Folks, I wonder if anyone can help. I have come across two metal castings which have been in the family for some time and I am told that they are the “hub caps” of a Spitfire. Can anybody help me verify whether this is likely or just family myth.
Each have two stamps which have the letters DHB inside a diamond shape. There are numbers below the BHB but the only ones which are still vivible are 394 one one and 732 on the other.
The first “hub cap” also has the numbers 1BT244 on the edge. The second has 1BU710 in the corresponding location.
Both have P40107/A/1 stamped into the crown.
Can anybody shed any light into what I might be looking at.
thanks
By: Arabella-Cox - 1st July 2013 at 17:44
If the nut is to fit the SBAC-60-splined H.S./de-H props then it’s got to be Hercules/Centaurus, Sabre size of engine (choose your own aircraft). Too big for the (50-spline) Spitfire,Lanc,Mossie etc., so nothing to do with Spitfire wheels or engines – or Rolls-Royce.
Anon.
By: teebowbusablast - 1st July 2013 at 09:22
Oddly enough I’ve got one of these too ! It had been at my in’laws for years, they were told ir was froma Rolls Royce, and assumed wrongly that it was a wheel nut.
Now I know exactly what it is !
http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u348/tezzer_02/Big%20nut/071_zpsdf2ad429.jpg
By: Cees Broere - 8th December 2006 at 07:40
The Hercules powered Lancasters used Rotol propellors, so that rules them out I think.:)
Cheers
Cees
By: Creaking Door - 7th December 2006 at 23:35
As already stated this is a retaining nut from a de Havilland (Hamilton licence) hydromatic propeller.
This nut (P40107/A/1) was used on the Bristol Hercules engines of Short Stirlings.
Possibly also used on Bristol Hercules Halifax (or Lancaster) but not sure if it was used on any Merlin engined aircraft fitted with this propeller.
WA$.
By: Bruce - 7th December 2006 at 20:35
Yes, possibly Gypsy Queen. DHB would work for that.
Bruce
By: H.M.S Vulture - 7th December 2006 at 20:22
Thanks for the reply. I have attached a few pictures of one of the “hub caps”
[ATTACH]148626[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]148627[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]148628[/ATTACH]
hope somone can help identify what they are.
thanks
Hydromatic propeller retaining nut(The nut that keeps the prop attached to the engine).
By: mike currill - 7th December 2006 at 18:39
I don’t know about hub caps, try wheel nuts.
By: olivermark - 7th December 2006 at 18:33
Thanks for the reply. I have attached a few pictures of one of the “hub caps”
[ATTACH]148626[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]148627[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]148628[/ATTACH]
hope somone can help identify what they are.
thanks
By: Bruce - 7th December 2006 at 08:03
The DHB is the inspectors stamp for de Havilland at Broughton, Chester.
The part numbers are wrong for a de Havilland aircraft however.
Post a picture and I am sure someone will identify them!
Bruce
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December 7, 2006 at 2:51 am