AVRO Wooden propeller identification

[DavidC]

Hi, could someone please help me identify a wooden propeller that I have . It is just over 9ft long, has a AVRO decal, has 8 holes in the hub, stamped 4950 on the bottom of the hub. There are markings on the timber these say WD and the military arrow, A?D 539 in a box, 26.4.17 underneath this then AVRO 80H.P, this is on one side of the hub on the other side are 2 boxes one I can't quite make out what it says but the other one looks like ALD 25V.
I can post photos if required.
Thank you

[Dbahnson]

Photos might help, especially of the markings if they are hard to read. Most of the A.V. Roe factory built props had drawing numbers beginning with a "Y" and with yours stamped for 80 HP, if you can envision any stamping as "Y80" then it would be a match for an AVRO 504 with either the Clerget or Gnome engine.

The numbers in boxes (e.g. "A.I.D.") are inspections stamps.

[Bob Gardner]

David,

Some minor additions to Dave Bahnson's answer above.

The AID numbers (Aeronautical Inspection Department) 539 and 25V are those of the resident airworthiness inspectors at the factory of the company which made the propeller. Courtney Pope, White Allom and Parnell are known makers of props for Avro. AV Roe's factory in Manchester also had its own prop shop.

The length of just over nine feet equates to 2750mm which was the standard length of props for the Avro 504 aircraft powered by either of the French 80hp engines. The Gnome engine appears to have been used much more than the Clerget engine. I haven't discovered what the date (26.4.17) means; the contract date is most likely. It doesn't indicate the date of manufacture, nor the inspection date, as far as I can determine.

The design of this prop was nominated by the Air Board (later the Air Ministry) as one of the standard props for the Avro 504. The company received £12-10s-0d for each one made.

With kind regards,

Bob

[DavidC]

Hi Bob and David,

Thank you both for the information this is very helpful. Any idea on what this would be worth if I wanted to sell, also did you require any photos of markings.

Regards David

[Bob Gardner]

David,

I can only give you the broadest answer.

There is a spectrum of prices. A WW1 prop in GB in excellent unrestored condition with a maker's decal selling at a renowned auction house, which has a world-wide distribution list for its specialist catalogue, might sell for a hammer price of £2400, which the auctioneers percentage would reduce to £1900 for you, the seller.

Such a prop, tidied and refreshed by the cabinet maker of a dealer of renown, might be offered by him for £4999.99!

A similar prop with damage and a nice shiny new coat of polyurethane varnish might sell for at auction £600 but probably wouldn't sell at all.

So, the conclusion is that the insurance value of the propeller is £5000, which is the replacement value if lost or destroyed. The most you could expect to raise from selling it would be £1500-1900 GBP.

With kind regards,

Bob

[DavidC]

Hi Bob,

Thank you very much for all the information and assistance you have given us it is really appreciated and at least it has given us a guideline to go by.

Regards David

[Dbahnson]

Feel free to add some photos to this thread. They become particularly useful in subsequent searches.