338 Mr. Mallet on the Physical Conditions 



1845. This gun is replaced by one forged by the Mersey-steel Company, Liverpool, 

 which stands the proofs. 



1845-47. Treadwell, Mechanical Engineer of the United States, proposes and carries 

 into eifect the manufacture of wrought-iron cannon, by an improvement of Villons's process, 

 welding together successive hollow disks of wrought-iron on a maundrell, by the pressure of 

 an hydraulic press, in place of blows ; 6, 9 and 12-pounders stand proof in America, and a 

 32-pounder at Vincennes. 



Some beautifully formed small guns, forged each in one piece, at Erzeroum, were 

 in the Exhibition of 1851. 



1852. Captain Simmons, R.E., and Mr. Walker patent a wrought-iron gun (in 

 which it is not clear what is the patentable novelty). The gun itself, made for Govern- 

 ment, a 32-pounder, stands repeated trials at Shoeburyness. The gun-carriage, of iron, is 

 very similar to Perring's, patented in 1817. 



1854. Innumerable propositions are made for the construction of wrought-iron guns, 

 some of which are submitted to trial at Woolwich, and fail. Amongst these propositions 

 are : — 



Wrought-iron guns of wire wrapped round an iron tube, brazed or not. 



Wrought-iron, lined with tubular chase of bronze. 



Bronze gun lined with wrought-iron tubular chase; this was done at Strasbourg 



a century ago, and failed. 

 Welded twisted barrels, formed by screwing into each other spirals of triangular 



section, one being reverse to the other, and then welding. 

 Wrought-iron guns, formed of boiler-plate wrapped upon itself, or upon a central 



tube, and many other such schemes. 

 Mr. Nasmyth undertakes an enormous gun of 13 in. caliber, and fails to forge it. 



1855. An 8-in. gun, forged of wrought-iron at the Gospel Oak Works, bursts at Wool- 

 wich at proof The iron of fine, but unfit quality; welding largely defective. (See 

 Note Q.) 



Dundas and others produce solid forged guns (9 and 12-pounders) for proof at AVool- 

 wlch. 



185G. While these sheets are passing through the press, Messrs. Horsfall of Liverpool 

 have completed and proved with a solid shot of 300 lbs. and 45 lbs. of powder, an enor- 

 mous wrought-iron gun, 13 in. caliber; 13^ ft. length of chase, — perhaps the largest and 

 most remarkable forging ever made ; and two wrought-iron mortars of 36-in. caliber, 

 built up of separate pieces, on principles developed in the text, from the author's designs, 

 are nearly completed for the British Government. 



