WW2 Propeller Blade ID

[Kclark382]

Hello everyone, I would appreciate any insight on this blade and another that is identical, I was told it was B17 or B24 but shortly thereafter realized it was not.

I bought these two identical blades and one P38 Curtiss blade in Walla Walla, WA. The original owner is deceased but supposedly the late owner got these from the local Army Air Corps airbase as surplus after WW2. I cannot find any model or serial number on either identical blade.

Length: 66"
Chord: 12 3/4"
OD: 5"
ID: 2 5/8"

 

[Michael Hope]

The blade as you mention is defiantly not from a B-17 0r B24, as those were a Hamilton Standard controllable pitch blade. You can see for the image below that the shape of the blade butt is different.

I do not know who the manufacturer of your blade is, is there any markings

 

[Tom Fey]

I believe your blade is an aluminum Hamilton Standard blade that has been machined to fit into a two blade, ground adjustable split hub commonly used in orchard fans. That explains the funky shaping at the root and why there are no blade numbers. Attached is a pic of the butt end of an original Hamilton Standard prop blade and an example of the spit hub. Notice pins at 3 and 9 o'clock, screws at 12 and 6 o'clock. Looks like your blade has pins and screws in the same orientation and the remnant of the bronze insert. Without the drawing number, you'll have to get contours off an original B-17 or B-24 blade to try to match it up, but the installed diameter of your 66 inch blade is in the right ballpark. The B-17 prop diameter is 11 feet 7 inches.

 

[Kclark382]

I appreciate the insight! Thank you for the information.

Tom, you are most certainly correct, even down to the bronze insert. Also, there are many orchards in the Walla Walla area... agriculture is their main industry so this makes a lot of sense.