Documented WWII Officer-Made Miniature Brass Cannon “Long Tom” – Lt. Chester P. Hartmann, U.S. Army Ordnance Erie Proving Ground (E.P.G.), Ohio – 1944

 

Documented WWII Officer-Made Miniature Brass Cannon “Long Tom” – Lt. Chester P. Hartmann, U.S. Army Ordnance Erie Proving Ground (E.P.G.), Ohio – 1944

 

 

 

This exceptional miniature brass cannon is a wartime, officer-made ordnance artifact, hand-constructed in 1944 by Lt. Chester P. Hartmann, U.S. Army Ordnance Department, while assigned to Erie Proving Ground (Lacarne, Ohio) during World War II.

 

The cannon is clearly and period-engraved on the barrel:

 

“Long Tom – Lt. Chester P. Hartmann – E.P.G. 1944”

 

Unlike later decorative or reproduction cannon models, this piece was fabricated by a trained Army ordnance officer whose official wartime duties included artillery maintenance, machining, welding, blacksmithing, heat treating, and overhaul of artillery and anti-aircraft materiel, as documented in original Erie Proving Ground interoffice memoranda accompanying this cannon.

 

 

Construction & Design

 

 

The cannon features a high-quality brass barrel, turned and finished to closely follow early American naval artillery forms, and mounted on a naval-style mahogany carriage. According to period family affidavits, the carriage wood was sourced from scrap mahogany used in the construction of U.S. Navy PT boats, adding an additional layer of wartime naval association.

 

The barrel exhibits a proper vent and clean bore, indicating that the cannon was designed to be functional for ceremonial or blank firing, rather than purely decorative. The form is consistent with scaled reproductions derived from Rock Island Arsenal drawings of early U.S. naval cannon, including those associated with the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”).

 

 

Historical Context

 

 

With approval from his commanding officer, Lt. Hartmann produced a small number of these miniature cannon during and shortly after WWII. They were used as official presentation pieces and commemorative gifts, often displayed in formal settings rather than sold commercially. The production numbers were never recorded, but surviving examples are extremely scarce, especially with intact documentation.

 

The nickname “Long Tom” reflects a traditional American artillery term and reinforces the cannon’s stylistic roots in early U.S. coastal and naval artillery rather than European decorative forms.

 

 

Provenance & Documentation

 

 

This cannon is accompanied by an extraordinary and unusually complete provenance archive, including:

 

• Multi-page handwritten, signed affidavits by Peter S. Hartmann, son of Lt. Hartmann, detailing the cannon’s construction, purpose, and continuous family custody
• Original Erie Proving Ground interoffice memoranda naming Lt. Hartmann and describing his ordnance duties
• U.S. Army Special Orders and assignment records confirming his wartime service
• Official job descriptions documenting his authority and technical role at E.P.G.
• Additional period U.S. Army documents relating to his service at Fort Amador, Panama Canal Zone

 

 

This documentation firmly establishes that the cannon is not a later replica or hobbyist piece, but a wartime artifact made by a qualified U.S. Army officer with command knowledge and approval.

 

 

Condition

 

 

The cannon remains in excellent overall condition, retaining a rich, natural brass patina with crisp, legible engraving. The carriage is solid and original, with correct hardware and attractive aging. The piece displays exceptionally well and is suitable for advanced private collections, institutional display, or museum acquisition.

 

 

Significance

 

 

This cannon represents a rare intersection of:

 

• World War II U.S. Army Ordnance history
• Early American naval artillery tradition
• Officer-made, non-commercial wartime craftsmanship
• Documented, named provenance with primary source records

 

 

Artifacts of this nature—personal, documented creations by ordnance officers with verifiable service records—are seldom encountered and are highly sought after by advanced militaria collectors.

 

 

Barrel is Approx 22”
Bore is 1”
End of Barrel is 3”