Wright Aircraft Engine Piston Rings

[chris_m_4]

I bought a box of these from a local sale and need some help identifying what they fit and what they are worth.

They are piston rings New old stock 25 in quantity. Wright Aircraft Engine Part #: 132884 packaged 4/7/48.

 

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[DizzyDigger]

Couldn't tell you which engine, but I can tell you they are valuable.

Take a look on eBay at the vintage Wright Aircraft parts for sale...very expensive.

If those rings are in new condition I'd say you've got quite a collectors
item!

 

[chris_m_4]

Yes I did some searching on Ebay but did not have any luck towards a value for these.

 

[Anduril]

Welcome.

From a little web research:
In June 1929, "Wright Aeronautical Corp." merged with the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company to form the "Curtiss Wright Corporation", as shown on your tag.
Organizationally, "Wright Aeronautical Corp" continued to be known by that name following the merger.

Massive spending cuts following WW2 nearly forced the company out of business.
In late 1948 (about the time of your parts package), the company got more bad news when the US military awarded its (first?) jet-fighter contract to competitor Northop.
At that time, Wright had only the XF-87 Blackhawk, (of which only 2 were ever built), and the US Air Force officially passed on that program Oct 10, 1948.

Shortly thereafter, the parent company (Curtiss-Wright Corp.) shut down its airplane division and the assets were sold to North American Aviation.

So, your box of parts looks like it was packaged-up barely 6 or 7 months before the company was sold.
Are these parts for the ill-fated XF-87? Doubtful, but that would be pretty cool to find out.
Most likely, of course, they are parts for an older civilian and/or military reciprocating engine.

To answer your question re: possible value?

I'll bet they're worth a king's ransom to the poor hobbyist who might still have one of these engines in-service !!!
Parts are hard enough to find for a '56 Buick, let alone an aircraft engine from the 20's or 30's!
I would ask around on some aviation forums. Particularly those involved with antique aircraft.
Good luck.

 

[agflit]

Wright R-1820 various itinerations...

ag

 

[Tony in SC]

I would call around to the aircraft maintenance shops to see if they have old shop manuals with the part numbers. An antique aircraft collector would love to have those. Tony

 

[nsdq]

Nice score

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Neat.... you might contact this place, they deal in Wright parts....

Curtiss Wright Engine Parts, T-28 Trojan, R-1820, R-2600,R-3350

 

[chris_m_4]

Thanks for the help guys; I will keep you posted on what I find out.

 

[nsdq]

I know someone that works on vintage aircraft he might be able to help

 

[chris_m_4]

Cool thanks!