Mystery stick top ID

Thanks Elliott – PM sent!

Ben

Thanks all – not a bore at all – you identified it – its just the damn think wont fit on a Harvard stick…:)

ALl the best

Ben

Hi Ben

Why don’t you ask Tony if you can email him some pics of your grip. It does have some very strange plumbing coming out of the back.

Thanks all – not a bore at all – you identified it – its just the damn think wont fit on a Harvard stick…:)

ALl the best

Ben

Hi Texantomcat,

I’ve never seen a cockpit photo of a British Mustang with a Dunlop type spade grip. They always seem to have the U.S. moulded stick type.

Also, the American stick features an electric trigger for the gun firing mechanism, whereas your description of the spade grip suggests it has a pneumatic gun button. Perhaps if someone could advise whether the guns in British Mustangs were fired pneumatically, we would have a bit of a clue?

Regards,

682al

p.s. As a result of a p.m. from David Collins, I’m beginning to doubt that the AH8272 spade grip would have been intended for the Sea Hornet, after all. I’ve checked my original notes, which came direct from Dunlops, and have noticed a “?” against Sea Hornet. Thinking about it, the Sea Hornet would surely have had the same stick-type column as the Hornet, which is not unlike that of the Mosquito. Sorry for the confusion, I will alter my spreadsheet right away!

Right you asked for it!!!!, the Texan Tomcat Spadegrip indeed sounds as if it is UK/Canadian Harvard. Early RAF Harvards had Dunlop UK made spade grips utilising the AH2040 (Hurricane) type part number, a stainless bolt to blank off the brakelever pivot but no brake lever or catch. They retained the bowden cable guide. About the same time a Dunlop Canada grip came out in same configuration as the UK version. For Harvards they fitted the blanking bolts, for fitting to Hurris they fitted the brake lever and catch. Otherwise same grip. These differed from the beautiful pure shiny ally early UK AH2040 grips by being chunkier castings and being magnesium alloy (hence they corrode).

Some Harvards were fitted with AH2242 which has no brake lever, pivot or brake catch and no cast bowden cable guide. Of course the Harvard had toe brakes. After the war, many Harvards had the gun button converted to electro pneumatic by boring a hole in it and fitting wiring.

I will take a phot of a RAF Harvard with the said grip to Popham to show Al tommorrow.

US and foreign T6, SNJ5 etc have either a B2 or the colloquial NAF 1173-2 grips.

What a bore I am, sorry!!

Firefly, Firebrand or Sea Hornet, according to my notes!

Regards,

Al

I concur with Al, except for the Sea Hornet….no way! AH8272 was also fitted to Mk 3 Meteors. The type is fitted with an electro-pneumatic gun button.

Al, hope you’re sat down as I have just copied out the stick list and will deliver tommorrow at Poppers!

Nope its definitely allied – first off it reads SAFE/FIRE and has a TRANSMIT button –

Think you’re right Elliot – may take me a wee while but will sort some photos – if i cant post em on the forum will PM them to you –

Thanks again for your help

Ben

Thanks Whitley P – Its definitely got the Hurri type gun button, and I’m quite certain its not a repro –

If i can sort the technology then will post a picture or two…

If RAF should it have an AH prefix then?

Hey TT

Sounds interesting – bit of a long-shot, but it’s worth remembering that some Japanese aircraft had spade grips too! Sure it’s a RAF one??

Some Candian dunlop grips had odd prefixes – usually a ‘c’ somewhere on the grip, but as far as I know they always used the AH-prefix.

I think some pics would be great if you get the chance.

Elliott

AH = Dunlop as far as I know

Pleas correct me if I’m wrong

Cheers

Cees

Cees is correct – AH is the dunlop prefix.

It’s a pneumatic firing button too.

Certainly RAF Buffalos had electrically operated browings (the solonoids were notoriously unreliable), but cannot say for sure regarding mustangs.

David – can you PM of the outcome – I can use the grip if you don’t want it.

Elliott

AH = Dunlop as far as I know

Pleas correct me if I’m wrong

Cheers

Cees

Thanks Whitley P – Its definitely got the Hurri type gun button, and I’m quite certain its not a repro –

If i can sort the technology then will post a picture or two…

If RAF should it have an AH prefix then?

Hi Texantomcat,

I’ve never seen a cockpit photo of a British Mustang with a Dunlop type spade grip. They always seem to have the U.S. moulded stick type.

Also, the American stick features an electric trigger for the gun firing mechanism, whereas your description of the spade grip suggests it has a pneumatic gun button. Perhaps if someone could advise whether the guns in British Mustangs were fired pneumatically, we would have a bit of a clue?

Regards,

682al

p.s. As a result of a p.m. from David Collins, I’m beginning to doubt that the AH8272 spade grip would have been intended for the Sea Hornet, after all. I’ve checked my original notes, which came direct from Dunlops, and have noticed a “?” against Sea Hornet. Thinking about it, the Sea Hornet would surely have had the same stick-type column as the Hornet, which is not unlike that of the Mosquito. Sorry for the confusion, I will alter my spreadsheet right away!

The only think i thought it may be is RAF Mustang – which is ‘NA 73′ but the grip is only marked ’73’ as a prefix…?

– no i did think that – but i own a Harvard and if definitely will not fit on the control column (plus I’ve seen other Harvard grips and its not the same) the T-6/Harvard doesnt have these pipes and is ‘chunkier’…

this is great of you guys – keep it coming -its all helpful stuff

If there’s no attachment point for the lever, presumably that would make it a Harvard grip?

Yes – it could be but theres no attachment point for a lever -?

Brake lever?

Hi chaps I have a spade grip supposedly from a Hurricane – it looks about right but has two brass pipes running to the base of the 0 part of the grip at the back one marked ‘I’ the other ‘O’ – it has the brass ringed fire/safe button and an ‘extra’ press to transmit button attached to the grip by a sort of jubilee clip – the only number i can find on it, is in the casting itself – ’73-61044′

Can anyone help me to identify it?

All the best

Ben

P.S.
Would post photos but havent worked out how too yet -always seem to be ‘too big’ 🙁

Firefly, Firebrand or Sea Hornet, according to my notes!

Regards,

Al

Thanks Al

Fancy swapping it for your hurri grip hehe

I’ll let Hornet Dave know……

All the best & thanks for your assistance
Elliott

Firefly, Firebrand or Sea Hornet, according to my notes!

Regards,

Al