Cedar Crest College Alumnae Association – Cedar Crest College Alumnae Auction 2014
Auction Ends: Mar 18, 2014 09:00 PM EDT

Other

Big-Bang Cannon!

Item Number
224
Estimated Value
190 USD
Sold
107 USD to mrubens
Number of Bids
19  -  Bid History

Item Description

15FC Major Field Cannon:
Similar to the cannon used by the Continental Army.  Features automatic charger mechanism for rapid, multiple firing.  Made of cast iron and sheet metal, from the original 1935 tooling.

Loud, safe and easy to use!
*Tube of Bangsite is included!

25"L x 7"W x 7"H; 6 lbs.

BIG-BANG® Cannons are made by The Conestoga Company, Inc., which has been based in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, since its founding in 1912.

In 1907, a young assistant professor of physics at Lehigh University, James Hunter Wily, patented the carbide cannon. Soon he saw the value of his invention as a safe and sane toy, and in 1912, started manufacturing BIG-BANG® Cannons. They quickly became a favorite among kids of all ages, and have remained so ever since.

The black field cannons haven't changed much since Wily's time. In 1958, the company introduced its green military cannons, which features rubber wheels. Brass replicas of the cast iron BIG-BANG® Cannons made from 1916 to 1934 are highly popular among collectors and as corporate gifts for valued employees.

BIG-BANG® Cannons are still made in the rolling hills of Eastern Pennsylvania. The Conestoga Company, Inc. remains a family business. Wily ran the company until 1955. In the late 1970s, The Conestoga Company, Inc. was sold to local entrepreneur Ercole Spinosa. 

Item Special Note

*An additional cannon is listed as Item #225.