Balchin Bomb Lance

Copyright: ‘Maritime Museum: Hull Museums’

Edmund Balchin [1825-88] was a gunsmith at 74 Mytongate, Hull. In 1859 he developed and patented the exploding harpoon (Balchin Bomb Lance) which terminated the life of a whale much more quickly than by previous methods thereby reducing its suffering, and making life safer and easier for the sailors.

Hull Maritime Museum currently hold 4 bomb lances and one musket in their collection, all attributed to Edmund, but none are currently on display.

The photograph of a Bomb Lance has provided by Maritime Museum: Hull Museums whose full credit and acknowledgement is given with thanks. Maritime Museum: Hull Museums cannot attribute the image to any particular manufacturer, however, the image does reflects the type of bomb lance that was manufactured by Edmund Balchin.