This is an odd ad!

[rob love]

Thanks for posting the photos Rob.

Just home about a half hour ago and am pretty zonked. Hopefully I can sleep in a little tomorrow, then unloading can begin.

Not sure when I'll be heading back to Ottawa for the second one.

[Gordon Yeo]

Rob

I talked to Ross last night, it sounds like you had some full days and lots of help. Aren't you glad that the Ontario collectors are so helpful and there none of the difficulties that removing things from the West creates.

Glad to see they went to a good home and help expand your collection. I'll be out to see them some time in the future.

Gord

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Gordon Yeo

Rob

I talked to Ross last night, it sounds like you had some full days and lots of help. Aren't you glad that the Ontario collectors are so helpful and there none of the difficulties that removing things from the West creates.

Glad to see they went to a good home and help expand your collection. I'll be out to see them some time in the future.

Gord

Yes, very full days. When we went to St Huberts, I had to stand for a while as every muscle in my body started to cramp up.

As I have mentioned, without Bob and crew showing up, I would have been doing a lot of hand winching. At best I would have had the close one on the trailer and to Bob's for Tuesday evening, and then spent Wednesday hand winching the second one up the hill. I would have ended up backing the trailer onto the grass to pick it up once to the top of the hill, but even so, the first leg of the winching had to have been at least 70 feet, and all of it uphill.

I can promise you this: after seeing Bob's winch set-up, I'll be setting up similar on my trailer. I actually picked up an old Warn 8000 pound winch for the trailer last fall which has been kicking around the shop ever since. It will be on the trailer soon enough, hopefully for the trip back to Ottawa.

I think Bob mentioned some poaching from Saskatchewan. Perhaps I may be able to help out on that one, but I'll have to work out the details.

[RHClarke]

Originally Posted by rob love

...Not sure when I'll be heading back to Ottawa for the second one.

Take your time. It is not often that a 25 pounder gets deployed at the Hammond Barn. We will be lifting the spade so it won't be in contact with the ground and after Bob and Grant have some time on the gun (preserving it with heavy oil), the breech and muzzle will be sealed. The traversing table is leaning against a sea can awaiting the next rain to wash the dirt off its bottom side.

Let us know if you have any instructions on how you want the gun stored. Right now it is hidden from view by a HUP or two in the back field. Enjoy your kip!

[rob love]

Perhaps one extra item that could be covered is that big gash on the plate over the spades. Winter is coming and I would hate that it would fill with water and then split the frame. Or is that just a Manitoba thing??

I am already searching the internet for some parts sources.

[RHClarke]

If you want to share in the experience of recovering a 25 Pounder, see the video at the following link: https://youtu.be/5m5_uRLBSDU

Some observations:

Rob L is a lucky man - first, his wife permits him to play hooky for a week, next he finds two guns and buys them before the rush of bidders, then both of the guns had wheels that turned (although one set of wheels had to be replaced - the nuts actually came off without a struggle), and the rain held off until the guns were loaded. Rob was assisted by fellow restorers from Ontario, who came along not only for the experience, but to help a guy who is well-known to help others in the hobby.

The video only shows the winch pulls and not all of the hard labour that went into keeping the lawn pristine, and the gun rolling. The slope in the video looks gentle, but it was fairly steep. Things went well, but it took some effort to move the guns safely. A look at Rob's shirt says it all. It was a hot and humid recovery, but very a satisfying day.

[rob love]

Well a little update. I have been trying to get that recoil mechanism back up on the gun to where it should be. Had two chain hoists tight enough that you could pluck the chains like a guitar, and no movement. Added some heat in certain spots and still no movement, even with the sledge and a block of oak trying to assist. I kept spraying it down with penetrating oil every time I went by it.

Managed to chain up a 5 ton jack to the back of the breech, and pumped to as hard as it goes. No luck.

Brought out the medium artillery this weekend. A Enerpac portapower with 10 ton (20,000 pound) cylinder with chain attachments. Wrapped a 7/16 chain through the trunnions and attached the cylinder to the back of the breech. Pumped her up, and suddenly it seemed like movement. Alas, it was a link on the 7/16 chain that had failed. Set it all up again and still no luck.

So yesterday I headed out to my favorite scrapyard to pick up a spare in case I have to torch off the cradle. This one is a little worse for wear, but I think it will clean up OK.

House renovations continue in earnest, so gun time is limited.

[Jes Andersen]

Great recovery and road trip. Some of us would have paid just to be along for the fun and Hammond Barn stop... House renovations always seem to pop up when there are more interesting things to do, but most of us know which is the more important and where the support for our hobbies comes from Unless you're single, a tolerant partner goes a long way. Mine is pretty good about all of it, but has told my friends that she wants to go first, so she doesn't have to deal with my stuff...

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Jes Andersen

Great recovery and road trip. Some of us would have paid just to be along for the fun and Hammond Barn stop... House renovations always seem to pop up when there are more interesting things to do, but most of us know which is the more important and where the support for our hobbies comes from Unless you're single, a tolerant partner goes a long way. Mine is pretty good about all of it, but has told my friends that she wants to go first, so she doesn't have to deal with my stuff...

Tag your stuff or mark the vehicle type with a paint pen. Make an inventory list if you have really useful or saleable parts. Then put it in the will - funeral at noon, auction at 2:00.

[Little Jo]

Originally Posted by Jes Andersen

Great recovery and road trip. Some of us would have paid just to be along for the fun and Hammond Barn stop...

Hi All

Jes' Comment reminded me all the great road trips and across the border raids I used to go on with my mate Bob Mosley, who would be well known to MLU members. Bob would hear about a military vehicle standing in a paddock or some way off farm. I would receive a phone call and we would be off on the hunt.

I often stop and think of those great trips and ponder why he was taken so young. RIP Bob.

Cheers

Tony

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Jes Andersen

Great recovery and road trip. Some of us would have paid just to be along for the fun and Hammond Barn stop... House renovations always seem to pop up when there are more interesting things to do, but most of us know which is the more important and where the support for our hobbies comes from Unless you're single, a tolerant partner goes a long way. Mine is pretty good about all of it, but has told my friends that she wants to go first, so she doesn't have to deal with my stuff...

Not sure anyone would want to pay to be on one of these road trips here in Canada. Very long days and I am too cheap to go to a hotel each night. Not so much the money (well that too I guess) but the wasted time in the room and in the morning with breakfast and showering etc. Far easier to sleep in the back seat of the truck, wake up, relieve the bladder, wash the hair if need be using a bottle of water, and get on the way, grabbing some drive-thru breakfast at the next town.

As I would climb into the sleeping bag each night, I would toss the socks out the back window because they stunk so bad. After the day of loading the guns, the running shoes went out the back window as well.

Nothing like a clean fresh pair of socks in the morning to start your day right.

I did have one old timer near Kenogmi tell me about the 15cwt he has stashed away on his farm. He was looking to sell it. It was his dad's, and was in the same family since it was surplussed from the DND. Sounded very complete. I put him on to this site....not sure if he will follow through. At that point I was only interested in getting home, and was not looking to poach a CMP from Northern Ontario.