Ok, I'll bite on this one.
First, you need to have a very good understanding of the condition of the
canon and to be able to move it - this applies to everything in a museum or
historic site. Get guys who are good riggers and develop a plan first. Make
sure that you can easily unbolt it from the carriage without damaging the
trunion straps and other fixtures or gouging the surface of the tube. Yes,
use nylon web straps but slip ethafoam between them and the surface of the
canon, unless you think that yellow smear marks look good on old iron. Make
sure that the path is entirely clear and that there is room to lift, turn,
and move. Have your cradle completely ready on the other end where you will
be storing the tube. Wood is fine as long as you again use ethafoam to
reduce the chance of abrasion to the tube. When the tube is moved have
someone on the ground directing the driver and also one or two walking
beside the hanging tube to steady it as it will have a tendency to twist and
could bang into the forklift. Remember, physics applies here, a canon tube
is heavy and round - so it will always want to roll if it is not supported
properly. Do NOT lay a tube on the ground outdoors! It can easily get wet
and stay wet if in contact with the ground - this leads very rapidly to
corrosion and even moss growth on surfaces. I'm all for being "Green" but
not on historic canon tubes!

Cheers!
Dave

David Harvey
Conservator
Los Angeles, CA

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