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Richmond Iron Works, Richmond Massassachuttes "LYLE RESCUE CANNON
Guns International #: 100915762 Seller's Inventory #: 4
Category: Cannons - Antique and Replica -
Seller's Information
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Seller: mckeangun
Company: Northwest Community Housing Corporation
Member Since: 1/31/14
First Name: Michael
Last Name: McKean
State: Washington
Zip: 98335
Country: United States
Phone: (253) 678-9855
Fax:
Number of Active Listings: 0
Total Number of Listings: 71
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: cash, wire
Description:
A museum quality Lyle Rescue Cannon or Lyle Gun, mfg. in 1905 by the Richmond Iron Works of Richmond, Massassachuttes, a storied manufactured of American munitions. Although the name Richmond Iron Works was attached to the operation in 1843, industrial use on the site dates to 1763 when saw and grist mills were established along the Furnace Creek. The entire 290 acres is now part of the Richmond Furnace Historical and Archeological District and was accepted for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service in 1999.
R.I.W. is a major part of American industrial development. RIW buildings still standing include the office (1862), the iron master's house/boarding house (1832), an 1890 school and several workers dwellings (1870's). The district includes iron mines and limestone quarries
R.I.W. was a major producer of Rodman Guns during the Civil War and it's iron also provided the cladding for the Civil War ship "Monitor." And R.I.W. iron made up a healthy share of American railroad wheels. Of course, they made Lyle Guns under contract for the United States.
The growth of the new American iron industry and R.I.W. spurred Richmond's population to 1,152 by 1840. The earliest immigrant furnace workers were Welsh, Scotch and English with experience in mining and smelting from Europe. After the start of the Irish Potato Famine in 1844, inexperienced immigrant Irish workers joined R.I.W. at $1.00 per day.
The Lyle Gun was invented in 1876-78 by David Lyle, an 1869 graduate of West Point. Lyle was an "Ordnance Specialist" and began his career at San Francisco's Benecia Arsenal. At that time, the Secretary of the Treasury was responsible for the "Life Saving Service" of the Navy. He asked the Army's assistance in improving shipboard life saving equipment. Lyle was assigned the task "in addition to his other duties."
Lyle transferred to Springfiels Armory where he spent 2 years reviewing and experimenting with the various "line-throwing" devices available to rescue seamen along coastlines and from ship to ship. By 1878, Lyle had developed an accurate, lightweight cannon which was immediately put into service. As testimony to the effectiveness of Lyle's work, the Coast Guard later estimated that the Lyle Gun had save 4,500 lives by 1906. It remained in production through WW II and was finally replaced in 1952 by rocket line-throwers and heliocopters.
The Lyle Gun and it's manufacturer are foundational parts of American industrial development, American armament and immigration.
This particular Lyle Gun is stamped on the muzzle with the year of manufacture, "1905". The muzzle is also stamped "No 692" the serial number and the 692nd gun made there. It has the stamp, "L M F" on the muzzle and also "R.I.W." Thecarriage mount is stamped "U S L S S" for United States Life Saving Service. The cannon is in fine condition with bright metal and crisp markings. It includes the original carriage made of wood and iron, the elevation quoin and the 1936 manufacturebrass firing mechanism which uses a .32 caliber blank cartridge.
This Lyle Gun has been in the lifetime collection of my grandfather, John Benjamin Gillespie (1899-1973), former Aberdeen WA Police Department Captain and Chief of Detectives since the 1940's. It is in fine firing condition and has lofted V-8 cans filled with cement a half mile in fornt on my home on Puget Sound. It is a fine piece of American history.
SOLD
Curio/Relic: Yes
Manufacturer: Richmond Iron Works, Richmond, Mass. Lyle Rescue Gun
Serial Number: 692
Manufacture Date: 1905
Item Location: Gig Harbor, WA