Spitfire Tail Wheels
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- Joined: Sat Nov 19, 2005 1:18 pm
- Location: United Kingdom
A pleasant little topic for a sunny Saturday night ..
An elderly member of Frensham passed away recently and willed his trolley wheels to the club for the use of one of its members - and I have them! Another member said " Ah! Spitfire tail wheels - we used a lot of those as trolley wheels after the war" Can any of this be tru? If it can how nice to have a trolley with the "right" wheels and from a Spitfire - wow!
I guess the truth is a little more mundane but do tell me it isnt. The details of the tyres are are:
Dunlop, absolutlely smooth surface, Rayon 5.00 - 4 1/2 Electrically conducting ECTA logo, 27A 2413, ND -R14. I gather the clue is in the electrically conducting - by which static electricity was shed on landing.
On the other side it also has the broad arrow and 51 which I guess is the date. Then 14055 Mar 52 which my informed fiend tells me is the date of the re-tread - necessary after so many landings.
The hubs are massive and say the same thing on both sides - Small Craft Southampton Tyre pressure 30/40 Grease Pack Hub W.3
OK, so maybe we have ex WD tail wheel tyres used as trolley wheels by Small Craft
My daughter asks "where is the rest of the Spitfire?" I tell her its a start anyway
Cheers
Charles & Sheila FPSC
An elderly member of Frensham passed away recently and willed his trolley wheels to the club for the use of one of its members - and I have them! Another member said " Ah! Spitfire tail wheels - we used a lot of those as trolley wheels after the war" Can any of this be tru? If it can how nice to have a trolley with the "right" wheels and from a Spitfire - wow!
I guess the truth is a little more mundane but do tell me it isnt. The details of the tyres are are:
Dunlop, absolutlely smooth surface, Rayon 5.00 - 4 1/2 Electrically conducting ECTA logo, 27A 2413, ND -R14. I gather the clue is in the electrically conducting - by which static electricity was shed on landing.
On the other side it also has the broad arrow and 51 which I guess is the date. Then 14055 Mar 52 which my informed fiend tells me is the date of the re-tread - necessary after so many landings.
The hubs are massive and say the same thing on both sides - Small Craft Southampton Tyre pressure 30/40 Grease Pack Hub W.3
OK, so maybe we have ex WD tail wheel tyres used as trolley wheels by Small Craft
My daughter asks "where is the rest of the Spitfire?" I tell her its a start anyway
Cheers
Charles & Sheila FPSC
Charles Smith
charles, please do not dispose of these, I might know someone who may be interested in them !!
Stu
Stu
The only canoe sailor in MY village too !
OK K1958
Mirror 34459
http://www.stuandliz.co.uk
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make bow waves not chat
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OK K1958
Mirror 34459
http://www.stuandliz.co.uk
****************************
make bow waves not chat
****************************
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Slightly aside....
I had, at one time, thought the name Merlin as in merlin rocket was from the engine used in spitfires...the RR Merlin. It seemed to be all Ft.lt. this-that-and-the-other involved with the new 14ft dinghy at the last days of the war, and that they then chose merlin tha magician's hat for the class emblem. But I have been told it was the magician all along.
Whatever
Apparently Iska's ply decks, and presumably many others of that age, used ply suplus to mosquito aircraft....wheels, a bit of fuselage...not much to go is there before we have a whole aircraft then?
And there's more..
it is true that Broadwood's piano manufactory was put over to making wooden aircraft sections in the war and piano wire was used for certain parts (probably control lines, trussing or something.)
I had, at one time, thought the name Merlin as in merlin rocket was from the engine used in spitfires...the RR Merlin. It seemed to be all Ft.lt. this-that-and-the-other involved with the new 14ft dinghy at the last days of the war, and that they then chose merlin tha magician's hat for the class emblem. But I have been told it was the magician all along.
Whatever
Apparently Iska's ply decks, and presumably many others of that age, used ply suplus to mosquito aircraft....wheels, a bit of fuselage...not much to go is there before we have a whole aircraft then?
And there's more..
it is true that Broadwood's piano manufactory was put over to making wooden aircraft sections in the war and piano wire was used for certain parts (probably control lines, trussing or something.)
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- Posts: 42
- Joined: Sat Nov 19, 2005 1:18 pm
- Location: United Kingdom
This bit for Brian - Brian I don't really want to part with them - and the old chap who left them wanted them to remain in the club anyhow. But thanks for your comments - they are 4 1/2 - so I will check with our local aircraft museum.
And - Incidentally I have found an ad in the Dinghy Year Book for 1960 - Small Craft advertising trolleys with these wheels so I guess they are MOD surplus as you all suggested.
Many thanks everyone.
Charles & Sheila FPSC
And - Incidentally I have found an ad in the Dinghy Year Book for 1960 - Small Craft advertising trolleys with these wheels so I guess they are MOD surplus as you all suggested.
Many thanks everyone.
Charles & Sheila FPSC
Charles Smith
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