still looking for someone to identifie this . have new pics

william333

Jr. Member
Nov 12, 2012
21
0
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Picture 183.jpgPicture 182.jpgPicture 181.jpgPicture 172.jpg and looking for a collector who wants it .
 

Last edited:
What's the weight, is it hollow, it looks like brass...please supply more information, we are not mind readers...thanks.

SS
 

Upvote 0
william333 said:
<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=703336"/><img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=703337"/><img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=703338"/><img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=703339"/>




http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/320696-looks-like-brass-ball.html

You had your best answer by cannon ball guy here. Can't get better then that.
 

Upvote 0
approx 12.5 in circnference and approx 9 pounds made of bronze and has somthing inside when i move it.
 

Upvote 0
You have been answered by an expert, and those are not new photos. To go any further you need to provide exact diameter and weight, for now you are just spinning your wheels.
 

Upvote 0
You have been answered by an expert, and those are not new photos. To go any further you need to provide exact diameter and weight, for now you are just spinning your wheels.
And it's not made of bronze either.

SS
 

Upvote 0
Ok, I was going to stay out of this, but I can't for some reason.... Anyway, you've been told by an EXPERT what it isn't (a cannonball), so what does that leave? It's a metal ball. What it was originally used for is anyone's guess, but likely a mill ball, or possibly it is part of a fancy steam engine governor.... who knows?

What is it worth? Well, if it's brass or good bronze, about two bucks a pound. Collectors? Try the local scrap yard.....
 

Upvote 0
Generally speaking - what state did it come from? From the pictures, it Looks like iron with "sand" patina on it. As in it came from a sandy soil. Is it magnetic? Am I close? Anyway, if that round "spot" on it is not a photo error, and it's iron and there is something rattling in it, be careful. During the Revolutionary War the French had a mortar round about that size, with a crude fuse. They were used in Virginia. It it's a mortar ball, then it's still fuzed and since gunpowder through time turns to nitro glycerine, be careful. Let me know about the magnetism. If it's brass, it's probably a mill ball. The Rev War mortar balls were not made in brass.
 

Upvote 0
Smokeythecat, the ball's finder has posted it here half-a-dozen times. He keeps hoping somebody will prove (not just guess) that it is a cannonball ,,,but the evidence fully contradicts that ID. In previous posts he says he thinks it is a French Demiculverin "bronze or brass" cannonball from the French-&-Indian War. Unfortunately for him, it is definitely not a cannonball. It is hollow, and there were no hollow bronze/brass/copper cannonballs.

Who told you gunpowder turns into nitroglycerin? That is absolutely false. In particular, "antique" (pre-1880s) gunpowder was made from only three ingredients ...sulfur, saltpeter (potassium nitrate), and finely-ground charcoal. It cannot turn into nitroglycerine. Modern gunpowder is a Nitrocellulose compound, but it too does not turn into nitroglycerin.
 

Upvote 0
Who told you gunpowder turns into nitroglycerin? That is absolutely false. In particular, "antique" (pre-1880s) gunpowder was made from only three ingredients ...sulfur, saltpeter (potassium nitrate), and finely-ground charcoal. It cannot turn into nitroglycerine. Modern gunpowder is a Nitrocellulose compound, but it too does not turn into nitroglycerin.

Thanks Cannonballguy, I was going to point that out to him, but then thought "why?" and didn't do it. It's a wonder to me where people come up with the nitroglycerin crap.
 

Upvote 0
your the only one so far that made a halfway sense. yes it did come from sandy soil it was found on the beach in the water in sandy but somewhat mucky soil and yes it has somthing in it and yes that is a real pic and i didnt try a magnet to it yet i will try it when i get a chance just saw your post. and true it was found near a well known indean sirte on that lake wich adjoins lake michigan. thanks for input looking to find a buyer for it let me know yes i to do beleve its a french cannonball
 

Upvote 0
Ok, I was going to stay out of this, but I can't for some reason.... Anyway, you've been told by an EXPERT what it isn't (a cannonball), so what does that leave? It's a metal ball. What it was originally used for is anyone's guess, but likely a mill ball, or possibly it is part of a fancy steam engine governor.... who knows?

What is it worth? Well, if it's brass or good bronze, about two bucks a pound. Collectors? Try the local scrap yard.....

I m 99% sure it is from a Pickering, Watt, or Atlas flyball governor. They were used mostly on steam engines, but also on anything that needed a regulated speed. The round spot on the ball is not a spru but where the shaft was broken off (over reved??) Do a search on flyball governor and you will see one. If I can get to my shop,soon, I'll post a pic. Tony
 

Upvote 0
I m 99% sure it is from a Pickering, Watt, or Atlas flyball governor. They were used mostly on steam engines, but also on anything that needed a regulated speed. The round spot on the ball is not a spru but where the shaft was broken off (over reved??) Do a search on flyball governor and you will see one. If I can get to my shop,soon, I'll post a pic. Tony

Tony, that's what I think it is too, which would make it still a neat relic in my book.
 

Upvote 0

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top