2021
The Nitida Winery approached the Foundation to translate their information board correctly from English to Afrikaans.
The translated text follows next to this. The original text can be seen on the photo.
More information about the cannon station can be obtained by directing inquiries to info@nitidacannonstation.co.za or visiting the website: https://www.nitidacannonstation.co.za.
Tools for a Front-Loader Gun Gunners used a variety of tools to aim, load, fire and maintain a front-loader gun.
The Krasser is a fork with twisted tines of brass or brass at the front of a stick, inserted into the barrel to extract a powder bag or remove remnants of a previous shot.
The Shovel made of copper or brass was used to scoop the correct amount of powder from the barrel when linen powder bags were not available, and place it at the very rear of the barrel.
The Luntstick with slow fuse was used to bring fire to the sundkruit. The wick is a loosely twisted three-strand hemp rope, soaked in a mixture of saltpeter and alcohol and dried; it was held in position on one side of the fuse stick with brass rings.
The Cover is a lead plate that covers the sund hole to keep it clean and dry and also the charge dry, and prevent flying sparks from accidentally igniting the charge.
The front Wisser on a stick is made of sheepskin; before loading or after each shot it was dipped in water and pushed down the barrel, to make sure that no glowing material was left behind in the barrel.
The Loading Stick with a cylindrical head of hard wood at one end was used to press the powder bag tightly into the rear of the barrel.
The Priem is a copper or brass wire with a sharp point that is inserted into the sund hole to make a hole in the powder bag, so that the burning sund powder can easily get to the charge in the powder bag.
The Gunpowder Horn was full of fine gunpowder, the so-called sundkruit, with which the sundgat was filled.
The Hand Lever was a pole with one flat end like a spade, which was used as a lever, such as to raise the cannon’s breech, when the wedge had to be moved to raise or lower the trunk.
The Wedge was used to raise or lower the cannon’s breech using a hand lever.
The Powder Bucket was of wood, covered with leather and lined with linen, with handles of leather. Sometimes it is decorated with insignia.
The Water bucket with VOC badge (United East India Company.)
