This is a temporary certificate issued to Brown Wire Gun president, Oliver Gildersleeve for 100 shares. It's dated Aug. 5, 1902 and signed by trustees, J.N. Brown, H.M Mausell and M. Porter. The Brown 10-inch segmental-tube wire-wound gun.[x=#8212/]This gun was built under an allotment of $33,000 made by the Board September 15, 1896. Its test was begun in February, 1901, and in the two years following it was fired a total of 24 rounds, mishaps of various kinds necessitating its removal from the proving ground for repairs. The last round fired from the gun was on October 28, 1903, following which permission was granted to the Brown Wire Gun Company to remove the gun for alteration of the breech mechanism, which had operated in an unsatisfactory manner throughout the test. The gun was taken to the shops in Beading in January, 1905, that the desired changes might be made. Please see photos for more detail and condition.Date: Country (if not USA): State: New YorkCity: New York CityProvenance: Ken Prag Collection