What's This? On and both off topic (a little).
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
What's This? On and both off topic (a little).
Hi all
Another what's this thread though with a slight difference and hopefully a little interest.
I was at the Jewelers last week putting a watch in for repair. Whilst waiting in the queue the jeweler was talking to another customer. A conversation which I couldn't help but overhear. As the conversation went on, regarding the clock pictured here, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I had stumbled across an almost unbelievable item.
So two questions; (i) what is the clock made from (Very much on topic) and (ii) what is the significance of the clock (off topic in that it is not pacific theater)
Good luck
Another what's this thread though with a slight difference and hopefully a little interest.
I was at the Jewelers last week putting a watch in for repair. Whilst waiting in the queue the jeweler was talking to another customer. A conversation which I couldn't help but overhear. As the conversation went on, regarding the clock pictured here, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I had stumbled across an almost unbelievable item.
So two questions; (i) what is the clock made from (Very much on topic) and (ii) what is the significance of the clock (off topic in that it is not pacific theater)
Good luck
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RE: What's This? On and both off topic (a little).
warspite1ORIGINAL: mantill
Hi all
Another what's this thread though with a slight difference and hopefully a little interest.
I was at the Jewelers last week putting a watch in for repair. Whilst waiting in the queue the jeweler was talking to another customer. A conversation which I couldn't help but overhear. As the conversation went on, regarding the clock pictured here, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I had stumbled across an almost unbelievable item.
So two questions; (i) what is the clock made from (Very much on topic) and (ii) what is the significance of the clock (off topic in that it is not pacific theater)
Good luck
It looks like its made from a propeller so I will say its from Commander Dunning's Sopwith Pup that made the first landing on a carrier.
Now Maitland, now's your time!
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
RE: What's This? On and both off topic (a little).
Warspite
it is indeed made from a propeller but your answer is incorrect
it is indeed made from a propeller but your answer is incorrect
RE: What's This? On and both off topic (a little).
warspite1ORIGINAL: mantill
Warspite
it is indeed made from a propeller but your answer is incorrect
Okay - one more guess then - its from a Swordfish that took part in the attack on the Italian fleet at Taranto
Now Maitland, now's your time!
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
RE: What's This? On and both off topic (a little).
Spot on. It is indeed a clock made from the propeller of one of the swordfish used in Taranto. According to the jeweller, who was repairing it for a client, it was presented to the captain of the Illustrious on his retirement.
As an incidental, the jeweleller was also in the RN during the war and had visited Taranto in 45 aboard HMS Nubian iirc.
As an incidental, the jeweleller was also in the RN during the war and had visited Taranto in 45 aboard HMS Nubian iirc.
RE: What's This? On and both off topic (a little).
warspite1ORIGINAL: mantill
Spot on. It is indeed a clock made from the propeller of one of the swordfish used in Taranto. According to the jeweller, who was repairing it for a client, it was presented to the captain of the Illustrious on his retirement.
As an incidental, the jeweleller was also in the RN during the war and had visited Taranto in 45 aboard HMS Nubian iirc.
Cool [8D]
Now Maitland, now's your time!
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
RE: What's This? On and both off topic (a little).
warspite1ORIGINAL: mantill
Hi all
Another what's this thread though with a slight difference and hopefully a little interest.
I was at the Jewelers last week putting a watch in for repair. Whilst waiting in the queue the jeweler was talking to another customer. A conversation which I couldn't help but overhear. As the conversation went on, regarding the clock pictured here, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I had stumbled across an almost unbelievable item.
So two questions; (i) what is the clock made from (Very much on topic) and (ii) what is the significance of the clock (off topic in that it is not pacific theater)
Good luck
So how much does it retail for?
Now Maitland, now's your time!
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
RE: What's This? On and both off topic (a little).
It's obviously made from a propeller, but I strongly doubt it's from a Swordfish. The only two Swordfish to have wooden, two bladed propellers were the first two prototypes. The first prototype was lost early on in the testing program when it failed to get out of a spin. The second prototype got a three bladed metal propeller part was through the test program and all subsequent Swordfish had three bladed metal propellers.
I don't know of any FAA aircraft that had two bladed wooden propellers in 1940. The Sea Gladiator's propeller looked almost interchangeable with the Swordfish's.
In early 1940 some land based planes still had wooden props like the early Spitfire and Hurricanes. Those were replaced with three bladed constant speed propellers by the Battle of Britain. Of course a lot of training aircraft like the Tiger Moth kept the two bladed wood propellers for the duration.
Bill
I don't know of any FAA aircraft that had two bladed wooden propellers in 1940. The Sea Gladiator's propeller looked almost interchangeable with the Swordfish's.
In early 1940 some land based planes still had wooden props like the early Spitfire and Hurricanes. Those were replaced with three bladed constant speed propellers by the Battle of Britain. Of course a lot of training aircraft like the Tiger Moth kept the two bladed wood propellers for the duration.
Bill
WitP AE - Test team lead, programmer
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RE: What's This? On and both off topic (a little).
That's sort of funny. I can almost imagine Sotheby's auctioning the thing off as a valuable souvenir from the attack on Taranto and then Bill standing up in the middle of the last bid for 15 million saying, "Um, guys, the swordfish that attacked Taranto didn't have wooden propellers". [:D]
RE: What's This? On and both off topic (a little).
It was a good story whilst it lasted. the chap in the shop must have had the wrong story
RE: What's This? On and both off topic (a little).
ORIGINAL: Gary Childress
That's sort of funny. I can almost imagine Sotheby's auctioning the thing off as a valuable souvenir from the attack on Taranto and then Bill standing up in the middle of the last bid for 15 million saying, "Um, guys, the swordfish that attacked Taranto didn't have wooden propellers". [:D]
Would love to be a fly on the wall when the owner finds out.[:@] GP
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RE: What's This? On and both off topic (a little).
Do I still get a point? [:D]
Now Maitland, now's your time!
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
RE: What's This? On and both off topic (a little).
it just goes to show, if an item has a good story, any fool will buy it, to me you buy something if you like it, regardless of the story behind it, there are far too many fakes in the world and greedy people out there trying to take advantage of suckers.
look on fleebay, they sell more world war stuff than was probable made in the wars, jackets with the wrong material in them, bullets made from the wrong metal, helmets from the wrong side faked to look like something else, seen 2 RAF planes for sale the other day, went for a good price as well tbh
might make some junk myself and see which fool will buy it[8|]
look on fleebay, they sell more world war stuff than was probable made in the wars, jackets with the wrong material in them, bullets made from the wrong metal, helmets from the wrong side faked to look like something else, seen 2 RAF planes for sale the other day, went for a good price as well tbh
might make some junk myself and see which fool will buy it[8|]
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RE: What's This? On and both off topic (a little).
Whoever sold this as a Swordfish propeller knowing it wasn't may be several owners back at this point. It may also be that the story got warped in the telling from parent to kid. Maybe it was fashioned and given as a commemorative of the Taranto attack without anyone there believing it came from a Swordfish, but then when the recipient's children were dealing with his estate, they embellished the story out of ignorance and it has perpetuated ever since.
When I was doing a search to see if I was wrong about Swordfish propellers I found an Ebay listing for what was purported to be a tobacco box made from a Swordfish propeller. It was made from a wooden propeller like this was. It looked like an authentic propeller, but again, probably not a Swordfish.
Bill
When I was doing a search to see if I was wrong about Swordfish propellers I found an Ebay listing for what was purported to be a tobacco box made from a Swordfish propeller. It was made from a wooden propeller like this was. It looked like an authentic propeller, but again, probably not a Swordfish.
Bill
WitP AE - Test team lead, programmer