I would like to humbly request assistance from the collective intelligence of this forum. I cannot seem to nail down a definitive or positive identification on a part.
Here is what I know.
This part was found in a crate with F4U Corsair parts and Northups P61 Black widow nightfighter. Specifically, DC motors and electrical components. The crate had been nailed shut and the newspapers used to pack the items were dated 1948. 71 years. That is a long time. The crate belonged to a long retired college professor. A professor whom was formerly associated with NACA National advisory committee for Aeronautics
where he worked on wind tunnel technology. He was involved in some airfoil stuff and wave drag but was more effective in the development of Superchargers for the B17
and Bells X-1. within NACAs Compressibility Research Division. Later he designed missile guidance systems and regarded himself as a genuine rocket scientist. During the war years he would become evasive and vague on what he was involved with directly but he would elude to places such as Langley, White sands, Bell labs, Grumman, MIT, Wright Patterson. He knew stuff. He died of old age recently and that is when i found the crate.
HERE IS WHAT i THINK I KNOW.
Taking into account that this part has an incomplete data plate with only the manufactures part number on it and taking into account the manufacturer cannot positively identify it I speculate that this part is a prototype that was captured by US forces in Germany at the end of the war. The manufacture is Gebr Becker. I speculate that the part was built during WW2 because Gebr Becker was Dismantled and banned from production after the fall of the Reich, probably in part to its use of slave labor from concentration camps. Two or three years later it reopens under a different name. The data plate on this part is different than a typical Luftwaffe plate but certainly from the late 30's to end of WW2 it says Gebr Becker . The design, fit and finish and overall quality of the part is astonishing. I speculate this ends up on my rocket scientists desk for analysis and you can see where he partially dismantled it probably turned in his report than just kept it.
Why I believe it is aircraft related.
The design: Radial multi cylinder design. Shaft driven and fasteners drilled for safety wire. The overall quality again, says to me , aircraft.
The manufacture: I contacted the USA branch of Becker Pumps. Sent photos. The rep from the company says it "Was designed to assist starting the engines on the Messerschmidt fighter planes." He than adds " I think"
So here I am. I have gone as far as I can. I have scoured the web for any thing similar ... any info. Nothing. This very well could be the only known example of a "Elektro Luftpressor" in the world.
I am not willing to just throw up photos unless there is a genuine interest in taking a look It is so mysterious.... I am stumped..
Here is what I know.
This part was found in a crate with F4U Corsair parts and Northups P61 Black widow nightfighter. Specifically, DC motors and electrical components. The crate had been nailed shut and the newspapers used to pack the items were dated 1948. 71 years. That is a long time. The crate belonged to a long retired college professor. A professor whom was formerly associated with NACA National advisory committee for Aeronautics
where he worked on wind tunnel technology. He was involved in some airfoil stuff and wave drag but was more effective in the development of Superchargers for the B17
and Bells X-1. within NACAs Compressibility Research Division. Later he designed missile guidance systems and regarded himself as a genuine rocket scientist. During the war years he would become evasive and vague on what he was involved with directly but he would elude to places such as Langley, White sands, Bell labs, Grumman, MIT, Wright Patterson. He knew stuff. He died of old age recently and that is when i found the crate.
HERE IS WHAT i THINK I KNOW.
Taking into account that this part has an incomplete data plate with only the manufactures part number on it and taking into account the manufacturer cannot positively identify it I speculate that this part is a prototype that was captured by US forces in Germany at the end of the war. The manufacture is Gebr Becker. I speculate that the part was built during WW2 because Gebr Becker was Dismantled and banned from production after the fall of the Reich, probably in part to its use of slave labor from concentration camps. Two or three years later it reopens under a different name. The data plate on this part is different than a typical Luftwaffe plate but certainly from the late 30's to end of WW2 it says Gebr Becker . The design, fit and finish and overall quality of the part is astonishing. I speculate this ends up on my rocket scientists desk for analysis and you can see where he partially dismantled it probably turned in his report than just kept it.
Why I believe it is aircraft related.
The design: Radial multi cylinder design. Shaft driven and fasteners drilled for safety wire. The overall quality again, says to me , aircraft.
The manufacture: I contacted the USA branch of Becker Pumps. Sent photos. The rep from the company says it "Was designed to assist starting the engines on the Messerschmidt fighter planes." He than adds " I think"
So here I am. I have gone as far as I can. I have scoured the web for any thing similar ... any info. Nothing. This very well could be the only known example of a "Elektro Luftpressor" in the world.
I am not willing to just throw up photos unless there is a genuine interest in taking a look It is so mysterious.... I am stumped..
