Uniteds states Aero Propeller Co?

[Firemancg]

I came across a propeller that has this logo and numbers on it? Help please

[Firemancg]

Numbers

Dia. 8'4"
S.C. 42931
1121

[Dave]

"S.C." is a Signal Corps number, but it will not identify it as to type etc.

About all you can do is check the hub dimensions to find the most likely engine it was designed for, which looks like it's probably an OX5.

[Firemancg]

Thanks Dave, it's in really good condition you can tell it had been in a plane and flown. Has the wind burn and the copper is compressed on the outside edge from wind force. Any idea to the value if this item?

[Dave]

Not without seeing it.

[Firemancg]

So Dave, is there any information you can give me or point me in to find out about United States Aero Co? I can't find any information on them.

[Dave]

I don't have anything on them, except that there were two addresses listed, one in Milwaukee. I compiled this list when I was researching WW1 era propellers years ago at the National Archives, and all of these companies had written letters at one point to the Navy or U.S Air Service to offer manufacturing services.

I don't know what you mean by wind burn and compression of the copper from wind force.

[Firemancg]

The wind burn or heat from friction causing the prop to hear up

[Firemancg]

The ripples in the copper from the force cutting the air.

[Dave]

The changes in the varnish are caused by the atmospheric changes over time in storage, not heat from usage (which doesn't occur with wooden props anyway), and the damage on the copper is from it hitting something, which may or may not have occurred during use, but the leading edge is the part that usually gets damaged. It's not caused by wind.

(By the way, please don't try to "repair" either of those. It will dramatically decrease the value of the item.)

[Firemancg]

I won't, I understand the value of antiques and war memorabilia. And yes the ripples in the copper are caused by the prop being used, I was a aircraft mechanic in the Coast Guard and now am a mechanic on air boats. The deformities in on the following edge are caused from the use and force of the prop in the air. The friction (wind burn is also caused by flying) and if I am wrong and you are correct this prop has been mounted on a airplane it's entire life because there is no change on the prop where it was mounted to the motor or on the front where the hub was on it. But I have been wrong in the past! I am a dumby when it comes to wooden props, just stumbled across it in a second hand shop and made a wild offer on it and winded up leaving with it.

[Dave]

I originally thought that this prop had not been used based on the absence of "witness marks" on the hub where it would have been compressed with the metal hub, but after looking more closely at the photo I think they are there (yellow arrows). A huge number of propellers surviving that era were never used, as they became obsolete with the rapid development of faster engines, and most were sold off out of storage as surplus in the early twenties.

Do you have a photo of the whole prop?

[Firemancg]

I am not at the house right now but when I get home I will take a full length picture and a lot more. If you want to shoot me a email @ firemancg_2003@yahoo.com I will email them to you.

Meanwhile here is half a pic, it's the rougher half of the prop