Was my prop censored out?

Look on the wing (and read the rest of the thread!)

Aha, got it

Thanks Eddie (I think)

Richard

And the tip markings…..

Any clues as to the origin of this one? Probably German, WW1.

OK – so no connection with my first flight in 1935………..shame!!

Any use to anyone??

= Tim

As far as the Rapide is concerned, apparently restored aircraft at least have what look like metal props (thinner, more twist):

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Scottish-Airways-(David/De-Havilland-DH-89A/2017383/L/&sid=b915684b9d5b9d2e6c2a91cf14b32e7e

Look on the wing (and read the rest of the thread!)

I would suggest that it’s a WWI dynamo drive – see this photo of the Bristol Fighter at Duxford:

Not dynamo – fuel pump

Richard

Prop i/d

We seem to pretty much agree that it is a dynamo prop. It will be sized to a dynamo designed to provide a certain power output, not for any particular type of aircraft.

I only suggested Rapide as that is what it looks about right for to me.

So, there you are, Tim: an air-driven dynamo prop, probably made by Watts.

If an expert out there can refine the guesswork a little or come up with a definitive answer then all the better.

Hope this helps.

Anon.

Why do you ‘scrap props’, Tony??

Because not all people in the world are honest, I have scrapped props that fail NDT crack checks on the hubs, are beyond limits on their blade thickness, have been bent on a prop strike on grass and are bent out of limits, I even had one with exfoliation corrosion in it that was less than a month old, because of the high value, some people having obtained such blades through the likes of ebay will illegally sell them on as servicable after having the blades straightened etc….. Therefore I obliterate the serials and part numbers with xxxxxxx stamp into the hub scrap, and some times cut through the hub on one blade hole to try and stop it happening. Wooden ones can be moisture content of de laminating etc.. CAA would prefer you saw them off, but you ever tried doing it.
I remember a set of Sioux helicopter blades being found in the USA that were I think cheaper Hiller items that had a added few feet butt glued on the end! Not even attempted to scarfe it in, simply glued on…. That to me would be murder, the crook selling those.
Remember GW1 and the BA 747 burnt out in Kuwait City, BA had the remains removed and destroyed to find later a genuine enquiry from a US company that was about to buy a set of ex BA fan blades with paperwork that when BA checked the numbers they were off the burnt out aircraft and “should” have been scrapped….thank god the US company checked….. It unfortunately is a fact of life, where there is money to be made there are crooks.

I knew I should have pointed out that I was talking about the dynamo on the Bristol Fighter, not the Rotherham pump (it’s the same aircraft in both photos, and the same dynamo!).

I’m not convinced that the one on the Bristol Fighter is smaller – see: http://woodenpropeller.com/Generators.html -these are 15″, so essentially the same as Tim’s.

Prop i/d

The W may signify Watts followed by the manufacturer’s part number.

OK, dynamo or whatever, it’s from an old biplane. The one on the Brisfit isn’t actually a dynamo, it’s a pump – fuel, or air – and it is much smaller, as is the one driving the dynamo in the second photo.

Tim’s prop is a big ‘un, I still think it’s from an aircraft which would have had a sizeable electrical load (for the time) such as the Rapide.

The Auster had one, too, though that was quite small in comparison as well.

I’ll have a Google.

Anon.

Why do you ‘scrap props’, Tony??

I had hoped it might have some connection with the Hinds of XV Squadron & my Uncle.

= Tim

Tim, when I scrap a prop, I over punch the letters and numbers with xxxxxxx to prevent it making its way back into service in the future.

PROP NO W 247

Is ‘W?247’ an RAF serial number?

Doubtful, but you never know?

Probably off an air-driven generator such as that found on the upper wing of a de-H Rapide.

I would suggest that it’s a WWI dynamo drive – see this photo of the Bristol Fighter at Duxford:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/data70/6386310683/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Edit: Or there’s an even better picture right from this forum – and the markings seem to be similar:
http://forum.keypublishing.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=202770&d=1327336259

Prop

Drogue winch? – No, too small.

Probably off an air-driven generator such as that found on the upper wing of a de-H Rapide.

Anon.

40 cm.

So, it’s off a………………….drogue winch??

= Tim

Looks a little small for a Hurricane! 😀