in Pennsylvania that will use as much of the existing wood as possible to repair the wheels, Thompson said. The artillery piece itself will probably be sandblasted and, possibly some of the missing parts can be reconstructed, Thompson added. http://www.itemlive....news/news02.txt That ain't no French 75 - looks like an 1896 77mm, ja? http://www.flickr.co..._dc/3032221911/ http://www.flickr.co...in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.co...in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.co...in/photostream/<br class="Apple-interchange-newline"> And how it originally looked http://heritage.noblenet.org/archive/fullsize/httpwwwnoblenetorgimagesswavtm13_07a8bbf690.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Story Posted 22 January , 2012 Share Posted 22 January , 2012 That would be the gun...well spotted, sir! I wonder how many of these still are around? These two do not appear on the Passion and Compassion page so I will notify them of these guns so they can be included. Got a link for that list? Several years ago, I corresponded by snail mail with a fellow who was compiling a list of extant WWI ordnance. Last I remember, his list was digitized but I'm not sure if it's your man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rflory Posted 23 January , 2012 Share Posted 23 January , 2012 It is amazing where Great War British weapons can be found. The local beer and hamburger joint in my home town in California had a reasonably well-maintained 13-pounder with ammunition limber in their garden patio when I last visited there about a year ago. Dick Flory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 23 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 23 January , 2012 Last weekend, while en route from one thing to another I spotted, laying almost half-buried in the earth on a poorly-maintained traffic island, a long neglected cannon barrel (I am sure there is a more proper term for it and a correction is in the offing). No visible plaque, but then, I was pressed for time and did not have a chance to stop and examine it further. Kind of sad, actually...even *I* could take better care of it. -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieBris Posted 23 January , 2012 Share Posted 23 January , 2012 Got a link for that list? Several years ago, I corresponded by snail mail with a fellow who was compiling a list of extant WWI ordnance. Last I remember, his list was digitized but I'm not sure if it's your man. The Passion Compassion website is run by Bernard Plumier - the main website is www.passioncompassion1418.com. Bernard also runs a blog where he puts up recently reported guns: http://canonspgmww1guns.canalblog.com/. You report guns at the email address: webmaster@passioncompassion1418.com The gun above is a 7.7cm Feldkanone M1896 neuer Art (in full) - the first 4500 (or so) of these were upgraded with a recoil system in 1906/7. You can always pick the updated guns because they have two lines of text inscribed below the loading port on the breech ring: Typical is: gef. 1898 Fr.Kp. (created 1898 Krupp) abg. 1907 Gr.Sp. (modified 1907 Spandau) The FK 96 n.A is a fairly common trophy gun - there are 9 survivors in Qld, Australia and perhaps 30+ around Australia. Regards, Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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