Mortar Design Question

[crgabel]

Hello Fellow cannoniers.
I have just completed the turning on a Full Scale British 1798 Service Mortar.
I'm wondering if someone could help me with a question or two as I begin to build the Base/carrage or what ever the proper name of the wood base that holds it is called.
Would this have been made from a particular type of wood? I have plenty of Oak and Walnut at my finger tips.
How was the elevation held? Screw and nut jack? or
Wedge?
Were locks or touch hole the proper way of setting it off?
Thanks you for your support. I'll post pic's on progress as soon as I get some taken.
Craig

 

[Story]

like this?
[url] http://www.wildimports.com/1798_british_service_mortar1.htm[/url]

 

[crgabel]

Yep,
I did not know just how PC that one was?
Craig

 

[threepdr]

Most mortar beds were oak. Be careful of any of the designs and nomenclatures used by Wild Imports. I think they are pretty loose in their historical accuracy. I'm not even sure that there was a Brit mortar called the "1798 British Service Mortar".

What is the bore size of the one you made?

The size of the mortar will determine the bed design. The smaller tubes 24 pounders and smaller used a very simple fixed bed. The elevation was not adjustable and the tube was fixed into the bed at a 45 degree angle. Range was adjusted with the powder charge.

Here is the bed for a bronze grenade mortar that I built this summer. It is solid oak and is based on drawing and scaled dimensions in John Muller's Teatise on Artillery

Link

 

[spitfire]

Looks nice and authentic to me :applause: !

 

[WRussell]

Here's one I made from a drawing, many years ago. If you're interested I can try and dig up the drawing and digitize it (it's big); I know it's around somewhere.

 

[crgabel]

Thanks for the offer but you really don't have to go to that trouble.
The bore is 4" diameter. I'll try to get some pics posted this weekend.
Craig

 

[crgabel]

Here it is

 

[crgabel]

I still have to get unplated fasteners for it.