R-R Griffon engine roller bearing 36HH/11846

After an hour or so browsing in The National Archives, all has become clear. Common to the 60 Series and 74 Griffon:-

[ATTACH=CONFIG]245849[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]245850[/ATTACH]

Would this be for a short Griffon like in a Seafire 15 /17 or maybe a Spitfire Mk 12?

Those engines are pretty few and far between I believe.

Andy

Many thanks for taking the time to check, Rich. Early Griffon it is then, I think.

Thanks also to those who have enquired, I’ll be in touch.

Anon, I think those “rusty” bearings were another type altogether. I fancy these are quite a bit bigger. Handy if you’re planning to wood turn a V2 as a next project?

Thanks Rich,

If time permits, I’ll open one up.

I’ve a feeling though that this bearing, because of where it came from, will be more likely to be found on an early Griffon variant rather than a later one. I’m thinking Seafire, Firefly or Baccaruda, etc.

Still, you never know, there must have been some interchangeability of parts from version to version.

You are probably correct in the assumption that it for an early Griffon, that part number doesn’t appear in the parts list I have for the Griffon 57A
Regards, Rich.

I had a few (slightly rusty ones) of these from you several years ago, AM. They came in very useful – but not for the purpose for which they were originally intended!

Two were used to make bearing supports to allow our V1 project fuselage sections to be spun for finishing.

Almost the best fiver I ever spent with you!.

Anon.

Give it a bit of grease and wrap it up.

The Ministry did that a few years back, p+p!

Here’s a pic of one of the bearings. For those who have enquired, the count is up to 16, all bar two still in unopened packages. The inner ring is stamped F.R.1110? And how cool is that, finding a 50p piece in the wrapper!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]245731[/ATTACH]

That’s a fantastic way of looking at things powerandpassion, a man after my own heart.

Treasure.
Hoffman, as Hoffman that makes bearings, don’t exist anymore. Somebody will be very thankful for it, in time. Give it a bit of grease and wrap it up. I am analysing bearings from 1930’s aero engines and somebody threw them all out in the 1960’s. Very expensive to make today. Also most of them are specials, so you will find a catalogue reference confirming it is a ‘Special’ but no information on what makes it different to a standard bearing, for which dimensions are available. Sometimes the inner race is imperial and the outer race is metric. Sometimes the outer race has a few thou shaved off to fit a particular casing configuration. Sometimes the metallurgy is different. So if you have a bearing that can confirm this type of information, with a serial that concurs with a parts list, in a packet that confirms with a parts schedule, you have a library in your hands.
‘Every time an old man dies a library burns’
‘Every time a bearing gets thrown out a library burns.’

If bearings are a burden I will adopt them, grease them up, place them on little velvet cushions, and pass the information on.
Ed

Thanks Rich,

If time permits, I’ll open one up.

I’ve a feeling though that this bearing, because of where it came from, will be more likely to be found on an early Griffon variant rather than a later one. I’m thinking Seafire, Firefly or Baccaruda, etc.

Still, you never know, there must have been some interchangeability of parts from version to version.

Hi Air Ministry,

Any chance of a photo? I can ask the Coventry Shack team if its something they need. I know a few years back we were desperate for certain bearings.

Kind regards
Rich