Slomoshun
World Famous Hydroplanes
& the people who created them.

Slo-mo Propellors
1950-1956
From Stan Sayres Personal Journal

This is an exact copy
of Propellors used on the Slo-mo-shuns from
1950 to 1956 taken from Stan
Sayres personal Journal, which was given to me by the Sayres Archives.

For all you folks who have followed the Slo-mos very closely over the years and have kept track of the props used in the major events as reported in the newspapers and magazines like, the two World Record runs, will find that the dimensions and pitch of those
props given by Stan at the time of the event DON'T exactly match up to those in his personal
record. GEE, could it be that Stan wasn't giving up all his secrets, to his competitors, or did he just feel that close enough was good enough. Makes me wanna chuckle just a little.

As in his press release on the 1950 World record run he says he used a 14" x 25" prop and in his personal record he says it was a 13 5/8" X 24.5". Now thats a pretty big difference when it comes to props.

And another of the little things he never mentions is that every prop was personally modified by Anchor Jensen. Each prop was reheated and hammer out to add just the right amount of cupping to each blade. I also have to laugh when I read the letters from Hi Johnson, complaining to Stan Sayres about Anchor constantly messing with his props. But Hi
never mentioned a word about it when The Slo-mo IV crushed the World Speed Record or won the Gold Cup. But then thats another whole story.

Following is a note from Don Ibsen, one of the original crew members:

Dick: I saw your prop list and I have a 3 blade bronze Hi J (Hi Johson) prop #816 that did not appear on the list. I don't know if any records still exist with Hi Johnson people. This prop was used to break in engines, since it was much smoother running.


Dick Carroll

Into Page

Hi Johson Propellors
Year Number Size (Width & Pitch) Peformance
1950 525 13 5/8 x 24.5 '50 World Record
1950 527 13 3/4 x 24.5 '50 Harmsworth
1950 643 13.5 x 22.5 '50 Lake Mead-0ut
1951 ?    
1952 711 13.5 x 22.5 Good
1952 831 13 1/4 x 22.5 Good
1952 835 13 1/4 x 23 '52 World Record
1952 1107 13.5 x 21 .5 Fast -Accel
1952 1124 13 3/4 x 26 Too Much Pitch
1952 1161 13.5 x 22.5 Good
1952 1165 13 1/4 x 23 Good
1952 1246 13.5 x 21.5 Fat-Rugged "V"
1952 1273 13 x 23 Good (3) Accel
       
1953 1371 13 X 23  
1953 1372 13 x 23.5  
1953 1462 13 x 23 Short Hub- slow
1953 1467 13 5/8 x 22.5 Good on Accel-13
1953 1511 13 3/16 x 22.5  
1953 1525 13.5 x 22.5 1st heat -Silver C
1953 1526 13 3/8 x 22  
1953 1540 13 3/8 x 22 OK-2&3 Pres.Cup
1953 1576 13 1/4 x 22 Lst.H.Pres.Cup
1953 1578 12 3/4 x 22.5 New M.-Not Good
1953 1546    
1953 1584 13 1/4 x 21.5 NG Small Area
1954 1610 13 x 23.5 NG Small Area
1954 1723   OH
1954 1724    
1954 1739    
1954 1744 13.5 x 23  
1954      
1954 1170 13.5 x 23.5  
1955 1862 12 7/8 x 21.5  
1955 1867 12 13/16 x 22.5  
1955 *1925 13 X 20.5 -Rake-15- 6-7
1955 1928 13 x 20.5 -Rake-10- 6-0
1955 1929 13 x 21.5 -Rake-12- 6-7
1955 1930 - x 21.5  
1955 1932 - x 21.5 (low) 6&7
1955 Monel    
1952? #816 3 blade...(all other props listed are 2 blades) See Ibsen note in left column
    Stannus
Propellors
 
  3008-2 13 x 22 Won 54 Gold Cup
  3129 13 x 22 New
  3333 13 x 22 " Steel Forging
    Four returned after cracking  
       
1956   Manufacturer
NOT named
 
  *?1862 12 7/8 x 21.5 (Miss S)
  *1867 12 13/16 x 22.5  
  1925 13 x 20.5 ( Bill B)
  *1928 13 x 20.5  
  *1929 13 x 21.5 ng
  1930 - x 21.5  
  *1932 -22.5  
  *Let'em try