Hamilton Standard Hydromatic propeller - Australia

98octane · Feb 18, 2020

Hi all

I'm new here but have been browsing these forums for a few years. I've enjoyed reading and learning from the knowledge of the collective brainstrust here. I'm particularly interested in WW2-vintage propellers.

I've recently bought a Hamilton Standard Hydromatic 2-blade propeller in Australia. It looks like a 22D30 manufactured by De Havilland and maintained in Portsmouth, UK. It has ice boots too. Serial number DH13797. Photos attached.

From my research, I think it may have been from a Beechcraft Model 18, Cessna Bobcat or similar.

Can anyone confirm its identity and what aircraft it may be from?

Also - should I restore it, leave as is or find someone who needs this for their aircraft?

I previously restored a Hamilton Standard 2B20, including a full clean and polish, which stands proudly in my house. It's stunning. But this prop has decals, serial numbers and other historical detail which I don't want to ruin.

Thanks in advance

Luke

gumbyk · Feb 19, 2020

Well, going by those photos, I wouldn't bother finding someone who needs it for their aircraft, the blade corrosion looks pretty bad to me. And without any logbooks, it will need an overhaul at least.

If it were me, I'd give it a clean and treat the corrosion to prevent it getting any worse, then hang it on a wall somewhere.

98octane · Feb 19, 2020

Thanks Gumbyk, good point. I haven't seen it in person yet so not sure how bad the corrosion is. From experience, the blades can be sanded back and polished up to look incredible, but that would obviously require removing the stickers and de-ice boots. Which I'm ok with if this isn't a rare or unique prop that should be maintained in its current form.

Michael Hope · Feb 19, 2020

98octane said:
Hi all

I'm new here but have been browsing these forums for a few years. I've enjoyed reading and learning from the knowledge of the collective brainstrust here. I'm particularly interested in WW2-vintage propellers.

I've recently bought a Hamilton Standard Hydromatic 2-blade propeller in Australia. It looks like a 22D30 manufactured by De Havilland and maintained in Portsmouth, UK. It has ice boots too. Serial number DH13797. Photos attached.

From my research, I think it may have been from a Beechcraft Model 18, Cessna Bobcat or similar.

Can anyone confirm its identity and what aircraft it may be from?

Also - should I restore it, leave as is or find someone who needs this for their aircraft?

I previously restored a Hamilton Standard 2B20, including a full clean and polish, which stands proudly in my house. It's stunning. But this prop has decals, serial numbers and other historical detail which I don't want to ruin.

Thanks in advance

Luke

By looking at the direction of rotation, it is not from a Beech 18 or Cessna Bobcat with the original powerplants from North America.

In my opinion, with over 40 years of propeller service work and licenced to recertify, the corrosion on the blades would not be able to be removed and still be within airworthy limits.

Airframes · Feb 19, 2020

A pure guess on my part, concerning the possible aircraft type, but being a DH manufactured HS prop, it looks like the type fitted to the DH Dove.
With the Portsmouth connection, it may be from a Royal Navy DH Sea Devon, the naval name for the Military version of the Dove, the DH Devon.

gumbyk · Feb 19, 2020

Airframes said:
A pure guess on my part, concerning the possible aircraft type, but being a DH manufactured HS prop, it looks like the type fitted to the DH Dove.
With the Portsmouth connection, it may be from a Royal Navy DH Sea Devon, the naval name for the Military version of the Dove, the DH Devon.

Makes sense, since its got a spinner back plate on it. Could also be from a DH Heron.

98octane · Feb 19, 2020

The previous owner has told me it may have come from the Trans Australia Airline (TAA) as it came from someone who worked there decades ago before it merged with QANTAS.

So, the prop may be from a De Havilland Australia DHA-3 Drover. From Wikipedia:

de Havilland Australia DHA-3 Drover - Wikipedia

Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) briefly evaluated the prototype for a month in late 1950 and then received the first two of its eventual three new Drovers in 1952 (the third was delivered in 1956). TAA operated them on scheduled services in Queensland and as air ambulance aircraft, one of them as one of the six used by the RFDS. One aircraft crashed in January 1952 only five weeks after delivery and the other two were transferred to the RFDS in 1963 and 1964. The last main operators of new Drovers were the Australian Department of Health, which used two on outback aeromedical operations (one crashing in 1957); and Fiji Airways, which took delivery of two aircraft built for Qantas but refused by that company when the type's problems became apparent. The last aircraft built was delivered as a Mk. 2 to a private individual in July 1956.

98octane · Feb 20, 2020

Found these photos of DHA Drovers with what appear to be near identical props to the one I purchased. Including same paint scheme and de-ice boots.

Oldprops De Havilland Australia Drover

tommayer · Feb 20, 2020

98octane said:
Hi all

I'm new here but have been browsing these forums for a few years. I've enjoyed reading and learning from the knowledge of the collective brainstrust here. I'm particularly interested in WW2-vintage propellers.

I've recently bought a Hamilton Standard Hydromatic 2-blade propeller in Australia. It looks like a 22D30 manufactured by De Havilland and maintained in Portsmouth, UK. It has ice boots too. Serial number DH13797. Photos attached.

From my research, I think it may have been from a Beechcraft Model 18, Cessna Bobcat or similar.

Can anyone confirm its identity and what aircraft it may be from?

Also - should I restore it, leave as is or find someone who needs this for their aircraft?

I previously restored a Hamilton Standard 2B20, including a full clean and polish, which stands proudly in my house. It's stunning. But this prop has decals, serial numbers and other historical detail which I don't want to ruin.

Thanks in advance

Luke

tommayer · Feb 20, 2020

98octane said:
Hi all

I'm new here but have been browsing these forums for a few years. I've enjoyed reading and learning from the knowledge of the collective brainstrust here. I'm particularly interested in WW2-vintage propellers.

I've recently bought a Hamilton Standard Hydromatic 2-blade propeller in Australia. It looks like a 22D30 manufactured by De Havilland and maintained in Portsmouth, UK. It has ice boots too. Serial number DH13797. Photos attached.

From my research, I think it may have been from a Beechcraft Model 18, Cessna Bobcat or similar.

Can anyone confirm its identity and what aircraft it may be from?

Also - should I restore it, leave as is or find someone who needs this for their aircraft?

I previously restored a Hamilton Standard 2B20, including a full clean and polish, which stands proudly in my house. It's stunning. But this prop has decals, serial numbers and other historical detail which I don't want to ruin.

Thanks in advance

Luke

Maybe a 12D30? Memory may be failing me, but I think 2D30s had external counterweights that would have been visible in pics like those you post.

Michael Hope · Feb 20, 2020

tommayer said:
Maybe a 12D30? Memory may be failing me, but I think 2D30s had external counterweights that would have been visible in pics like those you post.

The 12D propellers were actually for a 40 spline with the external counterweights, so a 12D40, like used on the AT6 with the direct drive 1340 engine. The Hydromatic Propellers all started with a "2" like 22D30 as mentioned, or 23E50, and then later they added a "3" and "4" series Hydromatic, like 33E50, 43D60.

98octane · Feb 20, 2020

Thanks guys. I have a counterweight 2B20 prop already, so pretty sure it's not that. I think this one was from a De Havilland Dove or perhaps CAC Whackett.

Michael Hope · Feb 21, 2020

98octane said:
Thanks guys. I have a counterweight 2B20 prop already, so pretty sure it's not that. I think this one was from a De Havilland Dove or perhaps CAC Whackett.

Nice looking propeller. From the pictures it looks like it is a pusher type propeller base on what I see as the blade installation and left hand rotation, if the images are not reversed.

MiTasol · Feb 21, 2020

It is not from a Wackett, they had bracket props.
It is not from a Drover. They had Fairey Reed or ground adjustable DH props, not hydromatics.
I would go with Dove or Heron or their military counterparts.
As a long shot the Auster Agricola or Percival EP9 ag aircraft were used in Australia. I would try finding a Janes AWA from the late 40s or early 50s and see what those types had for props.

98octane · Feb 21, 2020

Michael Hope said:
Nice looking propeller. From the pictures it looks like it is a pusher type propeller base on what I see as the blade installation and left hand rotation, if the images are not reversed.

Thanks. I took the prop apart and reversed the blades as the back sides were in better condition for show. So, it's meant to be right hand rotation.

98octane · Feb 21, 2020

MiTasol said:
It is not from a Wackett, they had bracket props.
It is not from a Drover. They had Fairey Reed or ground adjustable DH props, not hydromatics.
I would go with Dove or Heron or their military counterparts.
As a long shot the Auster Agricola or Percival EP9 ag aircraft were used in Australia. I would try finding a Janes AWA from the late 40s or early 50s and see what those types had for props.

Thanks. I agree my Hydromatic isn't from a Wackett. But the polished counterbalanced prop I have might be from one. Here the Wackett in the Alice Springs Ventral Aviation Museum, which looks like the same prop.

Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation CA-6 Wackett Trainer | Central Australian Aviation Museum

Michael Hope · Feb 22, 2020

98octane said:
Thanks. I took the prop apart and reversed the blades as the back sides were in better condition for show. So, it's meant to be right hand rotation.

If you compare the location of the weights on the brackets between your Nicely polished propeller and the CA-6, they are on opposite sides of the cylinder. The side that the brackets attached to the cylinder determine the direction of rotation. The CA-6 is a right hand rotation propeller.

98octane · Jun 19, 2021

Hi everyone, I did buy the de Havilland prop and am finally getting around to cleaning it up.

I can't work out how to take the dome retaining nut off the dome (brass ring in the attached photos). I've unscrewed every screw I can find, but it still doesn't slide off even with force.

From old drawings of similar Hamilton Standard dome assemblies, it appears there may be ball bearings holding the dome retaining nut to the dome. Is this right?

I found this website useful, but doesn't answer my specific problem! de Havilland Propellers

Does anyone know how I can remove it?

Thanks in advance.

98octane · Jun 19, 2021

98octane said:
Hi everyone, I did buy the de Havilland prop and am finally getting around to cleaning it up.

I can't work out how to take the dome retaining nut off the dome (brass ring in the attached photos). I've unscrewed every screw I can find, but it still doesn't slide off even with force.

From old drawings of similar Hamilton Standard dome assemblies, it appears there may be ball bearings holding the dome retaining nut to the dome. Is this right?

I found this website useful, but doesn't answer my specific problem! de Havilland Propellers

Does anyone know how I can remove it?

Thanks in advance.

I found this overhaul manual for Hamilton Standard hydromatic propellers. https://aviatechno.net/files/hamilton_43E60.pdf

Pages 22-23 show the retaining nut is kept in place by balls, items 12 and 13. It says there's a "retaining welch plug" which can be pulled out to remove the balls, by rotating the ring.

In my prop, there is a single hole filled with some sort of metal, which may be the welch plug. It is recessed and has no way of pulling it out. I was thinking of drilling it out.

Thoughts?

MiTasol · Jun 19, 2021

The welch plug is 6-8mm diameter and about the centre of the thread from memory. I cannot remember how to remove it (last time I did that was 1963). Drilling will possibly damage the balls below it and introduce debris into the ball race. There are others here who currently overhaul these props so hopefully one of them can answer.

Hamilton Standard Hydromatic propeller - Australia

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