Could anyone possibly help - Wooden Spitfire Prop Blade Identification/ Provenance - anything at all I'd be so grateful (1 Viewer)

[AndyGilchrist]

On the pics below

Spit 1 - Looks like RA 375 (or 373)
Spit 1 - 19..
Spit 2 - Original wood, brass band on leading edge
Spit 4 serial numbers, I think the last number on the lower one is a partial 5
Spit 3 - 19805

Anybody know anybody who might get me started? Such a beautiful thing

 

[Wurger]

Judging by the numbers it is a Rotol RA10130 blade used for Spitfire Mk. XIV/XVIII/XIX or PR.XIX. It was used with the Rotol type R19/5F5/1, left-hand, 5 blade , constant speed prop of the diameter 10ft 5 ins. The prop blade could be of the RTS/JCS/JT or HCS covering. IMHO it could be the Rotol RA10130/RTS. Unfortunately the covering is off.
The ?27866? number looks like it could be J27866? and is the manufacturer serial that would indicate the F. Hills & Son Limited factory. Also it could start with the H letter. In the case it would be the Hordern-Richmond plant.

 

[Engineman]

Great reply Wurger!
A very nice blade, is approx date of manufacture possible from the serial number?

Eng

 

[Wurger]

Great reply Wurger!
A very nice blade, is approx date of manufacture possible from the serial number?

Eng

I'm not sure but the Rotol R19/5F5/1 prop seems to be started using from December 1944 and after that. So it might be the 1944/1945 date. Perhaps G Geoffrey Sinclair could shed some light.

 

[Wurger]

And the RA10130/RTS prop blade.

the pic source: the net.

 

[SaparotRob]

Judging by the numbers it is a Rotol RA10130 blade used for Spitfire Mk. XIV/XVIII/XIX or PR.XIX. It was used with the Rotol type R19/5F5/1, left-hand, 5 blade , constant speed prop of the diameter 10ft 5 ins. The prop blade could be of the RTS/JCS/JT or HCS covering. IMHO it could be the Rotol RA10130/RTS. Unfortunately the covering is off.
The ?27866? number looks like it could be J27866? and is the manufacturer serial that would indicate the F. Hills & Son Limited factory. Also it could start with the H letter. In the case it would be the Hordern-Richmond plant.

Always impressive.

 

[Flite-Metal]

Propeller blade identification

 

[AndyGilchrist]

Judging by the numbers it is a Rotol RA10130 blade used for Spitfire Mk. XIV/XVIII/XIX or PR.XIX. It was used with the Rotol type R19/5F5/1, left-hand, 5 blade , constant speed prop of the diameter 10ft 5 ins. The prop blade could be of the RTS/JCS/JT or HCS covering. IMHO it could be the Rotol RA10130/RTS. Unfortunately the covering is off.
The ?27866? number looks like it could be J27866? and is the manufacturer serial that would indicate the F. Hills & Son Limited factory. Also it could start with the H letter. In the case it would be the Hordern-Richmond plant.

Hi Wurger, that is some skill and knowledge you have sir - a really impressive and generous reply. Huge thanks and gratitude.

I mistakenly thought it was a Mk I original because of the wooden form. I had no idea the cover had been taken off.

I'm going to pop down to storage and take a good look/ new photos soon to see if there's anything else I missed that could add. I also have (somewhere) a lovely piece about my grandfather - Dr George Gilchrist and his exploits. I can find the 1933 presser saying he'd moved to Medical but not the exploits he got up to. I need to find it but the gist was he flew [planes] in heroic and fairly bonkers conditions, despite not actually being a pilot (was a doctor) and yet apparently landing on various rough old temporary strips to do [something]. I believe he was mentioned several times and up for a gong but was denied it because it would have meant HQ admitting they were short pilots at the time and they didn't want that sort of thing made public. I'll try to find it.

Also 27866? - the partial number ? Looks most like the start of a 5 zoomed in a bit.

Best wishes and with respect, Andrew

 

[AndyGilchrist]

Hi Wurger, that is some skill and knowledge you have sir - a really impressive and generous reply. Huge thanks and gratitude.

I mistakenly thought it was a Mk I original because of the wooden form. I had no idea the cover had been taken off.

I'm going to pop down to storage and take a good look/ new photos soon to see if there's anything else I missed that could add. I also have (somewhere) a lovely piece about my grandfather - Dr George Gilchrist and his exploits. I can find the 1933 presser saying he'd moved to Medical but not the exploits he got up to. I need to find it but the gist was he flew [planes] in heroic and fairly bonkers conditions, despite not actually being a pilot (was a doctor) and yet apparently landing on various rough old temporary strips to do [something]. I believe he was mentioned several times and up for a gong but was denied it because it would have meant HQ admitting they were short pilots at the time and they didn't want that sort of thing made public. I'll try to find it.

Also 27866? - the partial number ? Looks most like the start of a 5 zoomed in a bit.

Best wishes and with respect, Andrew

By the way my Grandfather was apparently presented this by RAF / colleagues at some point and I inherited it from my Dad. Dad's not around any more but I'll ask his brother Peter if he has any more info. Cheers all.

 

[Wurger]

Hi Wurger, that is some skill and knowledge you have sir - a really impressive and generous reply. Huge thanks and gratitude.

I mistakenly thought it was a Mk I original because of the wooden form. I had no idea the cover had been taken off.

I'm going to pop down to storage and take a good look/ new photos soon to see if there's anything else I missed that could add. I also have (somewhere) a lovely piece about my grandfather - Dr George Gilchrist and his exploits. I can find the 1933 presser saying he'd moved to Medical but not the exploits he got up to. I need to find it but the gist was he flew [planes] in heroic and fairly bonkers conditions, despite not actually being a pilot (was a doctor) and yet apparently landing on various rough old temporary strips to do [something]. I believe he was mentioned several times and up for a gong but was denied it because it would have meant HQ admitting they were short pilots at the time and they didn't want that sort of thing made public. I'll try to find it.

Also 27866? - the partial number ? Looks most like the start of a 5 zoomed in a bit.

Best wishes and with respect, Andrew

My pleasure. Glad I could help a little bit.

And yes the ?27866? is not the full serial. There is the lack of the initals of the manufacturer. For instance the J or JP what is the Jablo or Jablo Propeller Ltd, a propeller manufacturing company which was owned by Rotol also known as the F. Hills & Son Limited located in Manchester. And also there is a lack of the last digit. The "5" may be. The lacking is caused by the damages to the painted black wooden surface by the stand screws IMHO.
Anyway you may take a close up look at the blade metal root. There can be the factory id stamps pressed.

 

[AndyGilchrist]

My pleasure. Glad I could help a little bit.

And yes the ?27866? is not the full serial. There is the lack of the initals of the manufacturer. For instance the J or JP what is the Jablo or Jablo Propeller Ltd, a propeller manufacturing company which was owned by Rotol also known as the F. Hills & Son Limited located in Manchester. And also there is a lack of the last digit. The "5" may be. The lacking is caused by the damages to the painted black wooden surface by the stand screws IMHO.
Anyway you may take a close up look at the blade metal root. There can be the factory id stamps pressed.

Dzień dobry Wurger

I'll have a look at the metal root this week deffo.

19805 is stamped in one of the photos but I'm not sure if that's where you mean?

Dziękuję, Andrzei

(I learned a little Polish from my ex girlfriend Aniela Sasimowicz and her parents who lived in Shipley, Bradford.) Lovely people.

 

[Wurger]

There were different data pressed or engraved on the metal adaptor. Most of them indicated the parts for the prop hub eg. adaptor drawing number, adaptor batch number, salvaged adaptor drawing number. Also there could be the blade drawing number and the blade serial with indication of the rotation way, eg left-handed or right-one. Generally all data that allowed to say what parts for the prop hub should be attached there. Most of the numbers there had the RA and RS or SA, RW prefixes. Hence the RA 375 (or 373) there.

 

[Wurger]

Dzień dobry Wurger
Dziękuję, Andrzei

(I learned a little Polish from my ex girlfriend Aniela Sasimowicz and her parents who lived in Shipley, Bradford.) Lovely people.

Great. And it's very kind you use the Polish. If you are still in touch with them please give my best regards.

 

[AndyGilchrist]

Sorry folks I haven't had time to visit and see the blade where it's located just yet. I'll try tomorrow.

I'm trying to tighten up on the background because I may have to sell the blade. Extended redundancy and a very odd job market has put me and family in a difficult spot.

If you do know anyone who might be interested in acquiring this beauty please feel free to give them my profile details. Sad times, this was always my favourite thing in Granny and Grandpas house when I visited.

Regards to all, Andrew

 

[Wurger]

Andrew,

As an Admin I have to remind you that trading and advertising aren't allowed on the forum. For the purpose you should use one of the sites that are just created for that. For instans the eBay etc...

 

[AndyGilchrist]

Andrew,

As an Admin I have to remind you that trading and advertising aren't allowed on the forum. For the purpose you should use one of the sites that are just created for that. For instans the eBay etc...

Dear Wurger,

Of course. I sincerely apologise, I had not realised that trading and advertising were not permitted. You have been most gracious and kind with your information, so that last thing I'd want to do is misuse the site. It was an honest mistake, careless not deliberate, but still I want to say sorry to everyone. I'll take a bit more time to read the ground rules. I fully respect your site and assure you I'm interested in my grandfather's blade and history far more than any transaction.

Thank you for the guidance, Andrew