German Mercedes Prop ID, thanks

[jürg]

Hello everybody,
Could anybody help me please?
i own a wooden german mercedes propeller with the following markings:

1118 (written twice on the prop)
120 PS
Mercedes
D272
ST155

My questions:
On what kind of aircraft this prop could have been used on?
How old could it be? Building year???

Thanks a lot,
Jurg

[Bob Gardner]

Hi Jurg,

It dates from around 1914-1915. The six bolt holes rather than eight bolt holes suggest an early prop and particularly an early design of aircraft, perhaps from 1912-1913. Most German aircraft makers used this Mercedes engine, as they did its successor, the 160ps Mercedes engine.

Your prop could be from any of a dozen aircraft made at this time but is more likely to be from, say, a Taube, than an Albatros BI or BII.

The letters ps after the number 120 indicate german horsepower which were slightly different from GB, French and US horsepower but near enough the same.

The shape of the prop is reminiscent of an Integral design, the German subsidiary of the the French Integrale Co. Again this would suggest a 1914 prop or earlier.

With regards,

Bob Gardner
www.aeroclocks.com

[jürg]

Hi Bob,

I thank you so much for your explanations and your knowledge about
the prop. I m actually surprised that it is more likely a preWW1 war prop which makes it really an "old one". I wonder if it's still easy to find props from that period. I found the prop in the early 90's on an antique dealers exhibition in London.
I looked are your website, very nice.

Cheers,
Jürg

[jürg]

Hi Bob,
I've another question please.
What could be the meaning of the nbr 1118 (written twice) on the prop?
A simple serie number or a sequence number, i mean the prop nbr 1118 built out of the same examples.

Many thanks,

Best regards,
jürg.

[Bob Gardner]

Sorry Jurg, I don't know. It's most probably a serial number. It might be a type number. It might be an Integral drawing number.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen,

Bob Gardner
www.aeroclocks.com

[jürg]

Ok, thank you again so much for all your help.
This is a great forum!!

Best regards,

Jürg.
Switzerland

[Geertse]

Hello Jurg,
Could you mail a picture of your propeller?
I probably have a identical one.
Greetings,geert