1930s Wooden Propeller Clock

A two-bladed wooden propeller from Armstrong Siddley Cheetah X aero engine, retro fitted with a timepiece 8-day clock.

The Propeller

The base of the hub is mounted with a brass plate stamped ‘DRG No.Z 3934/3 Cheetah X LH D.7.17 P7.17’.

Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah is a seven-cylinder British air-cooled aircraft radial engine of 834 cu in (13.65 L) capacity introduced in 1935 and produced until 1948. Model X was introduced in 1938. The Cheetah engine was used on a variety of aircraft,  including:

• Airspeed Oxford
• Airspeed – various other models
• Avro Anson
• Avro 626 and 652
• Bristol Bulldog
• De Havilland Hawk Moth

The Clock

The 8-day bulkhead clock is set in a heavy cast brass hinged bezel. The movement has a platform escapement. A regulation lever extends through the dial above the subsidiary seconds dial.  The original white dial is signed for Kelvin, White & Hutton.

It has matching blued steel hands. The movement has been overhauled and is guaranteed for 3 years.

Kelvin, White & Hutton are listed as working at 11 Billiter Street, London from 1904 to 1937. The firm was founded by William Thompson who later became Lord Kelvin. At age 21 he was offered the Professorship of Natural Philosophy at Glasgow University, a post he held for 53 years.

Overall length: 7 feet 2 inches (220cms)

Width: 11 inches (27 cms)

Depth: 7¾ inches (19.5 cms)