Does anyone know what this vintage control stick grip is from?

Just had this pointed out to me. This is not a Swiss Vampire grip. More likely to be German Gannet. The Vampire cockpit picture is an oddity, but it appears to be an American warbird conversion to toe brakes. No service Vampire, or venom ever had them.

Hi Bruce,

I concur on your Gannet suggestion. I had one of these grips, and it didn’t have the brake lever boss.

Yes, at a guess, I would say it was the prototype, or a very early production example. Later panels were very different.

Nice photo.

I’m quite impressed by that Toe brake conversion, it appears to be a real bits a, and I have no idea how they did it, especially as it would require new wheels and brakes as well.

Variation on a theme regarding such items being ‘odd’ fitment to Vampires, I didn’t think the NF10 Vampire was fitted with the Mk 2 Dunlop spade until I found this picture:

http://s4.photobucket.com/user/joselu/media/NFMkXXX_cockpit_zps8fbe69c5.jpg.html

Obviously mis-labelled as a Mossie but, clearly identifiable as a Vampire NF. Any thoughts?

Martyn

GYD

Just had this pointed out to me. This is not a Swiss Vampire grip. More likely to be German Gannet. The Vampire cockpit picture is an oddity, but it appears to be an American warbird conversion to toe brakes. No service Vampire, or venom ever had them.

Hello, just to let you all know I am now auctioning this item off, and it can be seen here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/-/222085311230?

As stated above eBay is probably your best bet to get a good price on this especially if you are willing to post world wide as it will make it more acessable to collectors including the Swiss. From a sellers point of view this will be good as it should reach a decent price, from a collectors point of view eBay can be not so good as it can drive prices up. Good luck on selling your grip! And let us know what price it achieved out of interest.

Amazing! Thanks so much, in terms of value, I guess I will have to see what the market would pay for such an item.

Hi g b,

Do you intend to sell this on a popular electronic auction site then? It is difficult to put a value on something that hasn’t been seen however, as a guide the Mk 2 Dunlop grips can fetch anything from £250-500+. Although, seeing past prices of similar things at auctions various, does not mean you will get the same return, put it on initially for a modest start price to get interest and the bidding going, add a reserve if you wish but, let it find its own value.

I have never seen one of these on offer before, it is indeed different to a standard Mk2 therefore unique and it would certainly make a nice addition to mine or, anyone else’s collection !

Martyn

GYD

Martyn

Amazing! Thanks so much, in terms of value, I guess I will have to see what the market would pay for such an item.

Thanks for that. I thought that was the case.

I knew I’d seen a photo of one somewhere before but couldn’t remember where. Weren’t all Vampire stick tops that shape?

Hi Mike,

Indeed, certainly all the early ‘original’ de Havilland single seater’s had the Mk 2 Dunlop grip (AH 8400), with a brake lever fitted as per the original Dunlop ‘Spitfire’ spade designs. The Swiss had obviously up-graded to toe operated brakes and designed the grip to suit. However, with the fitting of ejection seats to the Vampires they may well have changed the spade for the ‘less chance of loosing knees’ option of a pistol grip. I think the picture depicts one of the rather flamboyant ‘Target Towing’ day-glo striped Vampires rather than a Fighter version but, I bow to greater knowledge! I can’t remember exactly where the picture came from originally but, I knew it would come in handy one day!

Martyn

GYD

I knew I’d seen a photo of one somewhere before but couldn’t remember where. Weren’t all Vampire stick tops that shape?

Good spot Martyn! Fighter after all, very suprised!

I spent hours trying to find this picture, then my computer went no…….mystery solved! Swiss (licence built) Vampire !!!
Not seen one before, so value is open season!

Martyn

GYD

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I’ll have a look for any numbers on it. I’m baffled!

It’a an unusual one, not Prentice or Meteor rear cockpit.

Is there a stamped number on the front face of the boss?

Also looks similar to the rear stick from a T.7 Meteor

My guess would be a training aircraft like a Prentice, except for the lack of a brake lever: http://www.rafjever.org/prepic033.htm
If it was a similarly shaped Spitfire or Tempest grip it would be several hundred. For a trainer, probably much less but still interesting.