Early Propeller I.D.

[goldenv8]

A friend of mine has just been given two identical props, and we are wondering what the history is. They are marked Matthew Bros Mfg Co. THe Serial # on one is 1378 and the other is #1077. Both are marked 96 X 57 and R6. There are 8 bolt holes that are 3/4 inch in diameter and they are in an 8 inch circle. The hub hole is 3 1/4 inch.

Each prop has a small, but different, stamping above the word "Matthew". One prop has a small square box 1/2 inch on all sides. Inside the box seems to be an "S" with two vertical lines down the middle. There is a partial diagonal running from the middle top loop of the "S" down to the lower right corner of the box. Somebody looking at it interpreted the vertical lines and the bottom of the "S" as being an anchor? It is not very clear.

The other prop has what does appear to be a small anchor in the same location as the box described above. However, it is not boxed in.

I have several pictures that I can easily e-mail to you, but I find it difficult to post even one of them here. Sorry about that. Thanks for any light that you might be able to shed on these things. Regards, Al D

[Dave]

The Curtiss R6 was a later version of the R4, and I suspect that your prop is identical to this one.

Finding the numbers "11612" stamped on it somewhere would cinch it, but the "R6" is pretty convincing, and the size should be 9'6", which is likely the length stamped on yours.