Rolls Royce Prop Converted to Clock

[RyanB]

Hi All

Love the site...

Can anyone give me anymore info on this converted prop clock. Someone was a little heavy-handed with the sander, so there could be (are) some numbers missing.

What I suspect is the serial number: A B (?) 685 L H
Diameter: D 3350 (not sure about the first 3)
Pitch: P 3600
Blades: 4
Bolt Holes: 8

There is a another number on the hub (on the right as you look at the front): G149N35. This reference also appears on the back where the prop bolts on to the shaft.

...and one on the left: D(?) H4

On the bottom of the hub (when the prop/clock is upright) it has a reference to the maker and HP of the engine to which it was attached: (??)5 HP Rolls Royce

Any help gratefully recieved - I would love to know its history.

Many thanks, Ryan.

[Bob Gardner]

Ryan,

Welcome to the forum.

Your hub is an excellent example of a carved hub. The standard of carving is high.

The prop is from a DH4 aircraft made by the Airco company in late 1917.

The data reads;
AB685; a drawing number of the British Air Board for a prop for the DH4.
D2850 diameter in mm
P3600 pitch in mm
275hp, the Rolls Royce engine designed for the aircraft, later called the RR Eagle

The G and N numbers refer to the batch number which dates it to late 1917.

With kind regards,

Bob

[RyanB]

Thanks very much Bob....

...that is great news and some very interesting history.

I fell in love with this prop-clock in an antiques store about 6 months back, and wished I had bought it on the spot. However, when I went back to have another look it was gone - needless to say I was a little disappointed!

The good news, as you can see, is that my wife had already been in to buy the clock and gave it to me for Xmas, as she knows I love a little aviation history...

Thanks again.

Cheers, Ryan.

[Bob Gardner]

Glad to help. Please pass our congratulations to your wife! The hub is a first class example of its type.

Bob