The wheels (and the condition) look very similar to my 18pdr limber. Body construction and date is quite different, meaning it is
not an 18pdr, but just commenting on the wheel's construction.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rob love
The wheels are much more complex than the farm wagon wheels that are so commonplace around here.
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They're are actually a simpler design than regular cart wheels. They are designed to bolt together, so that if an individual spoke or felloe is shot away, it can be replaced relatively easily. Regular wagon wheels of the period relied on heating the iron tyre and when cooled, it compressed all the spokes to give an even pre-load tension on the wheel. It was a novel design of the period, and later was adopted on early motor cars with timber spoked wheels as an "Artillery wheel"
You will note the axle ends are bent downwards slightly at the ends. This is correct! Don't straighten them!!
It relates to a design feature called a "Plumb spoke" that helps to keep the Limber tracking true between the horse team and gun, much like toe-in and camber on a modern vehicle.