Description
The thundermug is bronze, from the 19th century, Spanish in design. Originally used by armaments to test black powder and now typically for fireworks.
The canister shot is a langrage, it was recovered in pieces from the sand of an island in Alaska in the late 50s by my father who was stationed there in the Coast Guard. In the 18th century these were used to destroy riggings of ships: when fired from a cannon the bars break open. Natives on the island told also of a cannon buried under the porch of a small building nearby; said to originate from the Cutter Lincoln
The balls are grapeshot, also recovered from the same beach
Re: Thundermug and cannon shot
How much is the thunder Mug?
Re: Thundermug and cannon shot
You really ought to think about having a professional appraisal done, before you consider selling it, these things can be worth quite a bit of money if they're real, and old!! Thundermugs can be quite old, and if I recall correctly, have been in use for the better part of a millenium, and have been primarily used for sending signals, during the bubonic plague in europe, however, they were often used to announce a ships arrival at a harbor, so that someone could come aboard to check the ships occupants to see if they were ill and verify that the ship wasn't bringing the plague with it. If a ship didn't sound their thundermug upon entering such a harbor they ran the serious risk of being attacked! Thundermugs may actually have played a pivotal role in helping stop the spread of plague! A very cool item!!