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Looking at the Forum I noticed several info requests regarding Strom Propellers.
The following information on the maker is from the book "As The Snow Flies" by L. Allister Ingham.
Paul Strom was born in Cordoba Mines Ontario in 1914. At three years of age he moved to Watrous Saskatchewan.
While still in high school he built his first propeller.
Paul began to study propeller design and to do experimental work to test the theory he read about.
By the thirties he and his two helpers Harold Coverdale and Jack Renolds were turning out a high quality efficient product and were selling them right across Canada.
During the thirties and forties they produced a total of 500 propellers of various types and about 75 sets of snowplane skis.
In 1940 Paul moved to Winnipeg and worked for S & S Aircraft on Watt Street owned by Short and Smith.
This company had done some work on snowplanes and also had contracts for the supply of propellers for wartime use.
Paul and two other workers were the only ones in the company who had propeller experience so Paul quickly advanced and was soon shop foreman, and then chief inspector.
He remained with the firm until 1942 when he joined the Canadian Navy as a shipright.
After the war Paul returned to Winnipeg and from 1945 to 1975 worked with the Canadian National Railway Company.
During the early part of this time Paul also produced oak skis for various uses.
Paul also produced some propellers for wild rice boat harvesting machines in the 1970's and early 1980's.
According to a copy of a Company ad from 1935;
All propellers were made from selected laminated Douglas Fir, using powerful waterproof aircraft glue and are finished with high grade enamel.
Linen tips add materially to the strength and durability. [ Recent tests show Douglas Fir to have tensile and shear strength equal to many costlier hardwoods.]
Another Company brochure from 1938 says;
All propellers made from selected laminated Sitka Spruce [Airplane Spruce] using powerful waterproof aircraft glue...
Another Company brochure from 1939 says;
All propellers are made from combination laminations of Birch and Sitka Aircraft Spruce...
If you know your wood's well this may help you date a propeller.
As well any Strom propeller marked as being made in Manitoba would probably be made post 1945.
As per brochure from 1935;
A propeller to fit to a Harley Davidson engine would cost you $4.25.
A propeller for a Chevrolet 6 cyl, linen and copper tipped sold for $16.50.
There is no mention of The Strom propeller Company ever making a propeller for aircraft use only for snowplanes, riceboats and windchargers.
Dave
The following information on the maker is from the book "As The Snow Flies" by L. Allister Ingham.
Paul Strom was born in Cordoba Mines Ontario in 1914. At three years of age he moved to Watrous Saskatchewan.
While still in high school he built his first propeller.
Paul began to study propeller design and to do experimental work to test the theory he read about.
By the thirties he and his two helpers Harold Coverdale and Jack Renolds were turning out a high quality efficient product and were selling them right across Canada.
During the thirties and forties they produced a total of 500 propellers of various types and about 75 sets of snowplane skis.
In 1940 Paul moved to Winnipeg and worked for S & S Aircraft on Watt Street owned by Short and Smith.
This company had done some work on snowplanes and also had contracts for the supply of propellers for wartime use.
Paul and two other workers were the only ones in the company who had propeller experience so Paul quickly advanced and was soon shop foreman, and then chief inspector.
He remained with the firm until 1942 when he joined the Canadian Navy as a shipright.
After the war Paul returned to Winnipeg and from 1945 to 1975 worked with the Canadian National Railway Company.
During the early part of this time Paul also produced oak skis for various uses.
Paul also produced some propellers for wild rice boat harvesting machines in the 1970's and early 1980's.
According to a copy of a Company ad from 1935;
All propellers were made from selected laminated Douglas Fir, using powerful waterproof aircraft glue and are finished with high grade enamel.
Linen tips add materially to the strength and durability. [ Recent tests show Douglas Fir to have tensile and shear strength equal to many costlier hardwoods.]
Another Company brochure from 1938 says;
All propellers made from selected laminated Sitka Spruce [Airplane Spruce] using powerful waterproof aircraft glue...
Another Company brochure from 1939 says;
All propellers are made from combination laminations of Birch and Sitka Aircraft Spruce...
If you know your wood's well this may help you date a propeller.
As well any Strom propeller marked as being made in Manitoba would probably be made post 1945.
As per brochure from 1935;
A propeller to fit to a Harley Davidson engine would cost you $4.25.
A propeller for a Chevrolet 6 cyl, linen and copper tipped sold for $16.50.
There is no mention of The Strom propeller Company ever making a propeller for aircraft use only for snowplanes, riceboats and windchargers.
Dave
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