IMPROVEMENTS IN A CANNON TO BE USED FOR ATHLETIC PURPOSES."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Holtum, of Whitehorse Inn, Wareside, Herts, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN A CANNON TO BE USED FOR ATHLETIC
PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Holtum at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th January 1879.
JOHN HOLTUM, of White Horse Inn, Wareside, Herts.
CANNON TO BE USED FOR ATHLETIC PURPOSES."
the cannon.
"
IMPROVEMENTS IN A
I construct a cannon of steel, iron, or brass, about thirty inches long. I bore the
saine about five inches diameter, and about twenty four inches deep from the muzzle
of the cannon.
I then bore the other end about four inches diameter, and about
four inches deep. I chase a screw thread in this said bored part. I also bore
another hole two inches diameter communicating with the centre of the interior of
I make an iron, steel, or other metal powder chamber with a flange
at one end, and the other part fits the hole communicating with the interior of the
cannon. This said powder chamber I bore, a small cavity in one end to hold the
charge of powder, the other end I fix a nipple for an ordinary cap, this nipple com-
municating with the powder within the cavity. The said cavity I make the
necessary size to hold a sufficient charge of powder to propel the ball the necessary
force I may require. I also make a steel, iron, or brass breach end for the cannon,
I affix a
which I chase a thread upon to screw into the breach of the cannon.
hammer to strike the cap on the nipple of the powder chamber through the centre
of this breach end. The hammer I make of a steel spindle with a collar on near
one end, and the other end I chase a thread upon it to fix a handle to draw the
hammer back; it has a small groove cat round the spindle to allow a catch and
spring to hold it until released to discharge the cannon, which I do by means of a
small lever acting upon the catch and spring. The hammer receives its force from
a coil spring acting against the collar of the spindle or hammer, and a nipple or
plug with a hole through the centre; this said nipple is screwed firmly into the
breach end.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Holtum in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th July
1879.
JOHN HOLTUM, of Whitehorse Inn, Wareside, Herts.
CANNON TO BE USED FOR ATHLETIC PURPOSES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN A
I construct a cannon of steel, iron, or brass, about thirty inches long, and bore
the same about five inches from the muzzle to within six inches from the breach
end of the cannon. I then bore the breach end of the cannon about four inches
diameter by four inches deep. I also chase a worm or spiral thread inside this last
bored part of the cannon. I also bore another hole about two inches diameter
communicating with the centre of the interior of the cannon. I make a steel, iron,
or other metal powder chamber with a projecting flange upon it at one end, and a
cavity at the other to receive the charge of powder or cartridge. The said cavity
I make the necessary size to hold a sufficient charge of powder to propel the ball
with the necessary force I may require. This powder chamber has a passage through
it, with a nipple on the other end to receive an ordinary cap or flango on the powder
chamber, which is to prevent it passing too far in the cannon, it being turned to
fit the hole communicating from the breach to the interior of the cannon. I also
make a steel or iron end, in which I fix the hammer to strike the cap to discharge
the cannon; the breach end is made with a screw worm or thread upon it to screw
in the end of the cannon. The hammer I construct to pass through, and I make it
of a steel spindle with a collar near one end, and at the other I chase a thread upon
it to fix a handle to draw the hammer back. It has also a small groove round the
spindle to allow a catch and spring to hold it firmly until released when I discharge
the cannon.
I will now further describe the nature of my Invention by the Drawing herein
attached, as shewn, Figures 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th. Figure 1 represents a
cannon complete, with exception of the same being mounted on its carriage.
Fig. 2nd represents a cannon in section, minus the breach end marked by letters
C and D; the part marked C is chased to fit the part marked C on Fig. 4; the
part marked D is bored out to fit the part marked D on Fig. 3.
Fig. 3rd is the cartridge box or powder chamber, with a nipple at the end to place
an ordinary cap upou, communicating with the powder chamber E; this powder
chamber may be made any required size to hold the necessary quantity of powder,
as required, to give a certain required velocity to a ball being discharged from the
cannon. This said powder chamber has a flange or collar W at the end to hold it in
its place when struck with the hammer.
Fig. 4th represents the breach end and hammer in section; the part marked H is
the spindle or hammer, which has a spiral spring upon it marked S, and a groove
cut in at K; also a collar on at V, and a handle at the outer end U, which by
means the spindle or hammer is pulled back so that the groove K is outside, and
then held by the catch C, as shewn on Figure 5. The spring S acts against the
collar V and the back of the interior breach end V to give the required force to the
hammer when the catch is thrown out of the groove K. The part marked P is a
screwed plug in the inside of the breach end, in order that the spindle or hammer 4
may be taken out and a new spring put on when required.
Fig. 5th represents the outer end view of the breach end of the cannon.
C is a
catch which works upon a pivet on one end, and acted upon by a flat spring T to
keep it in its place until released by the lever M by which the cannon is dis-
charged.
Fig. 6th represents the cannon put together in section complete, with the exception
of its carriage.
5

page_text: Having described the nature of my Invention, I claim the arrangement therein
set forth for a cannon to be used for athletic purposes, as catching a cannon ball
when discharged from the cannon for public exhibition.
In witness, I, the said John Holtum, hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Fourteenth day of July, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
JOHN HOLTIM (1.8)