Thomas Hamilton, general manager of the aircraft department of Matthews Brothers Manufacturing Company, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, primarily a producer of furniture, bought the propeller business from Matthews in 1919 and formed the Hamilton Aero Manufacturing Company, later becoming a secondary source to the United States government for the ground-adjustable propeller pioneered by Standard Steel.

William E. Boeing, one of the founders of the United Aircraft and Transport Corporation, enticed Hamilton to join UATC. With the later acquisition of Standard Steel, the Hamilton Standard Propeller Corp. was formed.

The hydromatic propeller introduced in the 1930s was a significant advance over the counterweight, controllable pitch propeller. The application of oil pressure to both sides of the actuating piston provided increased capacity and the capability of feathering or unfeathering by a single control knob. Reverse pitch permitted shortened landing roll.

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

Hamilton Standard Propellers

Physical Description

Type: Three-Blade, Constant-Speed, Metal
Diameter: 304.8 cm (120 in.)
Chord: Unknown
Engine Application: Unknown

Dimensions

3-D (Aluminum Pallet Storage): 68.6 × 121.9 × 50.8cm, 186.9kg (2 ft. 3 in. × 4 ft. × 1 ft. 8 in., 412lb.)
3-D (Gear Cap): 27.9 × 27.9 × 30.5cm, 4.5kg (11 × 11 × 1 ft., 10lb.)
3-D (Propeller w/ Main Gear): 172.7 × 40.6 × 27.9cm, 79.4kg (5 ft. 8 in. × 1 ft. 4 in. × 11 in., 175lb.)
3-D (Propellers w/o Main Gear): 147.3 × 27.9 × 17.8cm, 29.9kg (4 ft. 10 in. × 11 in. × 7 in., 66lb.)

Materials

Steel
Paint
Preservative Coating
Rubber
Paper
White Metal
Phenolic Resin

Inventory Number

A19601377000

Credit Line

Transferred from the U.S. Air Force

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply
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