MEMORIAL OF NORMAN WIARD

Wiard, Norman

Published by Government Printing Office, Washington, 1888

About this Item

U.S. Senate, Mis. Doc., No. 163; 8vo; 35 pages; Removed Document, clean, unmarked, complete. OCLC 1199257265 OCLC 1199257265 Wood engraved illustrations demonstrating power of the guns and cannons; includes three appendices -- Appendix A: The Extraordinary results of the Nut Island Experiments; Appendix B -- Showing that Cast-Iron Guns are Strong Enough for Heaviest and Most Severe Charges when Old and Annealed by Age; Appendix C: Showing that Steel is too Strong for Guns and that Steel Guns, of Large Caliber, have failed in all Countries whenever or wherever Tested. Norman Wiard (1826-1896), a former Canadian, working for the United States during the war, invented several pieces of light ordnance which, although apparently excellent weapons, do not seem to have been particularly popular. Norman Wiard was born in Ontario where at an early age he became foreman of a foundry and began experiments with ordnance. During the Civil War he served as Superintendent of Ordnance Stores, a post which offered considerable opportunity for his inventive proclivities and incidentally brought him into consultation regarding weapons development with both President Lincoln and Secretary of War Stanton. In the 1880s he operated the American Standard Ordnance Company in New York. The Nut Island experiments were anthorized in the beginning by act of Congress approved May 23, 1872. The experiments were contin. ued through the years 1873, 1874, and 1875 with such remarkable results as to attract the attention of experts throughout the civilized world; and although the firings terminated six years ago, and every military power has steadily continued to make enormous annual expenditures in efforts to increase the power of artillery, no real improvement has been made.

Seller Inventory # 42945

Bibliographic Details

• Title: MEMORIAL OF NORMAN WIARD
• Publisher: Government Printing Office, Washington
• Publication Date: 1888
• Binding: Removed Document
• Edition: First Edition.
• Condition: Very Good