Red Carriage for cannon?

[Capt Thighbiter]

Would a red cannon carriage be appropriate for a gun taken off a British ship?

[Coastie04]

I don't have any specific evidence from the period, but I've visited HMS Victory (OOP, but at least gives you a sense of any naval standard) and the carriages are painted spar (or thereabouts-kind of a yellow ochre, as are the 'yellow' parts of the hull). Additionally, I looked online a bit and found that the HMS Unicorn's (launched 1824) carriages are unpainted, and the HMS Trincomalee's (launched 1817) are red below deck and black on the weather decks. Sorry I don't have any idea what color they were back then, as it's easy to paint them to look pretty now.

Coastie

[HarborMaster]

Victory was built between 1759 and 1765 and yes the carriages were Yellow in 1805 . However ., in earlier years for example ., HM Bark Endeavour commanded by Captain Cook had Red Carriages., The Conn has some Red Carriages......., and yes., I have Red Carriages. Natural stained or laquered carriages look pretty but for the most part were considered unfinished . Not many first timers like to finish a Civil War 3" ordinance rifle in OD green or a blue grey...., but carriages really were not left in a natural wood tone finish. Painted may sound unattractive....., but it is correct. Paint protects the wood from the weather. Red was used., as it wasnt as demoralizing to the crew during battle (Red hides blood very well)

[Capt Thighbiter]

Cool, two of ours now bear RED carriages.

[Graydog]

Paint protects the wood from the weather. Red was used., as it wasnt as demoralizing to the crew during battle (Red hides blood very well)

Oh, that explains why the French painted their carriages brown.

-Rimshot sound goes here.

[Capn_Enigma]

Yeah. Haha. Very funny.

[Littleneckhalfshell]

Cabels's Gun Library

dropped by the Cabela's in W.VA last week and there in the gun library was a British 4 pounder garrison carriage painted blue. Says Rev. period, so maybe the colors changed or maybe they just painted it wrong. But it brought up a number of questions.

Garrison vs. Ships guns what are the basic differences in carriage?

The Cabella's gun is blue with 12" front wheels and 10" read wheels, I know that the early ship carriages had larger wheels up front, but they were wood not iron. I thought that garrison guns had wheels the same size front and back, yes or no? was one color prefered on land and another at sea?

But anyway, if someone has a spare $11,000.00 here is a cannon for you.

[Black Hearted Pearl]

Before the 19th century, red ferrous oxide paint would have been used to preserve wood from mold and other organisms. Also known as 'red lead'.

[Littleneckhalfshell]

Actually "Red Lead" has nothing to do with 'red ferrous oxide' paint. (traditional red barn paint)

Red lead, is just that, an oxide of lead (Pb) not iron (Fe)

There are two basic oxides of lead used for paint,

The afore mentioned 'red lead' Lead tetroxide http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minium

and 'white lead' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_lead

both the red lead, white lead, and the red ferrous oxide paint correctly did preserve wood to some

degree from mold and other destructive organisms.

[Black Hearted Pearl]

figures, the source was wikipedia...bloody pirates.