Um,
I hate to post my first remark as a doubtful one, but DID it move? ::
I took the image into Photoshop and matched up the barrel features (ridges, bumps and shallows) and the ball is exactly the same size in both. If you look at the long ridges at the 10:00 o'clock and 2:00 o'clock positions, as well as the dark feature at the 4:00 o'clock and the bump at the 9:00 o'clock positions, they appear to still be in the same position in relationship to the ball. The 2 ridges closest to the ball (10 and 2 o'clock) are pretty much identical between the two photos, although the lighting seems a bit different.
I'm afraid it may be more a difference in perspective than ball movement.
I HOPE I'm wrong, because I am very interested in finding out what's in there. It may have moved a bit, but the photos don't really show much movement at all...if any.
I wish I could figure out how to post my enhanced image showing the comparison between the two...One overlaying the other.
Sorry to make my first post sound kind of negative. I am really hoping you get the ball out. There may be nothing in there, but who knows? The idea of anything of historical importance is more than worth the effort to find out.
By the way, Greetings All...
(yeah, I have to find a proper screen name in the near future)
I hate to post my first remark as a doubtful one, but DID it move? ::
I took the image into Photoshop and matched up the barrel features (ridges, bumps and shallows) and the ball is exactly the same size in both. If you look at the long ridges at the 10:00 o'clock and 2:00 o'clock positions, as well as the dark feature at the 4:00 o'clock and the bump at the 9:00 o'clock positions, they appear to still be in the same position in relationship to the ball. The 2 ridges closest to the ball (10 and 2 o'clock) are pretty much identical between the two photos, although the lighting seems a bit different.
I'm afraid it may be more a difference in perspective than ball movement.
I HOPE I'm wrong, because I am very interested in finding out what's in there. It may have moved a bit, but the photos don't really show much movement at all...if any.
I wish I could figure out how to post my enhanced image showing the comparison between the two...One overlaying the other.
Sorry to make my first post sound kind of negative. I am really hoping you get the ball out. There may be nothing in there, but who knows? The idea of anything of historical importance is more than worth the effort to find out.
By the way, Greetings All...
(yeah, I have to find a proper screen name in the near future)