Brunner Winkle Bird mystery part

[threepoint]

Hi. I am new to the site and look forward to learning lots from you guys!! I have a '29 Brunner Winkle Bird, Model B that I am currently restoring. As with may restorers, when I see another Bird I try to photograph it for informational purposes. My Bird is currently in lots of pieces and this has helped on more than one occasion! I took pictures of a Bird in California and upon returning home and sorting through them I cam upon one that puzzles me. Located on the forward right side of the firewall is a glass container with a thin copper tube out of the top. Does anyone know what this might be? The California Bird has a 100hp Kinner installed.

I am trying to post a picture of it but am having some difficulty. If the picture does not come through and someone can clue me in on image posting, I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

-Jim

[img]file:///Users/jamesbaker/Desktop/DSC03549.jpg[/img]

[jcw]

jim

we rebuilt our BK about 40 years ago. we still have it and i fly it regularly. i have all the drawings for all the models.. send me a pictures and i'll see what i can come up with for you... wrightj@canby.com... i have about 1700 hours of Bird time and climbing.. we did an STC for the eng mount as well as the eng and are using a B5 Kinner (125)... we shock mounted the front so the eng won't shake the acft to death.. have all the drawing for that also..

good luck

jeff wright

[Airplanejunkie]

Posting pictures can be a pain until you get it figured out. Check out the thread in the WIX hangar about posting photos. Note: you can't do it without a Photobucket or similar account.....


Check your PMs for my email. I own a Bird and have helped restore another. My guess is Jeff will know but I'd like to see, also.

Best,

Steve

[Airplanejunkie]

This part?



My bird doesn't have one, nor does the CK I am pretty familiar with. I showed the picture around the hangar today and the best guess was some kind of electric fuel pump?

Steve

[astixjr]

Espresso maker?

Seriously, that's an interesting device. Maybe an oiler? There is a Wright powered Bird in the hangar across from my Stearman and an OX-5 Bird in the museum. I can have a look on Saturday.

[Airplanejunkie]

Espresso maker?

Seriously, that's an interesting device. Maybe an oiler? There is a Wright powered Bird in the hangar across from my Stearman and an OX-5 Bird in the museum. I can have a look on Saturday.

Espresso Maker? I want one for my Bird.

I realize that this info was in Jim's email to me: This part is on a Bird BK...Kinner K5 engine.

I hand't thought of an oiler of some kind.

[The Inspector]

A deairiator that works on siphon like your cars overflow tank perhaps?

[threepoint]

Thanks for posting the picture Steve. I'll get the picture posting figured out shortly......

I heard from Jeff who thought it looked like a battery vent bottle to hold baking powder to neutralize acid prior to venting overboard - saving any damage to metal/fabric/paint. However....... I do like the idea of the espresso machine!!

Al- I did see the OX-5 Bird at Creve Coeur but not real close...... I was helping get Tom's N3N ready to go to Colorado. Recently I heard there was another bird there.

-Jim

[Eric Presten]

I think this is a static atmosphere for one of the early Pioneer vertical speed indicators. I have seen converted Thermos brand bottles similar to this used on Fleets including one that I bought from a poster on this site for a Fleet 1 that is based on my home airport. The one thing that makes me question this idea is that they are not generally mounted forward of the firewall.

[jcw]

eric
you may be correct... i haven't seen one of those for years

jcw

[barnbstormer]

Here is an Original late 20s/early 30s one, in nice condition. I have a bunch of rare early aero instruments and cockpit items, for antiques & classics, including some rare ones that I had been saving for a Spirit of St Louis inst panel.. Been selling them off, privately, to restorers and collectors & museums, with the rest of my 40 year collection.

[threepoint]

Thanks for all the good information. I have contacted the folks who own the Bird with the mystery part but as of yet, have not had a reply. I am going to try to attach a photo of the instrument panel - mostly to see if I have figured out how to post pictures. It doesn't appear to have a VSI but, as we all know, that doesn't mean that what may have been associated with prior instruments was necessarily removed......

Thanks again for your help!!

[threepoint]

I think I have the picture posting figured out...... Here is the picture I tried to attach to the above post.......

[astixjr]

I showed the photo to John Cournoyer and he said it was indeed a pressure tank for one of the early instruments. I can't remember if he said VSI or Altimeter. I was wrong. It's not an espresso machine.

[threepoint]

Mystery solved. But....... I was looking forward to espresso!!