Elliptcal markings in German propeller blades...?

[Fernando Estanislau]

Just found this image at ebay.de:



Can somebody tell me what the markings on the blades mean? ... any ideas about the color and what is written on them?

The link for the auction is:

http://cgi.ebay.de/065-Orig-Foto-AK-...QQcmdZViewItem

Best regards.

[F19Gladiator]

It is a propeller manufacturer label. VDM, or Vereinigte Deutsche Metallwerke AG in this case.
Not sure about the colours though.
This picture has been published many times and I suspect it is a manufacturer photo of the first Bf 109 E-0 taken for advertising purposes.

[Fernando Estanislau]

Thank you, Gladiator.

Is there any chance of figuring out what is writen in the label?

There is a line in light color, followed by two sentences in dark color (long and short, respectively) and a third one in light color which looks like "VDM". I am not sure, though.

Any ideas?

Best regards.

[F19Gladiator]

Hi fernando,

Difficult but challenging question this! I’ve searched many sources but I still do not have the complete answer.

VDM propellers seem to have many different variants over time. This is a 1938 variant as this apparently is from a Bf 109 E-0 according to pictures published on page 78-80 in Radinger and Schicks’ “Messerschmitt Bf 109 A-E” Schiffer Publ. Ltd, 1999.
In this source, on p.80, is the best picture with a large size and detail enabling some conclusions.
On top in white is written:
Verstellpropeller

In black in the middle of the oval are two lines with words.
The upper most probably reads:
Vereinigte Deutsche Metallwerke A G

The second line consists of two words which are impossible to read clearly.
They could however in length and content perhaps, perhaps, perhaps be:
Hamburg Altona
after the company branch apparently involved with the manufacturing of aircraft propellers, which was formed from the earlier compound of the Altonaer Maschinenfabrik AG in Hamburg and became the branch Hamburg-Altona of VDM.
http://www.hessischeswirtschaftsarchiv.de/bestaende/118.html

On the bottom in white is:
V D M

So it could be like this:

Verstellpropeller
Vereinigte Deutsche Metallwerke A G
Hamburg Altona
V D M

Colour? I don’t know.
From wartime colour photos, the later triangular VDM labels seems to be in a mid blue colour.
However, of the earlier oval variants I have seen no useful colour picture yet as these are rare (Or non-existing).

An article on Falcon’s “the 109 Lair” on building the Bf 109 V14 racing aircraft participating in the Zurich IVth International Airmeeting in 1937, showing a similar oval propeller label shows the label colour as red. The source of information on the label colour is not revealed. I suppose it can be from a decal sheet. Perhaps the:
from an Aeromaster 109 stencil sheet or an Aeromaster decal sheet for early 109’s, as both are referred to in ther article.
Studying the pictures in the article closely I have the opinion that they do not match the ones on the photo you are asking about perfectly, why they might be of the wrong type.

The V13 and V14 had threebladed VDM propellers, and so did the Bf 109 E-0. Pictures show that all three had similar oval VDM labels.

http://109lair.hobbyvista.com/index1024.htm

This is what I have found. I hope it can be of help and/or inspire someone to find the final and ultimate answer.

[Fernando Estanislau]

Thank you for your words, Gladiator. Your help was much appreciated.


Best Regards.