PUBLICITY
Having such a unique profession obviously attracts a lot of attention. Not just from locals, but media, car clubs, hobby groups, aircraft enthusiasts and lovers of all things carpentry. Here are some of the past publications or stories that have come from visitors to Jeff’s workshop…
NZ Today - No 51 Aug-Sep 2013 edition
CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE AND READ ARTICLE
‘A Prop With A History’
Horowhenua Mail newspaper July 10, 2014 - by Joel Maxwell
Wartime history: Manakau’s Jeff Fox with an original Sopwith Camel propeller, restored and modified with a barometer and a backing plate by owner Tony Long.
A World War I aircraft propeller, smuggled to Horowhenua by mail in 1919, has returned for a project to preserve its engineering history.
Manakau propeller maker Jeff Fox brought the original Sopwith Camel propeller, spanning more than 2 metres, back from Taupo about three weeks ago.
The propeller came from one of the iconic biplanes flown in France during the Great War.
Fox said he was contacted by Taupo man Tony Long who saw an article about the propeller- maker in an aviation magazine.
Long's propeller came from a Camel flown by his father in France during the war.
After following up an invitation to go to Taupo and look at the piece of wartime history, Fox asked if there was any chance he could make a pattern from it.
He was told "you'd better take it then", by Long.
Fox has used the propeller to shape a "master" on a copy router, which he designed and created himself.
The master - half a propeller - can be used as a pattern to shape more propellers for any Camels that are built, he said.
Meanwhile Long told the Horowhenua Mail his father Wilfred Long returned to farm north of Levin after the war - and the propeller came with him.
Tony Long said his father enlisted in the cavalry and while in Egypt was wounded and told he was no longer fit for service.
CONTINUE READING THE FULL STORY HERE
‘BLOKES & THEIR SHEDS’
Kapiti Observer newspaper March 18, 2014 - by Joel Maxwell
Shed heads: Manakau propeller-maker Jeff Fox, right, shares his workshop secrets with Menzshed members from around New Zealand on Saturday.
Blokes' shed enthusiasts were ushered through a workshop treasure trove on Saturday as part of their national conference.
Menzshed Kapiti hosted the conference running from Friday, which included a trip to the workshop of Manakau propeller-maker Jeff Fox.
Fox, a builder, got involved in propeller-making in the early 90s as a ''spin-off'' from doing woodwork for vintage cars, and meeting people involved in aircraft work too.
''I ended up doing work for them, and then propellers for them, and it went from there, really.''Nowadays his work comes from word of mouth, and ''might fill six months of the year in'', he said.The work also helped make for an fascinating visit for the Menzshed group of about 35 visitors, who travelled to his property by bus on Saturday.
CONTINUE READING THE FULL STORY HERE
OTHER LINKS
‘Levin Rotary's Cave Tour to give insight into local sheds and workshops’
‘Beaded Wheels No. 308 February/March 2011’
CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY - SCROLL TO PAGE 10
‘A replica propeller off of a 1913 Morane-Saulnier monoplane flown by no other than ace Roland Garros’
CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY - A FACEBOOK POST FROM FAMILY
Plus many other random publications from around the world featuring photographs of a Fox Prop on planes….
We would also like to thank Classic Aero Machining Service, The Vintage Aviator as well as Classic Aircraft Photography for the use of some of their images/videos on our website.