Need help IDing old prop

[E. J.]

Hello,

My wifes 94 yr old uncle came to visit last weekend, and told us about an old wooden prop he has. Being the aviation guy in the family, he asked if I could tell him anything about it (which I couldn't!).

I figured out from this website that it's probably an old Navy prop, but that's about it.

Maybe someone here can point me in the right direction.

This is the only photo I have, unfortunately it's a little blurry, but you can see the general shape and size.

There are markings on each blade near the hub as follows:

1
944 (or maybe 844)
67632 (or maybe 87832)
T.M.

and on the other blade:

2
8 8 X 11
SE 223-48

btw, he got this prop from a neighbor who was moving away about 80 yrs ago.

Thanks for any info you have,

E. J.

[Dave]

Yes, it's almost certainly from one of the Navy flying boats of the late teens. The "S.E." number refers to "Steam Engineering", the Navy department that procured propellers. It looks like a Liberty engine size hub. If it's notched, or under 4" thick it was part of a 4 blade combo.

[E. J.]

Thanks Dave,

That was quick.

I'll call Uncle Fred an find out the thickness, or if it is notched.

E. J.

[Bob Gardner]

The shape was designed by Dashwood Lang, an Englishman seconded to the USN by the British Government to advise on the mass production of wooden props when the US entered WW1 in 1917.

With kind regards,

Bob