Prop from crash

[Geertse]

A couple of years ago I found a prop near Valenciennes France just across the Belgian border.
It was found at a farmhouse.
It's in bad condition with one blade separated from the crash.
The layers of wood are coming loose, so I have to tighten the hub with bolts.
There's a layer of red/brownish lacquer on it with remains of a decal.
Also there are stamps with .... Helice paris.
On the hub there's D2655? and on the side CL130 and also 1 SOP
These markings are like painted.
The edges have a copper border.
I've measured the prop and it's about 1280mm half so about 2560mm if total.
I personally think it's from a sopwith( type???)
Could anyone tell me more about it and perhaps about a crash nearby Valenciennes?
I'll post the pictures later on.
Thnks,
Geert

[Geertse]

prop

pictures from prop

[pmdec]

Hi,

The stamps reads HELICE GREMONT 6 PASSAGE JOSSEAUME PARIS. See this post: http://woodenpropeller.com/forumvB/s...ead.php?t=2247
Same brand, but perhaps another serial.

It is a Grémont propeller for Sopwith. To go further (perhaps), you need to post large pics (or some close-ups as you did for the side with craft ans engine markings):
- of the side with only numbers (the one of your first picture P1050698 ),
- of the two "flat" sides where it have to be small squares (airworthy stamps) and digits on one of them.

Regards,
PM

[Geertse]

prop

I've tried to take pictures but the condition of the prop isn't very good.
Possible numner on hub 2900????
and N??

[pmdec]

Hi,

Your prop is a Grémont serial 5 or serial S. I don't think those two serials are the same one with a misread 5, even if they had the same diameter (255cm) and also that serial 5 is the only Grémont serial with a single digit name. In French papers I have, serial 5 and S had not the same blade width (215 and 230mm). But in American papers, serial S is given with a 200mm blade width. Perhaps because those papers are later than French ones and the "mood" was to narrow blade width at the end of WW1.

Your pictures are enough clear to read the side with aircraft and engine markings. I post a picture of a Grémony serial S from 1918 with the same ones.

But your pictures are not enough large and clear to be sure of the other side markings, so it is not possible to know for which Sopwith (A2 or B2) the prop was made.
I think the markings could be readable on pictures if you have a high power light source and take the pictures with the light coming at right angle with the axis of the picture. The serial is stamped on your prop: it what is stamped before the "-- n 486", and above (I think) the prop number that I read as 8955 or 2855 (not sure of either). This prop number is very important to guess the prop making date because other data are missing (see next):

Infortunately, a lamination (a short one with the same thickness as others) is missing. And it would have shown an airworthy stamp with a letter and digit which might have a confirmation of the date of prop making.

Try to make other pictures and tell me if my readings are correct.

You tell it is a crash plane prop. Do you know something about where and when this crash happened? Is the story faithful?

Regards,
PM

[Geertse]

Prop

Readings are correct.
Crash must have been in the neighbourhood of Valenciennes.
Year not known.
Sorry
Grtz

[Geertse]

Prop

What does that mean the serial 5?
Is it a common prop?
So it's from a sopwith strutter?
French made strutter?
The story about the crash is what I've heard from the previous owner.
But when you look at the other side of the hub ,the blade has been torn off,not sawn off.
Grtz

[Dave]

The crash is very plausible. It usually takes a bit of intense research to document each and every "crash", as some of them were simply landing accidents and not even recorded.

French propellers were listed for use on AEF aircraft of all types, not just French manufacture.