How to recognize a Spitfire spade grip?

Originally posted by 682al
Hi Der,

Sorry it’s taken a while to reply.

Looking at your numbers etc, I’m beginning to wonder whether your grip might be from a Gloster built machine, i.e. G3, G4 etc. Besides their own products, Glosters built the Hart, Hardy and Audax on contract to Hawker.

The mystery deepens!
Thanks for all that.
Any idea how I could find out what the numbers mean?

Hi 682 AL
Thanks for the information,very helpfull!

regards

HMS Vulture

2306/35 BSA G4 AID 5J7. On the levers, BSA G3.

Hi Der,

Sorry it’s taken a while to reply.

Looking at your numbers etc, I’m beginning to wonder whether your grip might be from a Gloster built machine, i.e. G3, G4 etc. Besides their own products, Glosters built the Hart, Hardy and Audax on contract to Hawker.

Here’s a photo of a Fairey Fox cockpit which shows a spade grip such as yours. I think I found this on the net so the picture resolution is low.

We need a “type expert” who can recognise the stamped numerals. I guess they are a part no. for a particular aircraft but I’m not too well up on pre-war machines.

The clamp looks original and I suspect it may have been used when there was only one forward firing gun, so that pressure on either trigger would fire the gun. I’m saying this because all the inter-war Fairey’s I can bring to mind had only one forward firing gun – Fox, IIID, Fawn etc – yet the Fox photo shows a grip with two triggers.

That looks very like mine, but the firing levers are not clamped together.

Fairey markings

Rear

Firing levers clamped together is this typical?

BSA logo

I also have a B.S.A grip with part of the control column atached,
there are Fairey manufactures stamp on it(F8).
any ideas what it is from?

2306/35 BSA G4 AID 5J7. On the levers, BSA G3.

I’ll look it out and get the numbers tomorrow. Got photos somewhere in a big cardboard box full of other photos…..

Originally posted by Der
Would the numbers on it give any clue?

Possibly, but i’m not sure who made these early grips – a pic wouldbe nice if you can get one 😉

Please let us have the numbers

Would the numbers on it give any clue?

Originally posted by Der
Thanks for all that Al.
How would I know if it was from a Hawker? Is it possible to narrow it down at all?

That type was also used on the Westland Wapiti

Originally posted by 682al
Hi Der,

I’m not a complete expert on pre-war Hawkers but I don’t think they all had brakes anyway. I have an A.P. for the Hart and it does not refer to brakes. There is an appendix on the Hart (Special) and this had Palmer wheel brakes which were operated from the rudder pedals.

As far as I’m aware (and I stand to be corrected), the levers on the BSA grips were always for operating guns.

Regards!

Al

Thanks for all that Al.
How would I know if it was from a Hawker? Is it possible to narrow it down at all?

While we are on the subject of spade grips… I am desparately seeking an early AH2040 Hurricane spade gip – the type with ‘Dunlop patent’ embossed on it.

If anyone has one, or knows of one that may be bought or traded i’d be very pleased to hear from you )you will without a doubt make it onto my Christmas card list!) 😀

Hi Der,

I’m not a complete expert on pre-war Hawkers but I don’t think they all had brakes anyway. I have an A.P. for the Hart and it does not refer to brakes. There is an appendix on the Hart (Special) and this had Palmer wheel brakes which were operated from the rudder pedals.

As far as I’m aware (and I stand to be corrected), the levers on the BSA grips were always for operating guns.

Regards!

Al

Yup, its BSA with 2 levers. I thought they were for brakes?

If it’s the stainless steel version, as made by BSA, with one or two gun firing triggers in the centre of the ring, I would expect it to go for anything from £200 – 450, depending on condition, provenance etc. If it is a complete column, then it would be worth more. And if it genuinely is from a Hawker, you might find that nice Mr. G. Black comes knocking on your door!