Identity of control column at Baldonnel

Thanks John, we hope to clean it up, recover the grip and put it on display.
Tony K

I would be fairly confident that it is. I wish that you still had one. BTW the Hector only had one forwards gun.

John

Thanks again gentlemen all of this has been a great help.
Had a check in the photo section and the chaps there dug this one out. It is from an Avro 636 as I mentioned the Air Corps had four of them from the mid thirties to early forties. It looks very like it to me, what do you think.
Regards
Tony K

I think that you must be referring to the possibility of electrolytic attack in the presence of an electrolyte ? As there isn’t an electrolyte or, doesn’t appear to be, is this still a possibility ?

I think that a sacrificial anode will do nothing to protect this artefact. If it is not likely to be put back into use because of suspicions regarding its integrity then, for display purposes I would make up a quantity of grp resin and apply a flow coat.

Bulldog grip

Here is a definite Bristol Bulldog grip, but, as previously posted, these seem to be generic to 1918 – 1930 single seat aircraft. What I find most fascinating about these grips is the metallurgy. It appears they were (most likely) forged from an early type of silicon aluminium, prone to reverting to its native bauxite. The grip in the picture has sat on a shelf inside for 80 odd years. The timber is in excellent nick, the silk (?) rope is sound as are the stainless triggers, but the aluminium seems to be inexplicably crumbling away into dust. It was not until the late 20’s when the German development of aluminium copper alloy Duralumin rapidly superseded silicon aluminium alloys, on strength factors, that more resiliant products, in a historical sense, developed.

I understand that silicon aluminium alloys had advantages in casting, including lower cost, and these alloys persist in certain applications. Most particularly 1930 – 1950 British motorbike gearbox and engine castings are notorious for crumbling away. I have seen WW2 aircraft engine accessories such as magnetos and fuel pumps, some which remain ‘shiny’, some which are furry, implying silicon aluminium. So it seems that under wartime pressures different subcontractors used what materials and practices were at hand to perform their work, which would never be judged on longevity over decades. Bad luck today if your magneto casting came from a motorbike casting shop !

I believe there is nothing you can do to stop this crumbling away. Probably the stainless triggers are a composition which acts as a cathode to the sacrificial anode of the grip, giving it another kick in the guts. Maybe wind a little magnesium wire around the aluminium under the rope to act as a replaceable sacrificial anode. I don’t think you can rely on silicon aluminium as a structural member, so I will not put this spade grip in my Bulldog… conservators at a major museum may advise on options such as impregnating the grip with wax or resin to ‘glue’ its structure together for long term display purposes.

It is a wonderful piece. There is nothing quite like a spadegrip to connect you back in time to aviators now only flying on misty moonlit evenings, far, far away.

Gentlemen, many thanks for your help very much appreciated.
Windhover, it looks very like it indeed.
Andy, we do not notice any crank to the pole (except us cranks who were looking at it!)
David and sopwith, the Air Corps did operate Hectors and earlier on the Martinsyde F4 and Bristol fighter but I thought that the Hector had a firing ring button on the grip.
John Aeroclub, the Air Corps had four Avro 636 Fighter trainers which was why I mentioned a possible Avro connection. It looks like the Avro 636
Thanks again
Tony K

Avro 636 Fighter trainer. These had twin guns fitted. and there’s a picture of one behind the column.

John

Not 100% certain, but the Martinsyde F4 & late type Bristol F2b had same/similar grips.

Bob T.

Hawker Hector?

If it is Bristol Bulldog the there should be a slight ‘crank’ to the pole and it is stamped up with the Bristol Aeroplane mark – just BA as I recall? I used to have the one that is now in the RAFM Bulldog.

It’s an early (20’s-30’s biplane fighter… possibly a Bristol Bulldog.)
The angled buttress below the yoke ring would have held a pair of bowden cable-operated trigger paddles.

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