As part of my aviation memorbilla collection I have the attached three instruments. I believe that these were early airliner passenger cabin instruments similar to the drop down TV displays we now have on the modern airliners. I obtained these instruments on different occasions at vaious aerojumbles and wondered if anyone out there has knowledge of what type of aircraft or airline they would have came from or if indeed they were restricted to cabins occupied by first class passengers or economy class etc..
1) The first instrument is a Smith’s speed indicator 0-400 mph. The rear of the instrument sates “For use in passenger compartments only”
2) The second instrument is a Smith’s height indicator 0-35,000 feet, the rear of the instrument has a service date of 1948.
3) The third instrument is a Smith’s cabin clock, BOAC service label dated 1950. (Obviously the airline is known on this one)
All three instruments are the size of a saucer plate and were purchased seperatley therefore unconnected. Many Thanks in anticipation of your help!
By: Richard Crapp - 30th October 2011 at 23:06
I am looking for instrument faces for a 1929 Westland Wessex model I am building at 1/5. It’s an 6 passenger, 3 engine airliner, not a helicopter!
I have this sketch from Flight archives of the cabin with passenger instruments such as you are talking about and the sketch of the cockpit with the side engine instruments by the plots head.
All will be quite big at the 1/5 scale so i would like to get even the makers name correct.
Any info much appreciated
By: Richard Crapp - 30th October 2011 at 23:06
I am looking for instrument faces for a 1929 Westland Wessex model I am building at 1/5. It’s an 6 passenger, 3 engine airliner, not a helicopter!
I have this sketch from Flight archives of the cabin with passenger instruments such as you are talking about and the sketch of the cockpit with the side engine instruments by the plots head.
All will be quite big at the 1/5 scale so i would like to get even the makers name correct.
Any info much appreciated
By: Bruce - 14th March 2010 at 20:39
I’ve got one or two of these too – I had thought they were test instruments!
Bruce
By: FLY.BUY - 14th March 2010 at 19:51
Yes interior shots are rather scarce, I was aware that most early British airliners were equipped with passenger cabin instruments, just wondered what particular aircraft these could have come out of, obviously post war therefore Imperial Airways would have ceased and BOAC would have been in operation,
1948 passenger aircraft would have been the Avro Lancastrian, Consolidated Liberator, Handley Page Halton, Avro York and Lockheed Constellation. The Boeing Stratocruiser arrived later in 1949.
My guess maybe from a 400mph speed guage would be the Connie which was perhaps the only aircraft out of this bunch to reach some sort of decent speed. This is obviously pure speculation on my part.
Nice to compare these instruments to the modern day back of the seat TV and audio screens!
By: Pondskater - 14th March 2010 at 19:07
Not from a Short Kent flying boat (which flew much slower and lower):
Not very helpful I know but these sort of interior shots are a little scarce.
AllanK
By: Resmoroh - 14th March 2010 at 17:21
Response Delay
FLY.BUY, Hi,
You are about 4 years previous in your hope for a reply!
Outwith the aviation world, I posted several statements and requests on a number of geneaological sites in 2000 and 2001. There was no reply – so be it!!
Within the last 72 hrs I have had responses from (a) Australia, and (b) N America to those very same requests!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seems you have to place a request on a Forum and then wait 10 years for a response. We should live so long!!!!!!!!
HTH
Resmoroh
By: FLY.BUY - 14th March 2010 at 17:08
As 6 years have past since I started this thread I hope you don’t mind me bumping it back online again incase anyone has any knowledge or information on these….
By: FLY.BUY - 1st November 2004 at 15:37
2nd time around…
Hi, just wanted to post this second time around again just in case anyone has any information. Apologises if you have already read it.
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June 15, 2004 at 8:12 pm