Need Help Identifying a Gardner Propeller for School Project

[toncini0891]

We adopted an artifact in our history class and we have to do research on it. I chose a Garnder Propeller, and I found the engine it goes on and the model of plane it would be on, but my teacher wants the plane it was on and the pilot who crashed the plane. There are many abbreviations and numbers on it.

DES 581 H
SER 41310
ATC 389
Max RPM 2175
Max HP 125

[MWP_Lamar]

It's not possible to know the information your teacher wants from the markings on the prop. You'll need a different source.

[Dave]

Unfortunately, your assignment is almost impossible to fulfill. The only way to connect a propeller to a specific aircraft would be through the aircraft's logbooks, and even then it might not include the serial number of the propeller in the entries.

Identifying a specific airplane is extremely rare with old propellers.

[toncini0891]

Is there any way to get some of the manufacturing specifications of the propeller? The one I found is pretty damaged so the weight would be incorrect. Any idea where I can find what the propeller should have weighed/what its measurements should have been?

[MWP_Lamar]

Dave may have ATC (aircraft type certificate) data on this prop; I don't. I've never seen weight included in any prop specification. This may be because each is made from different wood which would vary the weight somewhat. What you can expect is diameter and pitch.

[Dave]

DES 581 H
SER 41310
ATC 389
Max RPM 2175
Max HP 125

Length 92"
Pitch 48"
Bolt holes - 8
Bolt hole diameter 3/8"
Bolt circle diameter 5 1/4"
Hub diameter 7"
Hub thickness 4"
Weight 18 pounds

* Approval expired March 8, 1957

[MWP_Lamar]

It does have the weight. I stand corrected! Thank you Dave.

[toncini0891]

Thank you! This is a really big help, and those measurements actually match the ones I took, so that makes me feel good about myself. Haha. So just one more quick question. Is there any way to know what type of wood this propeller is made of? It looks like a darker wood, or maybe more red...anyway...if there is any way to find this out that would be terrific.

[Dave]

The wood species is not specified in the type certificate data, so probably just having a furniture expert look at it would be your best bet.