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Thank you....I have no clue but they're beautiful.
Because?The upper photos are of a Rotol blade.
Because why?Because?
Thank you very much for your insight on them I do appreciate..The markings on the adaptor are arranged in a manner used on Rotol props, and/or props made for Rotol (I think this one was made by Hordern-Richmond).
Also, the blade planform is distinctive to Rotol props used on some of the RAF/FAA late-war 3-blade and most(?) of the 4- and 5-blade props at the end of WWII and post-war.
Example of a Seafire Mk III with the same blade planform:
View attachment 727999
Sorry, but I do not have time to look at my specific prop marking lists right now. They are in my storage locker.
As memo serves there should be the DRG number at the bottom of the hub. The RA9918 is the drawing number of the adaptor. I don't remeber the meaning of the PB113 but the Spitfire had there PB81.
Additionally the brass sheating is for all the blade leading edge length so it is not from Spitfire rather. IMHO it could be of the Hurricane.
Thank you very much very interesting.... Appreciate the information....From someone with an interest in WWII propellers, quote
"I had a look at my info, although I cant guarantee that I did a 100% check as until I fully migrate to my new p.c. I will continue to have search issues.
The single blade is clearly Rotol. Many markings/inspection stamps but nothing that is conclusive. It is not a silly question to ask whether or not there are any markings stamped/etched on the base.
Left hand rotation effectively means used on Bristol engine Hercules/Centaurus , Griffon or Sabre.
Blade height may help with identification.
The poster who suggested Horden Richmond may be correct in that the H stamp and number following may designate a Hydulignum blade. If so, I think that is more likely to be the blade drawing number although officially, these blades were coded HR. As far as I know, Rotol then applied a different blade number prefixed R.A. Alternatively, it could be a Jablo blade as I have seen other stripped blades with a similar look.
X4 may signify a 4 blade prop.
Probably late or early post-war
I have not seen any blade number with a number similar to RA 9918. This may well be the Blade Assembly Diagram number.
For example the Spitfire Mk22/24 had R.A. 10129 blades and other wood blades of the late 1940's were similarly numbered..
The second blade is I afraid outside my area of relative comfort and I have no useful comment to make."
End quote.
The measurements in the attached foto's are in cm blade length and width if this could be of assistance... Thank you.From someone with an interest in WWII propellers, quote
"I had a look at my info, although I cant guarantee that I did a 100% check as until I fully migrate to my new p.c. I will continue to have search issues.
The single blade is clearly Rotol. Many markings/inspection stamps but nothing that is conclusive. It is not a silly question to ask whether or not there are any markings stamped/etched on the base.
Left hand rotation effectively means used on Bristol engine Hercules/Centaurus , Griffon or Sabre.
Blade height may help with identification.
The poster who suggested Horden Richmond may be correct in that the H stamp and number following may designate a Hydulignum blade. If so, I think that is more likely to be the blade drawing number although officially, these blades were coded HR. As far as I know, Rotol then applied a different blade number prefixed R.A. Alternatively, it could be a Jablo blade as I have seen other stripped blades with a similar look.
X4 may signify a 4 blade prop.
Probably late or early post-war
I have not seen any blade number with a number similar to RA 9918. This may well be the Blade Assembly Diagram number.
For example the Spitfire Mk22/24 had R.A. 10129 blades and other wood blades of the late 1940's were similarly numbered..
The second blade is I afraid outside my area of relative comfort and I have no useful comment to make."
End quote.
Thank you very much....Missed this the first time through - the RAL stamp is a makers mark for Rotol Airscrews Limited.
View attachment 728287
The blade is probably not from a Spitfire mark XIV, XVII or XIX, as it is appears to be for a Merlin engine due to direction of rotation, not the opposite rotation for the Griffon engine those Spitfires used.At 4'11" - 5' 0" (59"- 60") long it is almost certainly from a Spitfire or Seafire. Although I cannot say 100% for sure, I do not think that there were any other Allied aircraft that used a Rotol blade that short on a 4- or 5-blade prop. The early- to late-war Spitfire/Seafire had too little clearance to use a larger diameter prop. IIRC it was not until the very late Spitfire/Seafire that the prop blade length went over about 5' 3".
I think the A over 5 in a circle indicates this blade is the 'master' from a 5-blade prop, probably from a Mk XIV, XVIII, or XIX. The 'master' blade was the blade to which all other blades were matched for balancing of the propeller, and was indicated with the letter A. It is probable that the blade in its original finish was painted, and had similar A over 5 (or 5 over A) in a circle painted on the forward surface of the blade a little above the adaptor. If correct, the other blades in the set would have similar marks with the letter B, C, D, E, over 5 in a circle stamped on their adaptors.
I think the PB112 indicates the production batch the adaptor came from.