American Propeller and Mfg Co. Propeller, fixed-pitch, three-blade, wood
Usage Conditions May ApplyUsage Conditions ApplyThere are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections.
More -
https://iiif.si.eduView ManifestView in Mirador Viewer
An early predominant manufacturer in the United States, Spencer Heath's American Propeller and Manufacturing Company was first to use machines for mass production of aircraft propellers. Under the Paragon trademark, these were widely used in World War I. Like most propellers of that era, construction was a wood laminate because of light weight, strength, fabrication ease, and resistance to fatigue in a vibrating and flexing environment.
A manufacturer's brochure notes: "Where the power is large or the propeller speed is low the propeller must of necessity have very high pitch in relation to diameter. In such cases the three-bladed propeller should be preferred in order to use a lower pitch without increasing the diameter."
Paragon three-bladed propellers were first made in 1909, and served on both Navy and Army Signal Corps aircraft. The manufacturer also noted that: "Three-bladed Paragons have nearly always given better results than two-bladed propellers of any type."
Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
PROPULSION-Propellers & Impellers
Manufacturer
American Propeller and Manufacturing Company Physical Description
Type: Three-Blade, Fixed-Pitch, Wood
Diameter: 254 cm (100 in.)
Chord: 25.4 cm (10 in.)
Engine Application: Unknown
Dimensions
Rotor/Propeller: 254 x 25.4 x 26.7 x 12.7 x 5.1cm (100 x 10 x 10 1/2 x 5 x 2 in.)
Approximate: 255.3 x 12.7cm (100 1/2 x 5 in.) Materials
Wood
Varnish
Paint Inventory Number
A19690096000
Credit Line
Found in the collection.
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.