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Part 41: Propeller blade

41	Propeller blade	1909	1979	4	4	0

The parts

One of the first specialised Meccano parts, the propeller blades can't be used for much other than their obvious application. The early propeller blades can be straightened and used in other areas, but the formed shape of the later type of blades is pretty much fixed.

Chronological variations

The early blades were introduced in 1909, in outfits 5 and 6 (the largest at the time). In 1926, they were painted pea-red (along with the "New Meccano" parts), and in 1927 gained a second hole and changed to dark red.

The second and much more common design of part 41 remained all the way through UK production, although later versions are rare as they were dropped from outfits in 1954 (previously they had been supplied in both outfits 9 and 10). Light red and later varieties were therefore only supplied as spare parts, but no manual models used them and therefore they would have rarely been needed.

The first of the type 2 shaped blades (in dark red) are found both left- and right-handed. I believe it can be assumed that the unusual left-handed versions came first, and the much more common right-hand variety soon replaced it and continued through all other colour schemes.

Of course, even after the advent of dark red/green Meccano one could still order nickel-plated parts from the Meccano factory. The propeller blade is one of those parts that changed just after the start of coloured Meccano, so the type 2 blade in nickel (type .ni2 below) would only have been available by special order and as such is a very rare part. The type 1 blade with two holes in nickel finish (normally only available in dark red) also exists, but to special order only.

Variations and oddities

Apart from the left-handed and right-handed varieties, one obviously strange combination is this pair of all-yellow blades (apologies for the unclear picture). These appear to be late 60's yellow blades that should have had a black tip, but have been 'freed' from Binns Road before they had their second paint colour added.

Dealer spare parts boxes

To the left in the photo above, post-war medium red/green propeller blades in brown paper. To the right, the light green label on the yellow box identifies the parts as being light red/green, from 1958 to 1963. After the blades were dropped from all outfits, blades such as these light red ones with a light green tip would only have been available as spare parts.

Individual part numbers

Part numbers for the parts on this page are as follows:    Unique part numbers
For identification, each variation has been given a suffix to the main Meccano part number. These suffixes consist of a two-character code for the colour, and if there are many variations, a further number and sometimes letter code to identify each variation. See the bottom of the 'Parts' page for further details.

You don't need to worry what the codes are, just click on any one for a photograph.

The button above turns on and off the display of DMS numbers (where they are known). The DMS (Development of the Meccano System, Hauton and Hindemarsh) published in 1972 and added to in 75 and 82, suggested part numbers for every variation of every Meccano part. These numbers aren't perfect, but they are recognised and also referenced in the EMP (Encyclopedia of Meccano Parts, Don Blakeborough).

Description	from	41
Nickel plated 3¼'' x 1½''	09	.ni
Blackened steel 3¼'' x 1½'' †	15?	.bs
Early red (pea-red), 3¼'' x 1½'', one hole	26	.re
Early red (pea-red), 3¼'' x 1½'', two holes	??	.re1
Nickel plated, 3¼'' x 1½'', two holes (special order) †	26-41	.ni3
Dark red 3¼'' x 1½'', two holes	27	.dr
Nickel 3½'' x 1'' (approx), left-handed (special order only)	27?	.ni2a
Nickel 3½'' x 1'' (approx), right-handed (special order only)	27?	.ni2
Dark red 3½'' x 1'' (approx), left-handed	27	.dr1
Dark red 3½'' x 1'' (approx), right-handed	27?	.dr2
Dark red with dark green tip	33?	.dr3
Gold with dark blue tip	34	.go
Medium red with medium green tip, pre-war stamping	34	.mr1
Medium red with medium green tip	49	.mr
Light red with light green tip	58	.lr
Yellow with black tip	64	.ye
Black with yellow tip	60s?	.bk
		ALL

Please send us pictures of missing parts! Hints and tips for pictures
Take a picture of the part in very good light, preferably on a plain yellow background, without a flash but with a tripod.
Ideally, trim the picture to about 150 pixels per inch of the Meccano part (unless the part is particularly big or small), save it as a reasonably good quality jpg file with a filename of exactly the part number, for example 19b.ni1.jpg, and email it to us by clicking on 'Contact us' at the top of the page. Thanks!

• A greyed-out box shows that no part exists for that colour combination.
• Part number codes with a green background have an attached picture of the part, just click once on the code to show a photograph of that part in a separate window.
• Parts marked "†" were temporary or economy parts, or existed only within specific themed outfits. The previous part continued throughout or afterwards.

Further information

Total number of messages on this page: 11.  This is page 1 of 2.   

Bob T      (at 7:26pm, Wed 12th Apr, 23)

Francis, c'est Meccano Airplane part P198, tapez 'Aero Special Parts' dans le champ de recherche

Francis LAMAILLE      (at 5:03pm, Wed 12th Apr, 23)

Bonjour, Où pourrais-je trouver des informations sur l'hélice # 198 ? Cette hélice bipales mesure 118 mm, possède un moyeu à vis de serrage, et est marquée " MECCANO " sur l'une des pales.Sur un site de ventes j'ai récupéré il y a quelques années la photo d'une hélice identique en vente indiquait une période de 1933 à 1941. Donc elle ne peut être que de fabrication anglaise.

peter ashby      (at 4:24pm, Sun 19th Jul, 15)

sorry images 92054 and 92055, not the numbers I quoted previously

peter ashby      (at 4:17pm, Sun 19th Jul, 15)

pictures added to the gallery [image-90254] [image-90255]

peter ashby      (at 2:39am, Sun 19th Jul, 15)

I was just sorting through some of my meccano, when I spotted I had a left hand blade, so came here to check, on closer inspection though I seem to have a variant not mentioned here, its nickel/ bare metal with a green tip, right hand with 2 holes - later shape.

John Hassell      (at 1:53am, Sat 30th Jun, 12)

I was cleaning up some old propeller blades for re-painting and found that the mid-red with green tip blades have a line scribed on both sides marking the boundary of the green paint. Only obvious with the paint removed. A line to guide the girl painting the tips?

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