Need help in identifying propeller blade

[rankal]

Hi,

I have a propeller blade that supposedly came from a spitfire.
I've added links to some pictures of the blade and the text stamped on the bottom, and would appreciate any comments on the meaning of that text and ideas regarding where that blade came from.

Blade picture: https://picasaweb.google.com/ran.kalechman/August272011#5645443986860683106
Picture of blade base: https://picasaweb.google.com/ran.kalechman/August272011#5645443416617737986
Marking on the blade base: https://picasaweb.google.com/ran.kalechman/August272011#5645442889653268242

Hope the links are working - this is my first post

Thanks,
Ran

[jpharker]

Ran,

My first instinct is to say its a ground adjustable McCauley hollow steel prop. These were used on aircraft such as Stearmans and Wacos. I used to have one installed on a Waco. It was a good performing propeller.

Regards,
Pat

[One-0-Wonder]

100 % not Spitfire. Sorry.

[shrike]

Definitely a US Army style McCauley prop blade for Stearman or the like.

The markings on the bottom are the DRAWing number it was made to:SS 135-9 , CONTract number it was purchased under :W 858 AC 160008, and individual blade SERial number: 41-26054. The triangular mark is an acceptance/inspection mark and the last bit of data may be a match number for the assembly - 2 blades and a hub.

Depending on condition, which would require stripping the paint, beadblasting the hub end, checking for corrosion and magnafluxing the whole blade, it may be more valuable in the 'real world' than a Spitfire prop. There are a lot more flying Stearmans than there are Spits, and the blades are subject to periodic (100 hr) inspections

[rankal]

Thanks Jpharker, One-0-wonder, Shrike for your comments.

Shrike - Thanks for the very detailed answer, I was quite curious about the different markings. The prop came from an IAF dump and the IAF did operate Stearmans so it makes sense.

Regards,
Ran