Miles Hawk Propeller?

[Peter Goodwin]

I'm hoping someone can help me confirm the identity of a wooden propeller that my wife recently gave me for my birthday, the person she bought it from had no idea re the provenance. It has the following markings on it;

DRG No. Z1610/1, CIRRUS III, R.H., 32856 on one side of the hub and D6.75, P4.2 on the other. It also has brass sheathing on the blades.

I think it belonged to a Miles Hawk but I would love to find out more such as when it was manufactured and if it's possible to get copies of the manufacturers drawings. Any help greatly appreciated.
Peter

[Bob Gardner]

Hello Peter,

I don't have the drg no 1610 listed so I can't give a definitive answer.

The Miles Hawk had props with the drg nos of 1640 and 1531, both with the Cirrus III engine.

The drg no 160 (1) was for a prop from the Comper Swift which had a Salmson AD9 engine. Is your drg no perhaps 1640 instead of 1610?

With regards,

Bob

[Peter Goodwin]

Many thanks Bob, you are indeed correct it is 1640, not 1610, my eyesight is clearly failing me! I assume that means that it is a Miles Hawk prop.

One thing I have noticed however is although it is stamped D6.75 the proppeller is only about 5.75". Is it likely to have been shortened, perhaps due to damage? Does that sort of thing happen?

thanks again
Peter

[Bob Gardner]

Good Morning Peter,

My guess is that the prop was damaged (usually on landing) and taken out of service. Probably just one tip was damaged and both were then cut back and tidied so that the prop could be used as a decorative item.

When I buy a prop (I'm a dealer) I measure it carefully. Not infrequently, a prop turns out to be about three inches shorter on both sides.

I'm glad we have identified your prop. Although I had the drg number, Z 1640, I didn't know the dimensions which I have now added to my database. The letter Z indicates that the prop was designed by Dr HC Watts of the Airscrew Co at Brooklands.

With regards,

Bob