Powder Room

Heavy metal canisters, or tanks, were used to safely store gunpowder in ships’ magazines. Often made from non-sparking metals such as bronze and copper, they featured gasketed lids to protect the powder from moisture.

The markings on this powder tank provide a lot of clues regarding its origin and purpose. “USN” stands for United States Navy, while “ORD 1857 H.A.W.” and the anchor symbol comprise the ordnance inspection stamp. H.A.W. was the mark of Henry Augustus Wise, a U.S. naval officer from 1834 to 1869 who was assigned to oversee the foundries that produced naval ordnance. The number 1857 marks the year this tank design was issued, and the weight capacity of 50 pounds (about 23 kilograms) is also indicated on the lid.

This powder tank was donated to the HBC Museum Collection by Charles Hunt French, a long-serving HBC employee who rose through the ranks from general service in 1891 to become fur trade commissioner in 1930. He spent much of his later career in Victoria and Vancouver as district manager, and in the 1920s he was heavily involved in obtaining items for the collection.