Availability & Value of a BE2c Prop

[chenango55]

Hi,

One of my brothers recently purchased a vintage wooden prop in NYC. It has four blades and according to the engraving on it was for a BE2c. The prop is in I believe very good condition and I am not sure if the finish is original. I would like to find out how rare it is and try to establish a value. Any help would be most appreciated.

Kevin

[Bob Gardner]

Hi Kevin,

Tell me the markings on the hub and I might be able to tell you a little more about it. It probably dates from around 1915-16. The BE2 was an early RFC machine. The C version was most widely used. But all props from WW1 are rare and four bladed versions particularly so. At auction in the UK, it would sell for around 2500 GB Pounds and in restored condition, a dealer would sell it for 4-5000 GB Pounds. These figures equate to about $4400 US Dollars and $8750 US Dollars.

With regards,

Bob Gardner

[Bob Gardner]

Hi again Kevin,

Thank you for the info which you e-mailed me. The markings on the hub are;

T7448M This is the drawing number. T is the prefix for the Royal Aircraft Factory, known as the RAF, until April 1918 when the Royal Air Force was formed and the Factory became the Royal Aircraft Establishment, the RAE. 7448 is the number allocated for one of the prop designs for the RAF1A engine, which developed 90 HP and with this prop was fitted to the BE2c, d and e and the Armstong Whitworth FK3. There were at least five varieties of the this prop and the suffix M at the end of the number indicates this is a modified version. The prop has a diameter of 2770mm and a pitch of 3090mm.

The RAF designed the aircraft, the prop and the engine but the manufacture was put out to subcontractors. Such was the huge expansion of aircraft manufacture in WW1 that furniture makers became prop makers and steam traction engine makers became aircraft builders. At least twenty sub contractors made the BE2c.

Aldam Heaton & Co. are the makers of the prop and were specialist makers, not woodworkers commandeered for the war. They were based in London with an address in New Bond Street.

RAF1A indicates the engine, the first major design of the Royal Aircraft Factory. It produced 90 HP.

BE2c indicates the aircraft, another RAF design. BE indicated Bleriot experimental which essentially meant it had an engine at the front rather than any aspects of a Bleriot design. About 1300 BE2c and d's were made. It was in service from 1915 to 1917.

With regards,

Bob