Bombard without a stock, a wedge-lifting device and perspective solids
Two mounted fragments: artillery and mechanical notes above, a large wheeled cannon below
The upper fragment (154a recto) gathers artillery and mechanical studies together with perspective drawings of cubes and pyramids. One note argues that a bombard's wooden stock (ceppo) gives no support when the gun bursts, so it should be built without one; another describes a mechanism in which cones set over the shafts of supports repeatedly wedge and release so that a framework can be raised and lowered. The lower fragment (154b recto) carries a large cannon on a wheeled carriage but, as the note records, no writing.
On this page
A bombard built without its stock
At the end of the bombard the stock (ceppo) is labelled. Leonardo reasons that when the artillery bursts its stock offers it no resistance, and concludes that it should be made without such a stock.
Cones that wedge over the supports
Cones are to be set over the shafts of the supports. As the framework rises it wedges, and as it lowers it draws together, opening above so that it quickly re-wedges; repeating this many times lets the framework settle by itself while it is raised, without abandoning the wedging.
Perspective studies of cubes and pyramids
The upper fragment includes drawn cubes crossed by diagonals and several pyramids rendered in perspective, set among the mechanical sketches.
Large cannon on a wheeled carriage
The lower fragment shows a heavy cannon mounted on a multi-wheeled carriage. The catalogue note records that this piece bears no writing.