12-03-2013, 11:46 AM
Having done an examination by zooming in on this picture I would like to make the following observations-
I believe the pierced 'rail' above the device is an integral part of it. There are several places where it does appear that there is a web-like attachment of what is either wires or fine ropes attaching the device to the rail. It almost looks like this is a man portable siege engine designed to be operated by a small team of infantry. It seems that a man pushes a 'plunger' type device at the right into the first 'barrel' which then presumably sets the first 'pendulum' device to start swinging, which in turn then pushes the next 'piston rod' into the next 'barrel' which sets the next 'pendulum' device to swing and so on until the end device is set swinging and then the beak part then strikes the wall.
I think this may have been a experimental siege engine designed to be able to be quickly mounted against a wall and to be operated by just a single man if necessary.
If had been a successful device I am sure it would have been mentioned more and shown in more monumental works.
I believe the pierced 'rail' above the device is an integral part of it. There are several places where it does appear that there is a web-like attachment of what is either wires or fine ropes attaching the device to the rail. It almost looks like this is a man portable siege engine designed to be operated by a small team of infantry. It seems that a man pushes a 'plunger' type device at the right into the first 'barrel' which then presumably sets the first 'pendulum' device to start swinging, which in turn then pushes the next 'piston rod' into the next 'barrel' which sets the next 'pendulum' device to swing and so on until the end device is set swinging and then the beak part then strikes the wall.
I think this may have been a experimental siege engine designed to be able to be quickly mounted against a wall and to be operated by just a single man if necessary.
If had been a successful device I am sure it would have been mentioned more and shown in more monumental works.
Adrian Coombs-Hoar
