Original Item: One of a Kind Set. These are extraordinary, being British Naval Gunner’s Calipers for measuring Cannon Balls aboard ship during the Napoleonic Wars. Measuring 26″ on each leg, these measured the diameter of the large Cannon Balls, ensuring they are delivered to the correct sized Cannons from the Storage Magazines.
One leg bears a brass plaque on one arm simply stating:-
H.M.S. Northumberland
H.M.S. Northumberland was built in 1798 at DEPTFORD just East of LONDON and launched on February 2nd of that year. She was classed as a THIRD RATE, Man-o-War of 74 Guns. She served throughout the Napoleonic wars, and was the actual British Naval vessel that transported NAPOLEON BONAPARTE into EXILE at the Island of St. HELENA! During that voyage in 1815 she was under command of REAR ADMIRAL SIR GEORGE COCKBURN. She was later converted to a hulk in 1827 and was broken up in 1850 also at Deptford.
An interesting Gunner’s instrument from a historic vessel, ready to display!