Cannonball grabby thing

[Mike Serpa]

What is the name of the thing that grabs the cannonball?

 

[JOHN42768]

Guessing Tongs

 

[History hoarder63]

What is the name of the thing that grabs the cannonball?
View attachment 529472

Cannonball Grabby Thing is the preferred nomenclature but "shell tongs" will also work.

 

[RedRover]

The grabby thing would be "shot tongs" indeed!

 

[USS ALASKA]

I'm having flashbacks to the movie 'Toy Story', "...The CLAAAAAW..."

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[TallTallMan]

I checked the OR written by Hobo Bob. He said: "The Thing That Grabs the Cannonball". I hope that answers your question.

 

[RedRover]

I checked the OR written by Hobo Bob. He said: "The Thing That Grabs the Cannonball". I hope that answers your question.

Here's a historical reenactment starring US Army veteran and historical interpreter Tim Conway, demonstrating the value of shot tongs and why they were necessary...

 

[Rhea Cole]

Guessing Tongs

I believe "guessing tongs" are the ones used by teenagers when taking tests.

 

[Mike Serpa]

Cannonball Grabby Thing is the preferred nomenclature but "shell tongs" will also work.

Maybe we should shorten it to CGT.

 

[Mike Serpa]

I'm having flashbacks to the movie 'Toy Story', "...The CLAAAAAW..."

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

I watched Toy Story years ago but don't remember The CLAAAAAW. I'll search YouTube for it.

 

[Mike Serpa]

I checked the OR written by Hobo Bob. He said: "The Thing That Grabs the Cannonball". I hope that answers your question.

That's good enough for me.

 

[redbob]

While normally associated with mortars, these tongs were also use on the 12.75" Armstrong gun in Charleston and other extremely large bore guns along with a loading derrick.

 

[Sivart]

The only two terms that I could come across during my search were "Cannonball Cradle" and "Cannon Rammer". They were most likely just called "tongs" by that used them. I'm not really sure what they are actually called.

 

[USS ALASKA]

I watched Toy Story years ago but don't remember The CLAAAAAW. I'll search YouTube for

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[TallTallMan]

Here's a historical reenactment starring US Army veteran and historical interpreter Tim Conway, demonstrating the value of shot tongs and why they were necessary...

View attachment 529579

 

[JOHN42768]

Always great skits. They could make a dying man bust out laughing

 

[RedRover]

Here's a Union heavy mortar at Petersburg, the chap second from right with the tongs...

 

[Mike Serpa]

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

Thanks for posting this. You saved me from my memory. I forgot to look it up!

 

[Larryh86GT]

A cannonball grabby thingy (CGT):

 

[aardq]

Here's a Union heavy mortar at Petersburg, the chap second from right with the tongs...

View attachment 529658
View attachment 529659

What did this shot weigh, and could one man really handle that shot?