I bought this 4 blade spinner in auction recently.
According to the research I’ve done, the assembly number RA7899 matches Spitfire spinner type Rotol 4CM/4
As you can see, it suffered some substantial hits and one smaller one that looks to have been repaired.
There’s lots of markings inside which is really interesting but also confusing to me so I’m hoping someone can shed some light?
Along with the assembly numbers, there are two other markings that are more difficult to make out.
I think this is what they are:
RAL
486
and
Ser. No
8505
This first thing that came to mind in regards to RAL was a paint code but that makes no sense because that’s a German paint code system is it not?
The auction lot included the book “Battle of the Airfields, Operation Bodenplatte” by Norman Franks and also signed by him.
I suspect the previous owner of this spinner had researched it and might have connected it to a Spitfire damaged on the 1st Jan 1945. However, this is just speculation on my behalf and my attempts to contact him/her via the auction house hit a dead end.
Any info would be appreciated and also, could someone build me a man cave to display it in?! 😉
Cheers
Ben
By: Moggy C - 20th May 2018 at 14:13
Indeed this is getting a little too close to advertising by stealth. Contact Ben if you wish, but this thread is done.
Moggy
Moderator
By: stuart gowans - 20th May 2018 at 10:33
Or to put it another way “turns out it’s worth a fortune, so form an orderly queue with you cheque books at the ready”
By: BenVK - 19th May 2018 at 20:50
Unfortunately, I’m going to have to sell this spinner.
I just don’t have the space to display it and the missus wants it gone from the top of our bedroom wardrobe!
Any idea what I should be asking for it?
I really don’t have a clue as it’s not something that comes up for sale very often.
By: Eddie - 7th April 2018 at 15:01
Probably the serial number of the spinner. By 1941 aircraft serials were two letters and three numbers, so four digits wouldn’t correspond to an aircraft serial.
By: BenVK - 7th April 2018 at 10:47
I’ve searched and searched but can’t find anything on the serial number 8505 or could be 8565.
Any ideas guys?
By: Wyvernfan - 2nd April 2018 at 13:56
Nice find!
Rob
By: Arabella-Cox - 2nd April 2018 at 13:46
Possibly, Ben.
It appears to be from a mid-war version of the Spitfire – probably a Mk.9, so dates tally.
Anon.
By: BenVK - 2nd April 2018 at 12:32
Many thanks for this, it’s obvious now that you pointed it out, doh!
So it’s possible it could have been manufactured before Rotol Airscrews Limited changed it’s name to Rotol Limited in 1943.
By: Arabella-Cox - 1st April 2018 at 22:32
RAL – Rotol Airscrews Limited.
Nice find. It certainly looks like battle damage, the way the inside is petalled. May also have come from a gunnery range!
Anon.
Sign In
April 1, 2018 at 7:34 pm