I was going through some boxes and came across these two British aircraft instruments. Both have the crown insignia above the “AM” on the backs of the cases. Outside rim of both faces, appear to be 9cm diameter.
The R.O.C. : Front face in raised black on black numbers marked “MARK 18”
On back it is marked in raised numbers, “REF. No 8A 942” “PATENT No. 388514 492563” and print-stamped in white, “KDG7.”
The Airspeed is Marked on front face, “MARK IX (C?)” and “SS&S LONDON” and “SR40” below the “tens of KNOTS” line.
Both appear to be in excellent condition, the Airspeed possibly overhauled as it has shiny crimped protective sealing tubes over the P&S fittings.
Anyone up for the puzzle/challenge of the day?
By: radarsdesk - 20th April 2007 at 22:17
Hi Martin,
There is no manufacturer’s p/n listed against 6A/942 but there are the following manufacturer’s listed for spares for the Mk1B* RoC, they are: Kelvin,Bottomley and Baird: Korrect Depth Gauge Co and Smith’s Aircraft Instruments Ltd.
The spares listed are mainly bezels and glasses with more listed for the Smiths item than the others.
The info is taken from AP1086 Vocabulary of RAF Equipment, Book 7 Section 6A, Aircraft engine and flying instruments, accessories and unit servicing spares dated 1950. Another copy of section 6A I have dated 1966 does not list the item.
Regards
Dave
By: wieesso - 20th April 2007 at 21:51
Hi there,
AP1086 Book 7 Section 6A AL18 dated 31st Jan 1950 extract is attached as image, hopefully should provide a bit more info
Regards
Dave
Dave, which manufacturer is this?
Martin
By: radarsdesk - 20th April 2007 at 20:27
Further Info
Hi there,
AP1086 Book 7 Section 6A AL18 dated 31st Jan 1950 extract is attached as image, hopefully should provide a bit more info
Regards
Dave
By: low'n'slow - 20th April 2007 at 17:37
A similar ASI was fitted in Luton Minor G-AFIR. A bit irrelevant really as the calibrations only start at 50, which was the aeroplane’s cruising speed! 😀
By: barnstormer - 20th April 2007 at 17:23
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Your information increases my enjoyment of these two instruments, considerably.
As to the “should read” corrections of my typed information, it raises a distressing alarm in the realities of getting “older.” I actually gathered the information marked on the instruments, using BOTH my eyeglasses AND a magnifying glass! And STILL got some markings wrong. 😮
So I suppose it is a little too late to go down to the scrap yard, buy some aluminum sheets and start buillding a Sunderland “restoration” around my Airspeed. 😉
These items are always available for trade for almost ANY interesting WWI aero bits-which is more my area of interest. Feel free to enjoy a sampling of images of them on my webisite, as per in my signature, below. Meanwhile, I can now smile more broadly (as if I’m part of the “club”) when I visit Kermit’s Sunderland, which is “only” a seven hours drive. Thanks, Mates.
By: 682al - 19th April 2007 at 08:21
The R.O.C. : Front face in raised black on black numbers marked “MARK 18”
On back it is marked in raised numbers, “REF. No 8A 942” “PATENT No. 388514 492563” and print-stamped in white, “KDG7.”
Should read:-
The R.O.C. : Front face in raised black on black numbers marked “MARK 1B”
On back it is marked in raised numbers, “REF. No 6A 942.”
The Airspeed is Marked on front face, “MARK IX (C?)”
Should read:-
The Airspeed is Marked on front face, “MARK IXC*”, the apostrophe indicating that it reads in Knots. I suggest it is earlier than 1944, possibly pre-war. There appears to be a date after the serial no. on the front face but I can’t quite make it out (just to the right of “Mk. IXC*”).
As the R.o.C. is marked “UP” rather than “Climb/Descent”, it might have been for the F.A.A., who seem to have preferred this face. That the A.S.I. is in Knots, might tie in with this.
I have seen the A.S.I. in Swordfish and Walrus (F.A.A.) and Sunderland.
They are a nice find!
By: wieesso - 18th April 2007 at 19:51
‘SS&S London’
The Airspeed Indicator is manufactured by S. Smith & Sons in Cricklewood (London).
I guess after 1944 and before 1950.
1944 they changed the name from S. Smith & Sons (Motor Accessories) to S. Smith & Sons (England) Ltd. and Smiths Aircraft Instruments Ltd.
I have aircraft instruments from the fifties with only ‘Smiths’ on the face and the type label.
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April 18, 2007 at 6:35 pm