A friend sent me a picture of this odd shaped propeller. Notice the rounded edges. Does anyone know what this is? I thought it could be a stirring blade.
https://imgur.com/gallery/brjmLS0

It is decorative, and not for use - notice lack of pitch on the blades.

No feature inside its hub to transfer torque from a shaft to the blades.

Reading the comments, the liquid tank mixer is a maybe. Not food prep, though. Lack of keyway could only mean it was not yet cut into the hub.

quote:

Originally posted by 280nosler:
It is decorative, and not for use - notice lack of pitch on the blades.

There is enough pitch for a low speed mixing application.

How large is it? To me, it looks decorative.

There are low speed propellers used milk tanks, etc to prevent the cream from separating, but those were bronze or monel before stainless.

where it was located might be of some help.

On a farm, in in a factory , 30,000 leagues under the sea, a giant pastry shop,

It does look similar to marine-style mixing impellers, but I don't know about those big round ridges on the edges.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
where it was located might be of some help.

On a farm, in in a factory , 30,000 leagues under the sea, a giant pastry shop,

Food service have been using stainless steel since the 1930's, and that is rusted heavily, meaning it is high carbon. It would not efficiently move air, and the blades only have the slightest pitch.

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
How large is it? To me, it looks decorative.

There are low speed propellers used milk tanks, etc to prevent the cream from separating, but those were bronze or monel before stainless.

Milk tank agitators are usually paddles and not propeller style like the one in the pic. At least all the ones I've seen. I used to work dairy farms during the summers while in high school.

This was picked up in an antique store in Maine. It is roughly 32” in diameter.

With the ridge around the entire perimeter of the blades, it can't possibly function as a propeller. It wouldn't make a very good fan or pump impeller, either.

quote:

Originally posted by Minnow:
This was picked up in an antique store in Maine. It is roughly 32” in diameter.

Wall Art most likely, smooth edges so it won't cut anyone/thing

I'll guess for some type of industrial blending, if not food since its iron, paint, fertilizer, animal feed or sewage?

Its strange to see a raised round edge on all sides of a propeller. Which means it either isn't intended to be efficient, or is decorative. It seems awfully large and heavy to be decorative. If it was decorative why would you add the mass around the edges that only makes it look unlike what it is trying copy and uses more iron to make.

quote:

Originally posted by Minnow:
This was picked up in an antique store in Maine. It is roughly 32” in diameter.

Can you verify that it is cast iron or steel?

quote:

Originally posted by BigSwede:

quote:

Originally posted by Minnow:
This was picked up in an antique store in Maine. It is roughly 32” in diameter.

Can you verify that it is cast iron or steel?

I live to far away to get my hands on it. I was told a magnet will stick to it, which makes sense with what looks like rust all over.

It looks like an auger of sorts.......

That's most assuredly for a ceiling fan

If not, one more for decorative.

Could it be an unfinished casting?
Though for the life of me I can't think of an advantage to casting it that way...

quote:

Originally posted by motor59:
Could it be an unfinished casting?
Though for the life of me I can't think of an advantage to casting it that way...

It makes it less efficient as a propulsion or material mover device, but makes it more durable than a propeller that normally has sharper edges. It also makes it less likely to cut solids or semi solids it might be moving or blending.

I'm going to hazard it is for moving or pulverizing paper or wood pulp.