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Rotol Spitfire Propeller Blade, Constant-Speed, Wood and Metal
The famous British Supermarine Spitfire used various propellers during its early service. Rotol Airscrews, Ltd was formed in 1937 as a joint venture of Rolls-Royce and Bristol. The name, a combination of “Rolls-Royce” and “Bristol,” was suggested by the wife of a Bristol employee being transferred to the new enterprise. This Rotol propeller blade was likely manufactured by Jablo Propeller, a small wood blade company.
A British shortage of duralumin material during World War II led to application of the Schwarz process, where special machinery pressed a hard metal mesh coating and cellulose sheet over the entire propeller primarily consisting of soft wood, usually pine or fir, to produce very hard composite wood blades.
In the post-war period, with the metal material shortage ended, so did application of wood blades for the Spitfire. In 1958 Bristol and Rolls-Royce sold Rotol to the Dowty Group. Today Dowty Rotol is one of the world’s leading propeller manufacturers.
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 Kingdom
Type
PROPULSION-Propellers & Impellers
Physical Description
Type: Three-Blade, Constant-Speed, Wood and Metal
Diameter: 320 cm (126 in.)
Chord: 26.7 cm (10.5 in.)
Engine Application: Rolls-Royce Merlin
Dimensions
3-D: 160 x 26.7 x 17.1cm (63 x 10 1/2 x 6 3/4 in.)
Storage: 201.9 x 66.7 x 52.7cm (79 1/2 x 26 1/4 x 20 3/4 in.)
Materials
Wood
Aluminum
Paint
Steel
Rubber
Copper Alloy
Fabric
Inventory Number
A19601413000
Credit Line
Transferred from the U.S. Air Force
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
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