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Post by spence on Sept 22, 2019 8:05:27 GMT -7
Back in the day retail stores sold loose shot and powder over the counter. Some of them had dedicated equipment to make that handy to do. I have a couple of pieces which are typical. One is a shot dispenser. It is made of butternut wood, has eight compartments for shot, each gravity fed and holding about 35 pounds of shot, The dispensing gates have gravity activated latches to keep shot from leaking. There are a couple of drawers for whatever and a special funnel to fit a hole above each compartment for loading shot.  I also have one of the powder storage/dispensing cans. It's made of non sparking metal, holds about a half gallon, and the cap functions as a measure. The cap holds 760 grains of powder...."gimme 3 caps full."  Spence |
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Post by brokennock on Sept 22, 2019 8:16:49 GMT -7
Thank you Spence. I was just thinking about that shot cabinet the other day, remembering that you've posted it elsewhere in the past.
Any idea what year it was made, or what years of service it saw?
I would love some more pictures from other angles if you don't mind please. If I could even find one for sale I'm sure I can't afford it, but, maybe a friend of mine could help me build one similar. Smaller as I don't use more than three sizes of shot.
I'm thinking the drawers would be good for wads or tow or other small sundries that might be sold in connection with loading a smoothbore.
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Post by spence on Sept 22, 2019 11:26:47 GMT -7
Pictures from other angles would be hard to manage. As you can see in the picture, the dispenser sits in a nook surrounded closely on all sides, too closely for my camera. It's too heavy to move, I never do that without emptying most of the shot for fear of damaging the case. Sorry.
It's a late 19th-century piece, I think, probably post-1885. I have no idea how long they would have been used, maybe well into the 20th century in rural areas or in the Appalachians.
Dispensing loose powder over the counter was done from very early on. They were pretty casual about it, not always with happy results.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA GAZETTE
July 24, 1736
Charleston, South Carolina
On the 8th Inst. a sad Misfortune happened at Wiltown, Mr. Welsh who kept Store there, having weighed two lb. of Gun-powder and put it in a Paper upon the Counter, another Man came in to light his Pipe and letting some of the Fire upon the Paper, the Powder in it went off immediately and set one Barril with Powder which was under the Counter and another over against it in Fire at once, which blew up the House, whereby Mr. Welsh and a Boy were kill'd, and a great many Persons that were then in and about the House, miserably hurt and burnt.
Spence
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Post by brokennock on Sept 22, 2019 17:22:31 GMT -7
Thanks for the info Spence. I understand about the pics given the location, no apology needed.
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