Please help, Identification needed for vintage propeller blade.

Thanks Anon,

I agree that it is a similar but different design. I will just have to keep asking around to see if anyone recognises it as the markings are not available.

Thanks for your help.

Prop blade i/d

[ATTACH=CONFIG]221112[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]221113[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]221114[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]221115[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]221116[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]221117[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]221118[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]221119[/ATTACH]Here are a few pics of some of the types of props I mentioned.

The first five are of a Hamilton ground-adjustable pitch airscrew hub (in this case a two-blader but the three has the same socket & blade mounting arrangement). You can see where the wider shouldered base of the blade would fit, like the one on your blade, 03. I’ve shown the measurements so you can check your blade to see if it matches. This type of propeller was used quite widely in the early 1930’s (for instance on the Peashooter and other fighters of the day) but was rapidly consigned to a few trainer aircraft and largely obsolete by WW2 and as VP props came in.

The remaining pictures show what we believe is a WW2, Curtiss-made P-38 Lightning prop blade base. This was a fully variable pitch design and would have had a blade segment bevel gear attached to the base for its operation, however, unlike the G-A prop, this blade would have had a large pre-loaded bearing pack attached before insertion into a much bulkier hub. Curtiss also made magnesium and steel-bladed props for this hub and larger applications so it shows they used different materials (Rotol also had the option of wood, mag or alloy blades too).

Although the two ferrule profiles appear similar they are different designs for different applications and operation. Your blade appears more modern than the earlier G-A type but, it is possible that your blade could be an early prototype.

Anon.

Thank you antoni. Some more very useful info.

Doing a little research, I believe the propeller could have been made by Hordern-Richmond at Haddenham airfield, Bucks. Just because of the proximity of the pub where the blade came from to Haddenham.
They used Hydulignum.

They invented Hydulignum and I doubt anyone else made blades from it.

Cheers Anon 😀

Have some pics, will post later.

Anon.

Thank you antoni. Some more very useful info.

Doing a little research, I believe the propeller could have been made by Hordern-Richmond at Haddenham airfield, Bucks. Just because of the proximity of the pub where the blade came from to Haddenham.
They used Hydulignum.

I have tried to clean the base and there are markings, but the corrosion is just so bad that it is impossible to take away more than the odd single number.

Can anyone say whether the coloured disc scheme was used only by Rotol or was it a universal (amongst airscrew manufacturers) to i/d the materials used in the manufacture of a particular blade?

Anon.

The green disc indicates the material is Hydulignum. See my recent post in the thread “Hydulignum props” that explains how they were manufactured. The letters mean:

H – Hydulignum
C – Cristofin
S – Brass sheath.

Discussion here:

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?119278-Need-help-with-a-Rotol-propeller&highlight=pink+blade

and here:

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?77470-Questions-on-Spitfire-Propellers-(merged)

Post 19 shows pages from the Dowty-Rotol service manual that explains the colours and letters.

It is just very badly corroded and heavily pitted by rust. I might run a little oil over the rubbed down bottom, just to see if it shifts some lingering rust and dirt.

Thank you, I appreciate it, I won’t be able to check the dimensions of mine for some time now I’m afraid as I am heading back to work, but I have the basic details…

Length of the Wooden blade : 135cm
Length of the entire blade including metal base : 158cm
There are 6 x threaded bolt holes on the bottom of the ferrule

There aren’t many aircraft components which didn’t have some stamps or letters somewhere. Have a look around the base, in fact anywhere on the steel ferrule.

I’ll take some photos and get some measurements tomorrow of the inside of a Hamilton two-blade ground adjustable I have and we’ll see if that tallies with any of the dimensions on your blade.

Anon.

Sadly, after a quick once over, there are still no markings on there.

Fantastic, cheers Anon.
Some good info there and I appreciate it.

I have looked for any markings on the ferrule. Unfortunately, there is literally nothing visible. I will try your suggestion and run some emery paper over it and take another look. Where would they most likely be? Right on the base?

Kind regards

Doug

It could well be, looking at the steel ferrule of the blade, that it is from a Hamilton ground-adjustable airscrew. You are correct, 03, in suggesting it is one of three which comprise a balanced set and this is standard procedure for blade sets since the earliest days of separately manufactured, multi-blade propellers.

There should be some lettering on the base of the blade ferrule. Try giving it a clean up and a dressing with coarse emery paper and see what can be found. Markings might point towards a date and manufacturer. H.C.S. could be either the manufacturer or the blade material(s).

The ferrule also looks like it could be a Curtiss (variable pitch) blade. These are held in with a clamp but without further information or reference it is not possible to be sure who the manufacturer is. I have not heard of Curtiss-made wooden blades but there were lots of different materials and designs around so it cannot be discounted.

I’ll see what info I can dig out.

Anon.