This is an odd ad!
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-oeuvre-d-art/...ale/1183272789
2x 25pdr guns at someone's cottage house in Quebec. $5000 starts the bid. (I own other stuff, not these ones.) The why from Facebook. Apparently the owner is being forced to sell. Quote:
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Thanks Terry. A deal has been struck and they should be mine. Looks like I am making a cross country trip next week.
I have wanted a 25 pdr for as long as I can remember. Now I may have two. :) |
Good God! How could anybody view these as some sort of eyesore!?!?
Excellent score Rob. :thup2: Why are these things NEVER down the road from me.....even if the road was 1000km long. |
Amazing situation ,good luck with the purchase !
Rob....................rnixartillery. |
Well done Rob!
I hope this all works out. Oh, and keep your eye open for the limbers that might in the neighbours backyard being used to store paint cans. I need one. Cheers Rob Fast
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Oh I wil Rob.
There would appear to be more 25pdrs in that neck of the woods. Here is another of the poster's ads from the same region; note the lawn ornament: http://www.kijiji.ca/v-maison-a-loue...ationFlag=true |
Very nice Rob. Im sure the 25 pounders will enjoy their new home in Friendly Manitoba. That's a heck of a road trip (2500km each way)!
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Thanks Wayne
A guy has to do what a guy has to do. I may end up asking for someone in the Ottawa area to stash one of them for a bit (calling Bob and the gang)......I can pick the first one up, stash it in Ottawa, head back for the second and run it home, then retrieve the first one at my leisure. |
Only in Canada
Rob,
Congratulations !! While I have no interest in owning an artillery piece, I was quite disturbed by this story and had approached my Minister of Finance to try and save them. Here's hoping that they were manufactured in Sorel, QC, true Canadian veterans. I'm confident that the Hammond gang will provide the storage space, if not, please consider Cherry Valley as an option. Peter |
There is a photo of the data plate and it is a SIL.
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To all the collectors out there, this thread and MLU as a community are looking out for each other. Glad to help!
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I can vouch for the Hammond Barn's security measures and reliability. The challenge will be to stage the piece(s) on top of something that won't settle into the sand and grow trees through the gaps. Let me know if and when you are passing through, and will see if there is anything I can contribute to the recovery. |
I think the picture of the 25 pounder in the other listing for the house is the 2nd one.
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Hammond Guns Position
I am sure that Bob would be thrilled to store the guns. Be aware that they will be investigated thoroughly. ..
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Rob , looks like you were a couple of weeks off the mark for them to get ride with the Gun Tractor,
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Frank, my timing is never quite right, but the trailer seemed full anyway.
One of the big considerations in this project is that there is relatively fresh sod in their yard and they do not want it torn up. The guns themselves do not roll I am told. So by going in with my light trailer and pickup and doing it in two trips I hope to minimize any damage. I had the cash deposit dropped off this morning and a contract with the seller has been signed. It is my intention to head out Saturday night or Sunday morning and be there for Tuesday morning at the latest. It was also my understanding that they had many many calls re this ad, and there were several other interested parties. The gentleman said that first cash spoke, so I guess that would be me. Sorry to the others that were competing. Hey, since I am crossing two provincial borders, does this make me a poacher? Are there even rules in Quebec and Ontario like we have here in Manitoba?? |
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The barrel and breech on the second one are laying back on the gun. Not sure if the recoil mech has collapsed, or the barrel is loose from the sled. Hopefully I can winch it back forward as the present breech location is going to make winching it onto the trailer a bugger. |
Is there any military history in this family you are aware of, Rob? One 25 PDR would be normal per se, but 2 seems quite unusual unless one has a vested interest. Be interesting to chat with them when you are down there. Maybe they will have other leads for you to follow up on.
Have a safe trip! And take lots of pictures! David |
Congratulations! What an amazing find at an unbeatable price!
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Rob, I have space in the North Bay area if need be or at least a possible rest stop on your way through. :thup2:
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Space is waiting for delivery......
The Barn has room.
....and I have a 20 ft trailer with a 10K winch.... 3 ton come-a-along....straps..... chains ...extra cables.......so if you need help and want to move both guns in one trip we can help. Wonder if my wife would like it on the front lawn??????? Cheers PS and a camera for pictures |
you can't be a poacher if you are saving them!!!
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Poaching
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Saturday night I repacked wheel bearings on the trailer and redid the front left of the truck, leaving the front right alone since the front left was in great shape. I think I repacked them last Easter. Turns out I have a little seepage on the right front so now my truck is pulling right on every stop. It is survivable though.
I left Saturday night and with a few catnaps, woke up near the Ontario border. I got a good days driving on Sunday and slept in the truck in Kapuskasing. Next morning back on the road and was at the town in Quebec by 4:30 PM Monday, however due to a poorly marked detour did not actually get to the house until 6:30. Cash and pleasantries exchanged, I got to work and replaced the two tires on the gun with the collapsed recoil mech. I then tried to come-a-long the barrel back up but to no avail. Had to call it quits around 10 as the mosquitoes were going to fly away with me. The owners put me up for the night, and I was back outside by 05:45 Tuesday working on the wheels of the second gun. Headed to town around 0800 to buy 8 sheets of 3/4 plywood to minimize the damage to the lawn. Big bonus was the firing platforms were buried in the ground underneath the guns. One was chained and locked to the gun, so I managed to break the chain with a hammer, and dug the ring loose. About that time the cavalry showed up. Bob, Rob and Ross all came out to help, driving many hours from their respective locations to join the recovery. Bob also brought along a set of tires on rims to replace the cement filled tires that were on the other gun. Good news was that all the hubs were turning. We got the platform dragged out and up the hill. Then laid out the winch cable and snatch block, and with Ross maintaining a safety chain, Rob and myself moving the sheets of plywood ever forward, and Bob at the winch switch, we soon had the first gun up it's hill and on the flat of the lawn. Second gun was a little tough due to the collapsed recoil, but soon enough we had it on my trailer, and then positioned Bob's trailer to pick up the first gun. Ross was busy on the broom cleaning up debris from the driveway, and in no time we had both guns along with their platforms chained and strapped ready to go. The Gods smiled on us and held off the torrential rain until we were ready to leave. I followed Bob back to the barn so I could meet lucifer and see the sights. By 9:30 PM I was back on the road so I could miss the Ottawa traffic, and made it to the Irving station in Pembroke, where I knew I was going to have a great breakfast. I was the first one in the restaurant when they opened at 6AM, and after a hearty clubhouse sandwhich and potatoes, made my way to Long Lake, where I have finally booked my first hotel room of the trip. Rob and Ross took lots of photos so hopefully they will not be shy and share some here for us. I think I took one photo only at the very beginning, and got so busy I never took another. I may start another thread covering the recovery more completely, along with the guns present condition and their restorations. As can be expected, they are not without issues, but end of the day they are two Canadian 25pdrs that you rarely find on the market here in Canada. I want to thank Bob, Rob and Ross for coming out. Without them I am pretty sure I would have still been hand winching through the storm and into this morning. Best case is I could have called a tow truck to come and winch....worst case is I could have had my chain hoist let go and the one gun would have headed for the lake. I owe these guys a lot, and hopefully can make repayment over the years. |
Quid Pro Quo
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Rob,
I am glad you had help with those recoveries. You are always first around here to help everyone else with projects and glad it came your way when you needed it! A big thanks to the Ontario guys for their efforts in helping Rob out! Have a good trip back Rob and don't stop at any surplus stores! Regards,Derk |
It sounds like a job well done ..........................well done !
Looking forward to some pictures. Rob..................rnixartillery |
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Rob videotaped as well. Not really the kind of you tube that goes viral, but it should be enjoyable to those who like this kind of stuff. Just getting ready to leave the hotel now, have a 12.5 hour drive ahead of me yet. Most of that is through the Cambrian shield, which is rocky and hilly. Then I will hit the flattest land on earth (Manitoba) and can breathe a little again. In Manitoba, you can set the cruise control, tie the seatbelt to the steering wheel in the straight ahead position, and have a 4 hour nap while traveling at 110 kmh. The load feels good on the truck and trailer. The truck is a lot smother riding on the way home than it was to the guns. |
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I also got in trouble with the wife over this whole event. Not because I bought two more artillery pieces, not because I left for almost a week during house renovations, but because we went to St. Huberts restaurant after the job. I thought the restaurant was excellent because I was exhausted and cold, and it was the first hot meal I had in 3 days, but apparently it is a real treat for the Quebecois, and she resented my having it. |
Well done
Rob,
What a heartwarming story. This is what the collector community is all about. Someone with foresight, aided by others willing to invest sweat equity, and more. I look forward to the pictures and tales that this rescue effort will generate. Well done, Peter |
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