Warbird Information Exchange

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]

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

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

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

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.

astixjr wrote: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.

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

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

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.

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

jcw

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.

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!!

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

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.

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