new purchase

[mliss50]

i will have to check i think i have a caliper somewhere
i cant seem to get the hub plates off do you think it is pressed on and if you think yes should i bring it to a machine shop and get it pressed off
regards
murray

[Bob Gardner]

Murray,

These plates do get firmly stuck on to hubs. The process of tightening the bolts and leaving them like that for half a century can make them difficult to move. If any of the original bolt holes are half covered by the plate you might be able to drift them off by putting a rod or long screwdriver through the hub and tapping the plate.

I have seen several props where someone has introduced a screwdriver or chisel from the side under the plate and prized it off. This leaves very noticeable marks on the hub which disfigure it.

It is unlikely that that there is any data under the plates so you might think it better to leave them on rather than disfigure the prop.

Good luck!

Bob

[Bob Gardner]

Murray,

An afterthought or two.

Firstly on the value of your prop. I think it's worth more than $500. I think it would make a little more if sold on eBay and if sold in a specialist aviation auction or in an antique shop it could well be offered at more than $1000. If you could identify the prop it would increase its value. Try looking at the sides of the hub against the light in case someone has sanded the hub at some time and almost erased the data.

Secondly, why somone would rebore the hub is a mystery. I guess it might have happened when the prop was of little or no value such as in the 1920's when thousands of these props were sold off as army surplus. It might also have been done in the factory where it was made, as an experiment to try a different method of boring or for some instructional reason. If so it was never intended that it should fly and this might explain why no data is stamped on the hub. But I'm clutching at straws!

With kind regards,

Bob

[mliss50]

Bob
thank you for all your input and advise you're right im not going to risk any damage to the hub in a search of data that probally is'nt there i think i am just going to hang it in my house and enjoy it. if it had been on an aces plane or never flew at all its still a beautiful reminder of our past
thanks again
murray

[Bob Gardner]

Hi Murray,

I think that's the best thing to do. It is certainly a handsome prop. I think Dave has instructions on how to make a bracket for it on his website somewhere.

With kind regards,

Bob

[Dave]

I'm still a little curious about the dual set of bolt holes. Do you have some drills that you can use to size the holes? Just put the smooth, chuck end of the drill into the hole and see what size fits best. The empty holes look bigger to me than the ones that are occupied by bolts.

[mliss50]

I will measure them and post them asap
again thanks for all your input and advise
regards
murray