[5][4] On March 2, 1774, she presented her idea to the Royal Academy of Science, where the cartridges were test fired under the supervision of Major General Charpentier.
[5] Maria's competition was Major Per Gustaf Wagenfel, who also presented a similar idea, but also her being a woman raised skepticism against her invention from the men of the academy.
[5] After the competition, Maria continued to deliver the updated version of her varnished cartridges at her own expense, to the artillery cadets for their military exercises, and this was up until 1780.
Major Per Gustaf Wagenfelt, who was also at the competition, obtained a royal salary of 500 riksdaler for inventing varnished cartridges.
[6][5] Maria also became aware of this and wrote to the War Office in 1783, claiming her rightful ownership to her design and the prize money.
Many of those involved began to feign ignorance, because they didn't want to be known as the people who ruined the reputations of the important figures of that time.