mark_pilkington
July 5, 2007 at 1:04 pm

Sopwith pup wind generator? or…..

This item is on ebay,

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/WW1-AEROPLANE-WIND-SPEED-INDICATOR-AND-PROPELLOR-RARE_W0QQitemZ120138853493QQihZ002QQcategoryZ13974QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

is it a Sopwith Pup wind generator or ……

my best guesses?
1.a commercial refridgeration fan and motor from the 1930’s??
2. ceiling fan from the ballroom on the Titanic??

the seller states it has ” ‘IMPORTANT FILL WITH NON FREEZING GUN OIL BEFORE EACH FLIGHT.” written on a brass plate

so it does apparantly has some aeronautical link,

so over to the rest of you smiles.

Regards

Mark Pilkington

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By: 682al - 5th July 2007 at 17:54

I was going to suggest it was an air pump that would have pressurised the fuel tank

Which is what I would have typed if I had stopped to think before posting!

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By: pogno - 5th July 2007 at 17:16

I was going to suggest it was an air pump that would have pressurised the fuel tank, but the bit about filling with none freezing oil might indicate another use. Unless the oil was just to lube the pump.
Most had wooden propellers which were set fairly fine.

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By: 682al - 5th July 2007 at 16:01

Can’t really make out too much detail, but fuel pump, maybe?

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By: MerlinPete - 5th July 2007 at 15:56

I wondered about this one as well Mark.
I would say it is a compressor if it is wind-driven, but the blades look as if they are almost “feathered”, which is strange.
If it`s a vacuum pump it would be an alternative to the old venturi you see on the side of DH rapides etc. (total guess!)

Pete