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Every sale over $75 gets FREE SHIPPING!
(Free shipping valid to lower 48 states. For rates to Alaska and Hawaii, call 1-888-851-9088 toll-free. Canadian residents, call 1-919-336-3154. Questions
may also be emailed to us. Items that we frequently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada have discounted shipping rates listed on their pages.)
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Propellers
Wooden and Antique Airplane Propellers
While airplane propellers have helped pull (or even push) winged aircraft since the early days of flight, aviation fanatics has focused on antique wood propellers in particular as symbolic of man's early forays into the air.
Whether propped in a corner, lying across a fireplace mantel or hanging behind a sofa, an old looking wooden prop makes an understated fashion statement while also showing where the owner's loyalties lie.
The earliest airplane propellers, according to www.woodenpropeller.com, tended to be at least eight feet in length with eight boltholes on the hub and were generally made in darker woods. While our WWI replica propellers are edged in brass, early pilots chose a variety of other materials including fabric or other bendable metals to protect the edges of their fragile props from stones and debris found on rough fields.
These propellers were generally laminated for strength, and those that have survived in decent shape can be worth thousands of dollars. While older wood airplane propellers in poor condition are fairly common, an attractive older wood prop in good condition, particularly one with "eye appeal" and metal edging, is very hard to find.
The Best Airplane Propellers and Pilot Gifts
Our replica propellers are made in the Philippines of top grade mahogany, but that particular wood was not used for very long in the production of WWI era props because of its soft nature. Walnut and mahogany were common in the earliest models, but had given away to sturdy, inexpensive oak by the post WWI era.
Our wood propeller replicas are a blend of a few handsome early WWI era props, with subtle changes that we found have made them better as decorative decor. First, we made our largest propeller (our eight footer) a little thinner and lighter so that it can actually be hung with ease, (real ones can become a three-man job). Secondly, we reduced the pitch slightly, as many attractive wood props have such a steep blade angle that they don't look good on the wall.
If you want to purchase an actual, good looking antique airplane propeller, we understand and wish you (and your wallet) well, but if you want a good looking (and good quality) wood propeller at a price that doesn't break your budget, we think we have your answer. For more information on antique wood propellers, we recommend visiting www.woodenpropeller.com/Propeller_Identification.html.
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