Generator propeller??

[Robert Lundin]

I just bought his small propeller (appr 80 centimeters diameter) from a seller in Australia. Unfortunately he couldn't supply me with any background to it so I therefore turn to this forum.

One speculation (guess) has been made that it may have been a propeller for a generator of the airship R.101 for which spare parts were sent to Australia as part of the spare part logistics that was set up.

Does anyone have any idea on what it is?

[Dbahnson]

It certainly might be an auxiliary prop as you describe. To my knowledge there is no database to identify it, however.

[Mtskull]

It certainly has all of the characteristics of a generator propeller.
It doesn’t bear any resemblance to those fitted to the R 101 though. 46821395-C353-4817-A0B6-663BFF3E330B.jpeg

[Robert Lundin]

Thank you for the picture.
I was rather thinking of a generator for the airship’s “cockpit”. For instance the LZ.127 Graf Zeppelin had two smaller generators next to the captains gondola.

[Mtskull]

The R. 101 doesn’t appear to have been so equipped.
7960680C-56B5-4092-9278-2FB7CB24F079.jpeg0C14AD2B-1C6A-4C67-8578-763ED63A1E3B.jpeg
I am wondering whether the purpose of your propeller might have been to drive the winch on a target tug?
The only clear illustration I could find depicts an RAF example but the RAAF certainly used Beaufighters (and probably other types) as target tugs.

[Robert Lundin]

Thank you, very good close ups as well. The Beaufighter target tug seems like a plausible candidate for sure.