Cartridge Case
Description
Cylindrical brown wooden case which tapers slightly in centre. Wooden ring around outside of case, near top – small section missing. Four holes in random pattern on one side, three blocked in. Bottom of case has split in it across entire width; the two sides of wood join in the middle. Small brass nails in one side of wooden ring near to small hole which corresponds with small holes in lid – other one is opposite.
A lightweight cylindrical wooden case made of lathe-turned poplar fitted with an elm lid. Poplar is an absorbent wood and ideal for keeping powder dry. It was used to store and carry one of many powder cartridges on board to protect it from inadvertent explosions before or during battles. Cartridge cases were sometimes known as ‘cartridge boxes’ or ‘Salt boxes’, the latter presumably an abbreviation for the saltpeter (potassium nitrate) used to make gun powder. Once aboard ship the gunpowder was made into cartridges for the great guns. Packed into cartridges made from paper, these cartridge cases were stored in the hanging magazine on board the vessel.
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Object Detail
Diameter: 227mm (8 15/16")
Diameter: 226mm (8 7/8")