Any ideas as to what this is from…?

Thank you all for your help with this and to Pondskater for the pictures of the Short 184. I reckon the piece of fabric must be from an aircraft of that type, it’s an interesting looking machine. It’s strange what turns up at auctions!

Chris

As promised, some photos of Short 184s and their numbers, from my files unless the credited otherwise.

This is a Short built aircraft (at Rochester)

And close up of its tail:

But, most importantly, this is from the same batch as N1635. (detail from a photo in Sturtivant and Page)

And to illustrate the many variations, here are some other examples:

A Robey built aircraft (detail from Profile Publications’ pamplet on the 184.)

Hope that helps

Allan

It is a lovely find – well done.

I can’t be 100% confident about it being from a Short 184 although it does seem the most likely. There is some variation in the way serials are painted and the hypen in the number is unusual.

Some 184’s were painted with the straightforward serial – N1635

For the Short-built aircraft it was more typical to see a full stop: ie: N.1635

There was considerable variation. For instance, the Short Brothers’s applied their construction number underneath the serial while other manufacturers of the 184 did not. Sturtivant and Page (Royal Navy Serials 1911-1919 ) show a photo of N1631 without a full stop or hyphen and without a visible contructors number. The font style looks very similar to yours.

My photos are all on the other computer which is still packed so I’ll try and post some perhaps tomorrow.

Allan

Sounds more likely than Defiant. Very good find!

Ok, a bit more on Short Type 184 (Improved) N1635. It was built by the Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing Co Ltd, and was on the books of 424/5 flts at Newlyn when it stalled and spun into the sea at Mounts Bay on 27.9.1918. The two crew members (2/Lt TL Harding and 2AM WF Fox) were both slightly injured. Given the ability of these aircraft to float after crashing, it is quite possible that the wreck was salvaged, and the serial removed as a souvenir.

Info from the excellent Air Britain Royal Navy Serials 1911-1919 tome.

Style and colour of the serial are wrong for a Defiant.

Looking at it I would go with the Defiant as they were nightfighters also and painted black as with the fabric. But were Defiants fabric covered at all I think they are metal skin all round arent they. Not that up on the Defiant I am afraid.

Also wouldnt the writing have been in red for a nightfighter.

Answer on a postcard.

AFAIK the Defiant control surfaces were fabric covered

Also, a Short 184 carried this serial. More probable than a Defiant.

Best wishes
Steve P

Looking at it I would go with the Defiant as they were nightfighters also and painted black as with the fabric. But were Defiants fabric covered at all I think they are metal skin all round arent they. Not that up on the Defiant I am afraid.

Also wouldnt the writing have been in red for a nightfighter.

Answer on a postcard.

Dont American civil registrations start with an N

Well N1635 was a Defiant and also a Delta 727!