Spitfire Propellers - Help Please

[sniper]

Hi. I am hoping someone may be able to help. I have inherited 3 propeller blades that I know nothing about. There are some markings on the bottom; they are very difficult to read or photograph, but I have done some etching and the numbers have come up fairly well. It looks like they are from a spitfire but the only reference I can find on line to any of the numbers is from an auction in 2011, where some blades had similar markings (in pic below). The blades appear totally wooden to my untrained eye, i.e. not composite. Any help anyone can offer to give these some provenance would be much appreciated. I photographed one, and the other 2 look pretty much the same. Many thanks in advance.

 

[Wurger]

Hello,

Welcome to the site.

To answer your question ... so the RA and JP numbers are like you posted above right? If these are ...

The JP means the Jablo Propeller Ltd also known as the F. Hills & Son Limited, from Manchester. So no doubt that's the Rotol prop blade. The RA is the drawing number of the prop blade.

 

[sniper]

Hello,

Welcome to the site.

To answer your question ... so what RA number are the prop blades of? Also are all of them marked with the JP numbers?

Hi. Thanks for the welcome and reply. Yes they all have JP numbers, 246592, 255513 and 212377 (or could be 272377)
The RA numbers as best I can make out are RA10271RS, RA10720RTS and the 3rd is difficult to make our but also looks like RA10729RTS.
Many thanks

 

[Wurger]

OK. THX for the data. Actually the JP numbers aren't too important. These are just the manufacturer serials. Judging by the pencil etching all the prop blades are of the RA1027* drawing. The RS and RTS markings indicate these were covered with the RS - Rotoloid and the RTS - Rotoloid Thin skin.
But back to the drawing numbers .... it seems that the two RTS blades were modified from the RA10134/RTS to the RA10270/RT. Unfortunately I'm not at home and can't check on my notes but it seems that the blades were used for the very late or actually for the post-war Spitfire/Seafire powered with the Griffon engine. As memo serves the blade type was used for the Seafire Mk.47. What is the lenght?

Your pic of the blade doesn't show its tip. Does it look like that?

 

[sniper]

OK. THX for the data. Actually the JP numbers aren't too important. These are just the manufacturer serials. Judging by the pencil etching all the prop blades are of the RA1027* drawing. The RS and RTS markings indicate these were covered with the RS - Rotoloid and the RTS - Rotoloid Thin skin.
But back to the drawing numbers .... it seems that the two RTS blades were modified from the RA10134/RTS to the RA10270/RT. Unfortunately I'm not at home and can't check on my notes but it seems that the blades were used for the very late or actually for the post-war Spitfire/Seafire powered with the Griffon engine. As memo serves the blade type was used for the Seafire Mk.47. What is the lenght?

Your pic of the blade doesn't show its tip. Is that looking like that?

View attachment 811606
View attachment 811616

Hi. Thank you so much for the info. I'm incredibly grateful. The tip seems to have a similar profile? Pic attached.

 

[sniper]

This is length from the base on the floor to the tip.

 

[Wurger]

No doubt that's the Seafire Mk.47 contra-prop blade. The shape is the same although may seem to be slightly different ( "slim" ). It is due to the removing of the black covering.

 

[sniper]

No doubt that's the Seafire 47 Contra-prop blade. The shape is the same although may seem to be slightly different ( "slim" ). It is due to the removing of the black covering.

Amazing. Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it

 

[Wurger]

My pleasure.