Westland Aircraft Inspection Stamp Help - Spitfire Part?

[konig]

Hi Everyone,

I was wondering if some kind soul would confirm or deny this brass part as a Westland Inspection Stamp. I have seen others such stamps around but none with such high numbers. Also I don't know what type of part this is used for. Any help would be appreciated. More pictures of entire part to come later.

Thank you

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/1808/clip2gg.jpg

Last edited by konig on Sat Dec 03, 2011 4:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Dave Smith]

Certainly looks like a Westland stamp but, as you say, the number appears high. I'm curious as to where the part might have originated.

See here for photos.

http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/k8096.html

[konig]

Hi there,

Yes, numbers are a bit high. 282 might be an inspector number and during the war I'm sure they were many of them.

Here are some photos of the complete piece. It is an interesting piece with what look to be two catches on the top and the bottom. One of these catches has the Westland inspection stamp. To me the large hole suggests a Spitfire access hatch but I haven't been able to confirm this. There are also faint traces of what looks to be dark green or yellow paint on one side which reveals that something was attached to both of these holes...maybe a cover?

Any help with this piece would be appreciated.

Thanks

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/6608/clip4j.jpg
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1381/clip5gv.jpg
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/5815/clip6.jpg
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/4779/clip7u.jpg

[Dave Smith]

Westland built around a thousand Spitfires and Seafires under sub-contract. The exact figure differs in various internet sources. The 282 will be the inspector's personal number but it does seem high for what was a relatively small factory. I suggest you post the pics on the FlyPast Historical Forum. There are many Spitfire experts and restorers on there and I'll be surprised if you don't get a quick identification. It could, of course, be from a Whirlwind and there are one or two specialists on that type too.

[ianH]

The first photo looks very much like the fixed catch for a Spitfire gun access hatch. they were long fore aft panels top and bottom of the wings. I haven't found any matching pics on google. There should be a 300 part number on it, despite it's small size.

[Dave Smith]

Thanks, Ian, you are one of the experts I mentioned!

[konig]

Hi,

Thanks very much for all your help guys. There is no 300 numbers on any of the parts... I've looked over it top and bottom. The only marking is the WA 282 marking on the first image posted at the top of the page. Which Mark of the spitfire had these panels? I'm trying to find it on pictures of the spit but am having difficulty.

Are you saying this is an internal component of the wing that has the catch for the panel or are you saying its the panel itself?

Thanks once again.

[Bruce]

Its a wing spar web from a Spitfire - the part is broken, which might go some way to explain the lack of part numbers - probably on the broken piece!

The bracket is a gun bay catch.



Bruce