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| Hess pre-litho cannons, circa 1880s Once Hess had installed new toymaking machinery, cannons became one of their advertised specialties. These cannons were produced in 5 different sizes, all spring loaded with the projectile loaded at the muzzle. They used the new, patented wheel to axle fastening in a couple of different configurations. Most wheels were marked with their patent number (44408) and spirit varnished. The pictured cannons differed in some of the materials used. Most were completely constructed of tinplate, but a few used brass for wheels and carriage. Some carriages were painted black or gray, with the remaining spirit varnished. As with all Hess products, much variation persists. |
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An early catalog advertisement for Hess cannons | |||
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L 3.15” (8 cm) cannons A group of cannons, the smallest produced by Hess, showing different style wheels and wheel fastenings. The cannon on left uses brass for wheels and carriage rather than tinplate. Remaining cannons are constructed completely of tinplate with carriages painted black. |
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L 4.7” (12 cm) cannons A group of cannons showing different construction and decoration. Left – all tinplate construction, painted black carriage; middle – brass carriage, red spirit varnished wheels; right – brass carriage and wheels of a different design. |
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L 5.1” (13 cm) cannons A pair of cannons with brass wheels and carriages, tinplate barrel. |
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L 8.3” (21 cm) cannon The Bing catalog lists this cannon as being 21 cm. long (8.25”). Stamped on wheels is the Deutches Reichs Patent No. 76717 with wheels being 3.25” (8.25 cm) in diameter. The wheel fastenings are not the same as patent number 44408 which firmly affixed axle to wheels, but axle is simply crimped on one end to hold it in place. The soldier standing next to the cannon is 5 inches high. Spring loaded firing mechanism with muzzle loading. |
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L 9.8” (25 cm) cannon Measuring almost 10 inches long, this was the largest cannon produced by Hess. Wheels are 4.1875” (10.8 cm) in diameter. Wheels are solidly fastened to the axle consistent with Hess’s patent 44408, but there are no patent numbers stamped on wheels as was customary on other similarly constructed cannons. Spring loaded firing mechanism with muzzle loading. |
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Grouping of all 5 sizes of pre-litho cannons made by Hess Grouping of all 5 sizes of cannons offered by Hess. The largest in back right has 4.1875” (10.6 cm) wheels. Curiously, the cannons in above front left and front right have brass wheels and carriages with tinplate barrels. The remaining cannons are completely constructed of tinplate. A shortage of materials or experimentation might be the answer to production differences. |
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Box for pre-litho cannon
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