Alcoa Propellers

[Edwin Howard]

Does anyone know which brands might have used a propeller made by Alcoa? Or are they more of an aftermarket propeller company?

[joecb]

I would be surprised to learn that ALCOA actual made propellors, more likely some manufacturer used ALCOA aluminum to make the props.

Joe B

[Edwin Howard]

Here are some pictures of the propeller. It has what looks like a logo saying Alcoa, so I figured it was a brand, but possibly not. it is marked 96, not sure what that might stand for.

[BRENT KILLIAN]

I thought that that propeller looked familiar, so I went out in the garage.  Turns out my 1941 Waterwitch 571.35 air cooled 1 HP (earlier motors are 3/4 HP) has an Alcoa that looks almost exactly the same apart from a slightly wider blade tip in proportion to the area of the blades near the propeller (although that could have something to do with the picture), and no number marked on it.  It appears that the rotation direction of that propeller is the opposite of mine, although that could have something to do with a picture flip somewhere along the conversion process from jpeg to image adress/url.  Due to the size, I would guess that that propeller is also from a 3/4 HP Waterwitch.  1941 was the last year of the air cooled to my knowledge, so that would be an earlier air cooled if it is air cooled, or it could also be a water cooled engine, which would probably have been made before 1941 as well.

"Outboards seem to multiply exponentially..........I find that for every finished project, there are two more waiting to be completed."

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Edwin Howard

[Edwin Howard]

The propeller came with a Frankenstein Neptune motor I was given, and I am fairly certain it does not belong on the motor. The motor’s shaft is designed for and has a 5/32 shear pin and the prop is designed for a 3/16 shear pin. I just wanted to know if this could have been a stock prop, but now I believe that sears motors used them. Thanks for the help, hopefully I can find the correct one.

[outbdnut2]

Alcoa did make propellers.   The site below says around 1925.

Dave

https://www.moma.org/collection/works/2465

[Tubs]

Pal, Scout, Ranger Prop if it’s bout 6 ” long.  Also Ace, but that prop is a little bigger

A "Boathouse Repair" is one that done without having tools or the skills to do it properly.

[BRENT KILLIAN]

Edwin Howard wrote:

The propeller came with a Frankenstein Neptune motor I was given, and I am fairly certain it does not belong on the motor. The motor’s shaft is designed for and has a 5/32 shear pin and the prop is designed for a 3/16 shear pin. I just wanted to know if this could have been a stock prop, but now I believe that sears motors used them. Thanks for the help, hopefully I can find the correct one.

I think Neptune would have made their own props, but I do agree with Tubs in that it is one of those propellers.  That being said, it was probably used on both Sears and OMC motors of smaller horsepower.

"Outboards seem to multiply exponentially..........I find that for every finished project, there are two more waiting to be completed."

[seakaye12]

That ALCOA logo seems to appear on various aluminum products.  Perhaps ALCOA had an agreement with fabricators?  Use our Aluminum ….put our Logo on it!

Maybe they got a better price if they agreed to that?

[BRENT KILLIAN]

seakaye12 wrote:

That ALCOA logo seems to appear on various aluminum products.  Perhaps ALCOA had an agreement with fabricators?  Use our Aluminum ….put our Logo on it!

Maybe they got a better price if they agreed to that?

something along those lines would make sense, or there is also a possibility that they just produced a ton of small propellers and they were cheaper and easier to buy than to make in the factory.

"Outboards seem to multiply exponentially..........I find that for every finished project, there are two more waiting to be completed."

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