Watermole+ wrote:Whilst not wishing to appear as a nit-picker Nobby, the drawing doesn't show fluted floats, but vaned floats as per Frank Oates patent.
There is a big difference in that vaned floats have normal oval, or tapered bodies, which have vanes set in to slots cut along the length, as this drawing clearly shows in the end elevation at the top of the picture.
The fluted float in the strict sense of the word, has a 'normal' oval or tapered body, which has the fluting cut in to it, usually in four places. In this case, the body of the float is virtually parallel all the way down, to all intents & purposes, rather like the "web", or core of a twist drill and it is the flutes, NOT the body which are oval or tapered.
The difference between the two is that the vaned float has more body mass and must therefore be the more buoyant, size for size, whilst the true, fluted float would have far less water resistance and drag..
..just my two denarii worth..
wm+
That's a fair point Wm+, I think what we see being made by current floatmakers are more fluted than vaned....indeed they have no body apart from what connects the vanes, whereas the original patent drawings are clearly bodies with vanes added.
I think those current floats are largely made using routers, though JAA came up with a way to copy the Belglow ones a couple of years ago.
I suppose it all comes down to how you interpret those words fluted and vaned.....one hears of the Fluted Avon, but really they were vaned I suppose? Indeed the Williams/Oates patent uses the word vaned.
What should I call these? The flutes are so pronounced they have become vanes...there is no part apart from the vanes...
Here's some more,.... from the left, 5,6,and 7 .... had them for years and only just identified them this year....and I suppose these truly are fluted:
From the left, a rare cork one, three Belglows, the 3 mystery floats . One by a chap who sold on eBay and may have moved to France. A JAA Belglow copy and three by me made to his method.
Here's how I accidentally identified the mystery three:
All from a Tom Watson catalogue for 1969-70. It rather implies that Maj. Smalley made them to Jim Sharp's design....
Now I just need a Fluted Windscape to complete the set. I can't imagine what use they were though...maybe I'm not 'discerning' enough....
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