Rotol Airscrews
Rotol Airscrews of Staverton, Churchdown, Gloucester
1930s For some years Rolls-Royce and Bristol Aeroplane Co had been co-operating in the development of the Hele-shaw Hub[1].
1937 The company was formed on 13th May 1937 by Rolls-Royce and Bristol Aeroplane Co to take over both companies's propeller developments, the market being too small for more than one company in this space. The name was a contraction of "ROlls-Royce" and "BrisTOL". Rotol props were considered leading edge - their models equipping the Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfire, and many other Second World War aircraft.
They started in temporary premises in Llanthony Road, Gloucester but transferred to the new factory at Staverton at the end of 1937
1939 See Aircraft Industry Suppliers
WWII Took over other factories at Worcester (Constant Speed Units), Frome (Precision and finished parts), Ossett and Trafford Park (wooden blades) and Kilmarnock (electric propellers).
WWII Rotol produced over 30,000 airscrews for Hurricanes and Spitfires in three, four or five blade versions, as well as for other aircraft. By the end of the war a total of 100,000 airscrews had been produced and used on more than sixty types of production aircraft and another forty prototypes.
1943 Changed name from Rotol Airscrews to Rotol
By the end of the war they had introduced the first five-bladed propeller to see widespread use, used on late-model Spitfires.
At some point, acquired Hordern-Richmond Aircraft
1952 Acquired British Messier[2]
1954 Rotol Ltd. Design, development and manufacture of variable-pitch aircraft propellers, variable pitch marine propellers and accessory gearboxes for aero-engines and aircraft. Directors: A. E. Russell, D.Sc., F.R.Ae.S., F.I.Ae.S.; A. G. Elliot, C.B.E., F.R.Ae.S.; Sir W. Reginald Verdon Smith, M.A., B.C.L.; W. T. Gill; Lt.-Gen. Sir John Evetts, C.B., C.B.E., M.C. Managing). Senior Executives: D. A. Tomlinson, A.C.A. {Secretary)', L. G. Fairhurst, M.I.Mech.E., F.R.Ae.S. {Chief Engineer)', B. S. Clark {Sales Manager). Head Office and Works: Cheltenham Road, Gloucester. T.: Gloucester 24431. T.A.: Rotol Gloucester. Flight Test Dept.: Moreton Valance, nr. Gloucester. T.: Hardwicke 358. Subsidiary Company: British Messier, Ltd. [3]
1959 Rotol and its subsidiary British Messier was acquired by Dowty Equipment to became Dowty Rotol[4]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The Times, 9 July 1937
- ↑ The Times, Nov 10, 1952
- ↑ 1954 The Aeroplane Directory of the Aviation and Allied Industries
- ↑ The Times, Aug 13, 1959
- [1] Wikipedia
- Rotol by Bruce Stait. Published 1990. ISBN 0 9516815 0 8