The markings on the artifact indicates its manufacture by the Davenport Brown Co. of Somerville, MA. The propeller was built to a specification of the Bureau of Aircraft Production (BAP), a U.S. Government organization that briefly existed in the World War I era. It was to be used on a Curtiss J4NH aircraft powered by a Hispano-Suiza engine built under license by Wright.

Davenport Brown was apparently one of the many companies of the era that assisted the war effort, but was not normally associated with aviation. There is evidence that the same, or very similar, propeller was also manufactured by the American Propeller and Manufacturing Co., a company that is historically associated with the aviation industry.

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

Davenport-Brown Co.

Physical Description

Type: Two-Blade, Fixed-Pitch, Wood
Diameter: 254 cm (100 in.)
Chord: 20.3 cm (8 in.)
Engine Application: Wright-Hisso engine for re-engined Curtiss JN-4H "Jenny"

Dimensions

Rotor/Propeller: 254 x 20.3 x 22.9 x 17.8 x 1.1 x 7.9cm (100 x 8 x 9 x 7 x 7/16 x 3 1/8 in.)
Bolt Holes: 8

Materials

Wood
Leather
Varnish
Paint
Paper
Natural String
Plastic
AdhesiveInk
Steel

Inventory Number

A19690191000

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

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