An old cigarette card (c. 1929) with a portrait of George 'Gogu' Constantinescu/or Constantinesco (1881–1965) and an illustration of his synchronised machine gun for firing through the propeller of aeroplanes. The Constantinesco synchronisation gear (or 'CC gear') was used operationally with the No. 55 squadron RFC (RAF) from March 1917, during World War I.
An old cigarette card (c. 1929) with a portrait of George 'Gogu' Constantinescu/or Constantinesco (1881–1965) and an illustration of his synchronised machine gun for firing through the propeller of aeroplanes. Constantinescu was a Romanian scientist, engineer and inventor. During his career, he registered over 130 inventions. His hydraulic machine gun synchronisation gear allowed aircraft-mounted guns to shoot between the spinning blades of the propeller. The Constantinesco synchronisation gear (or 'CC gear') was used operationally with the No. 55 squadron RFC (RAF) from March 1917, during World War I, and rapidly became standard equipment, replacing a variety of mechanical gears. It continued to be used by the Royal Air Force until World War II – the Gloster Gladiator being the last British fighter to be equipped with it. This card is from a 1929 set entitled 'Scientific Inventions and Discoveries' (35 cards in the series). The firm of R and J Hill Cigarettes was established on Shoreditch High Street, Hackney, London in the 1700s. In the twentieth century the company issued cards with their Sunripe and Spinet Oval cigarettes. The firm expanded to include H Archer and Co and issued cards, like this set, under 'The Spinet House' brand. The company no longer exists.
Size: 1978px × 3307px
Location: Romania
Photo credit: © M&N / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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