Signature of Jean-Jacques Keller on 1683 cannon Le Protecteur: "Kelleri Tiguro" (i.e. "Keller the Tigurini", of the Tigurini people of the Zürich region).Keller cannons, Les Invalides.Emblem on Le Protecteur.Dragon handle on Le Protecteur.
Jean-Jacques Keller (1635–1700) and his brother Jean-Balthazar Keller (1638–1702) were Swiss gunfounders from Zürich, in the service of France.
Jean-Jacques was considered one of the most skillful founders of France.[1] In 1669, he became "Master of the foundries" (Commissaire des Fontes) at Douai. He also established other foundries in Besançon, Breisach and Pinerolo.[2] His work was integral part of the plan established by Louvois in 1666 to have the army and artillery reorganized.
Jean-Jacques Keller Canon de 24 (24-pounder cannon), Le Protecteur, founded in 1683. Caliber: 151 mm (5.9 in). Length: 320 mm (13 in). Weight: 2,271 kg (5,007 lb).
His brother Jean-Balthasar was rather involved with the founding of statues.[2] He famously founded the statue of Louis XIV then located in the Place Vendôme, in December 1692,[3] in a single piece, something never achieved before.[2] The statue was destroyed during the French Revolution on 10 August 1792.[4]
Jean-Jacques met with trouble when some of his guns burst in 1694. He was then replaced by his brother Jean-Balthasar as Commissaire des Fontes at Douai.[2]
The two brothers had a great influence on cannon founding techniques in France, and made thousands of artillery pieces.
The technology they employed, involving the founding of cannons around a plaster core, was superseded by the De Vallière system in 1732.
^"Jean- Jacques Keller, his older brother, the most skillful cannon founder in the service of France" in One Hundred Years at V.M.I. - Page 263 by William Couper - [1]
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