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An early predominant manufacturer in the United States, Spencer Heath's American Propeller and Manufacturing Company opened in Baltimore in 1909. Heath was first to use machines for mass production of aircraft propellers and, 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.

Heath demonstrated the first "engine-powered, engine-controlled, variable and reversible pitch propeller" in 1919, but was unsuccessful in convincing the Army of the practicality of the concept. He sold the company to the Bendix Corporation in 1929 and retired from aeronautics two years later.

This type of propeller flew on many World War I era aircraft such as the Aeromarine 39 and the Curtiss F.

 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
Date Circa WWI Country of Origin United States of America Type PROPULSION-Propellers & Impellers Manufacturer American Propeller and Manufacturing Company
 Physical Description Type: Two-Blade, Fixed-Pitch, Wood Engine Application: Curtiss OXX, 75 kw (100HP) Dimensions 3-D (Propeller): 243.8 × 33 × 12.7cm, 13.6kg (8 ft. × 1 ft. 1 in. × 5 in., 30lb.)
Storage (Aluminum Pallet): 275.6 × 122.6 × 86.4cm, 161.5kg (9 ft. 1/2 in. × 4 ft. 1/4 in. × 2 ft. 10 in., 356lb.)
 Materials Laminated wood, Steel, Original Varnish, Brass, Solder, Paint
 Inventory Number A19630443000 Credit Line Gift of Philip K. Wrigley Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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