A Very Rare Brunswick Iron-slag Cannon Ball Dated 1575

corrado26 · 2nd June 2016, 06:23 PM

As far as I know the "HJH" doesn't stand for Heinrich Julius Herzog, but for the firm, who made this balls in 1575. This was the "Herzog Julius Hütte". "Hütte" stands for smelting work or metallurgical plant, as says my dictionnary.
Why they made the balls from iron slag I have to check..............
corrado26

fernando · 2nd June 2016, 07:01 PM

Thank you so much Corrado; it makes a lot of sense.
I knew "Hütte" was a vital key term in the auction text. I have also read that Duke Julius (father) had a strong interest in mining, namely in the region of Harz, a word i could also read in the text.

M ELEY · 3rd June 2016, 04:57 AM

And of course, you picked up two of them in order to give one to your bestest friend on this side of the pond!

Congrats, Fernando! Very nice edition to your collection!

fernando · 3rd June 2016, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M ELEY

And of course, you picked up two of them in order to give one to your bestest friend on this side of the pond!

Congrats, Fernando! Very nice edition to your collection!

Ah, ah

.
Thank you Mark.
In fact, it was a kind soul that spotted it and organized its acquisition.
Lucky me

fernando · 3rd June 2016, 12:21 PM

So ...

http://www.nationalslag.org/slag-history

fernando · 3rd June 2016, 01:30 PM

Interesting source:

http://www.ppmpuremetals.de/company/history/

Ed · 3rd July 2016, 02:33 AM

I wonder about the slag part. The cannon in question were rifled so that impurities that changed the cross sectional weight distribution would not be "averaged out" during flight. That would lead to erratic flight.

I would think that the purest of pure material would have been sought after for producing these critters.

I have participated in cannon shoots at Camp Grayling in Michigan, USA where very serious guys shoot black powder cannon. My son was on a team for an 8" siege mortar, unrifled, naturally. The team had their ammo numbered and would load it according to a mark so that it was always loaded the same way. Presumably to account for any impurities. Based on that observation, it seems unlikely to me that slag was used. Is there any documentary evidence to support the use of slag for making projectiles?

Fernando, you could allow us to cut one of your specimens in half so we can be sure.

Picture shows the kid firing the mortar. Really amazing to experience that.

3rd July 2016, 02:33 AM	#7
Ed Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 279	I wonder about the slag part. The cannon in question were rifled so that impurities that changed the cross sectional weight distribution would not be "averaged out" during flight. That would lead to erratic flight. I would think that the purest of pure material would have been sought after for producing these critters. I have participated in cannon shoots at Camp Grayling in Michigan, USA where very serious guys shoot black powder cannon. My son was on a team for an 8" siege mortar, unrifled, naturally. The team had their ammo numbered and would load it according to a mark so that it was always loaded the same way. Presumably to account for any impurities. Based on that observation, it seems unlikely to me that slag was used. Is there any documentary evidence to support the use of slag for making projectiles? Fernando, you could allow us to cut one of your specimens in half so we can be sure. Picture shows the kid firing the mortar. Really amazing to experience that. Attached Images

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2nd June 2016, 06:23 PM	#1
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,239	As far as I know the "HJH" doesn't stand for Heinrich Julius Herzog, but for the firm, who made this balls in 1575. This was the "Herzog Julius Hütte". "Hütte" stands for smelting work or metallurgical plant, as says my dictionnary. Why they made the balls from iron slag I have to check.............. corrado26

2nd June 2016, 07:01 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you so much Corrado; it makes a lot of sense. I knew "Hütte" was a vital key term in the auction text. I have also read that Duke Julius (father) had a strong interest in mining, namely in the region of Harz, a word i could also read in the text.

3rd June 2016, 04:57 AM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,196	And of course, you picked up two of them in order to give one to your bestest friend on this side of the pond! Congrats, Fernando! Very nice edition to your collection!

3rd June 2016, 12:21 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	So ... http://www.nationalslag.org/slag-history

3rd June 2016, 01:30 PM	#6
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Interesting source: http://www.ppmpuremetals.de/company/history/