Callicles, did the Confederates, or the North for that matter, ever use zinc in the manufacture of their Bormann fuzes? Where is the proof? And all this talk of more or less zinc. Me thinks this is a modern day analysis of what they might have, or should have done. The pre-war U.S. regulations for making their Bormann fuzes was 50% lead and 50% tin. This was included in a highly detailed one page copy of the specs used by the Allegheny Arsenal to make Bormanns. I found it misplaced in Tredegar's Contract Book. It looks like some of the information gathered in late 1860 when Burton, J. R. Anderson and other Southern agents were allowed access to the U.S. Arsenals and Armories. I copied it and will post it as soon as I locate it. In all the discussions about the Bormann fuzes in the Confederates' correspondence, I have never come across any mention of zinc being used or even the idea that the material they were made of was responsible for their failure.
To 6lbgun, thanks for posting those fuze photos. Your point is valid. Nonetheless, if you look closely at the Bormann in the 10 pdr Parrott I posted previously, you will note the rise is a perfect bevel all the way around, and the top is flat. It looks very intentional without any of the irregularities one would expect from a pressure rise. Also, I am posting a second built-up Bormann in the nose of another 10 pounder I believe was made during the same period (i.e, spring 1861) by Tredegar as part of their order from Virginia for 5,000 - 10 pounder Parrotts. None of these CS Parrots had lathe dimples and they don't appear to have been turned on a lathe by any other method. Evidently, this was when most of the Bormann-fuzed Parrotts were made. The CS Ord. Bureau took possession of the shells (are they all case?) during July 1861. Afterwards, the monthly production records of Tredegar only reported an additional 100 produced for the CS Army. (They made a lot of 3 inch Parrotts with Bormanns for the Navy during the first half of 1862.) I suppose the Army realized that a fuze with a maximum range of one mile had no place in such long-range projectiles.
I don't mean to bore anybody but the following is documentation for the fact that Tredegar purchased thousands of Bormann fuzes in the North, and they could not understand why most were burning through the top.
In a Feb. 15, 1861, letter to Gen. Van Dorn, Army of Mississippi, Tredegar offered to provide shells with the cheaper old wooden plugs, adding "but perhaps you are aware that, by present Army regulations, the Bormann fuze is used in all field ammunition."
Unfortunately, the only source of Bormann fuzes available to Tredegar was through their Northern friend and partner in the sale of Virginia's old flintlock muskets, Cooper & Pond of New York City. Complaints soon came to Tredegar from recipients of their ammo like Col. Manigault, Ordnance Chief in Charleston, SC. On March 22, 1861, the Ironworks responded: "We are sorry that any of the fuzes shipped you are objectionable, but as we wrote you heretofore, we had to get them made outside of our shops & consequently could not pay that attention to their..." quality as they would like to have done.
It becomes clear that Tredegar's current supply of Bormann fuzes were "objectionable" when Robert Archer writes his old Army friend, Maj. Geo. Ramsey stationed at the Washington Arsenal on April 1, 1861. If you don't mind, I'll include this revealing letter in its entirety.
My Dear Major,
Excuse me for bothering you, but I won't detain you long.
Mr. Smith formerly under your command, and now at our Armory here, tells me that the Bormann Fuze is now perforated through the thin plate below the magazine so as to insure the ignition of the charge in the shell & that they are now made so in the Navy, with the plate so perforated. Is this so, and are they perforated at the Arsenals? One thing is certain. I saw several tried, that were made in New York and not perforated, and not one gave way at the bottom, but burst through the upper plate. Please enlighten me - what size hole do you drill through the iron or brass plug upon which the Fuze is secured?
The following day, Dr. Archer (signed "J. R. Anderson & Co.") penned an angry note to Cooper & Pond.
Gentlemen: The Bormann Fuzes you sent us are entirely worthless. They appear to be improperly made, as the metal covering to the magazine, which is intended to be blown off by the explosion, is made of ordinary plate tin instead of some thin soft metal - the consequence is that in several we have tried, not one exploded at the bottom, or burnt this thin plate, but all immediately exploded through the top, which seems to be the weakest part of the Fuze.
It will be well for you to get an explanation of this matter from the manufacturer & we will thank you to communicate to us what he says.
As Ft. Sumter was fired on days later, we can safely assume that no response to Archer's inquiry was had. Tredegar was clearly in the process of setting up their own production line whose output was soon apparent by the thousands of Bormanns they began distributing on May 1st according to their Sales Book and vouchers. This was the period when the 10 pounders were being manufactured with Bormanns in the nose. It appears that the first of these regularly burned through the top, as Archer complained, and the later ones had extra material piled on top as seen in the two examples I have presented photos of to the Forum. Obviously, Richmond's ordnance establishment did not know the proper way to fashion a reliable Bormann fuze at that time. I think the dramatic build-up was done out of desperation and for a brief period. They soon made new molds producing thicker fuzes with flat tops.
I realize the above information brings up additional points worthy of discussion, so please keep it coming.
Regards, WH
