Oddball Spade Grip in auction...modified?

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20 years

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With thanks to Rob Leigh- this spade grip - marked (inevitably) Spitfire is up for auction - I'm curious about the modifications - anyone know more?

ATB

TT

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Member for

20 years

Posts: 4,561

A partial Spitfire control column with various markings including 'J31H 955 JS A', mounted on board housing a WWII medal group comprising War and Defence Medals and 1939-1945 Star (other two medals reproductions).

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/adampartridge/catalogue-id-adam-p10172/lot-16980c5d-e5ae-4fcd-822b-aa1900a49b14?fbclid=IwAR39IPIp_An1Pxgk_mqwP-fOKsXO97SJIp2S7Mo3YnT3XolSq0FTFn1RnX4

Member for

16 years 2 months

Posts: 1,911

At a guess, I'd say Firefly of a certain Mark.

Member for

20 years

Posts: 4,561

Great stuff, thanks Alan - is of academic interest to me as not bidding but just piqued curiosity - what do you reckon the 'quarter' addition is ? ATB TT

Member for

16 years 2 months

Posts: 1,911

Without the benefit of a full AP to refer to, I assume it's a lead weight intended to correct the "feel" of the controls? Some late Mark Spitfires (Seafires?) had something similar, clamped around the column, just below the grip, iirc.

Here's a piccie. This is from the T.1 & T.2 Pilot's Notes. I think only the front cockpit had the weight (at least that's the impression from the illustrations).

The empty loop on the left hand side of the weight is for a P-T-T button. The gun firing button should be a Selective Electric.

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Many thanks I’ve learnt something new today! TT