Mystery floats.
- Thread starter Harold
- Start date
mvivion
FOUNDER
Bozeman,MT
Thanks for your reply. They look Very close but are flat and not rounded on top. All floats I’ve looked at are flat on top. These are definitely an anomaly that way. Very similar.
I could be wrong but the Montana floats I see are flat
skywagon8a
MEMBER
SE Mass MA6
Zenair possibly? http://www.zenairfloats.com
Those are not Montana nose gears. https://montanafloat.com/2200-series-amphib-floats/
Those are not Montana nose gears. https://montanafloat.com/2200-series-amphib-floats/
Paul Heinrich
SPONSOR
Illinois & Wisconsin
Inspect the insides for any sign of ink or stamping that might show a part number or manufacturers’ name/logo.
The ends of the spreader bars might also have some sort of stamping that could help identify its origin.
The ends of the spreader bars might also have some sort of stamping that could help identify its origin.
mvivion
FOUNDER
Bozeman,MT
I think you may be right, Pete. Zenair made both kits and assembled floats, I believe.
MTV
Mystery floats
Hi all. Contacted Zenair and they requested pictures of specific areas, then declared, not theirs. Same with Murphy. I’ve looked all over those floats and not a P/N anywhere. The nose cap is unique as well. I thought I’d researched every brand name of floats. I must be missing one somewhere!
skywagon8a
MEMBER
SE Mass MA6
Did you just happen upon them or did someone tell you about them? We need more information. Perhaps they are a one design homebuilt float? I thought that perhaps they could be a straight float which someone converted to amphibious. For example the EDO 2000 or PeeKay 1800. They appear to be about the same size as both of them. They are not EDO nor PeeKay because the spreader bars are attached to the floats differently than either of them.
Mystery floats
Thank you for replying. They came from an estate. So the people I got them from didn’t know anything about them. Right possibility a “one of” home built. Got to be some info out there. Kind of frustrating
Thank you for replying. They came from an estate. So the people I got them from didn’t know anything about them. Right possibility a “one of” home built. Got to be some info out there. Kind of frustrating
mvivion
FOUNDER
Bozeman,MT
I just spoke to JJ Frey. Those are indeed EDO Amphibious floats....he said 339-2250
JJ said they were originally built for a fellow named J Howard Smith, who intended to use them on Super Cubs offshore in the menhaden fishery off the east coast. They originally built 13 sets. One set was actually approved by the FAA. The whole offshore landings thing wasn't going to work, and the floats were sold.
Later, 100 sets were made for the military for use on Cessna L-19s. Those were never certificated. I believe there used to be one set of those floats in Fairbanks, on a 172, for many years.
Anyway, I sent a PM to Harold with JJ Frey's contact information. JJ said he'd be happy to discuss with him. JJ is as sharp as ever. I'm going to really miss my annual visit with him at Oshkosh this year.
MTV
JJ said they were originally built for a fellow named J Howard Smith, who intended to use them on Super Cubs offshore in the menhaden fishery off the east coast. They originally built 13 sets. One set was actually approved by the FAA. The whole offshore landings thing wasn't going to work, and the floats were sold.
Later, 100 sets were made for the military for use on Cessna L-19s. Those were never certificated. I believe there used to be one set of those floats in Fairbanks, on a 172, for many years.
Anyway, I sent a PM to Harold with JJ Frey's contact information. JJ said he'd be happy to discuss with him. JJ is as sharp as ever. I'm going to really miss my annual visit with him at Oshkosh this year.
MTV
skywagon8a
MEMBER
SE Mass MA6
Nope, those are not EDO 339-2250 or 339-JHS floats. I have experience with that model float and those are not them.
The spreader bar installation and the nose gears are different as well as the bottom shape.
The spreader bar installation and the nose gears are different as well as the bottom shape.
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Amy
SPONSOR
WI/MN/SD
On the topic of the rare JHS floats, there is a set available on Barnstormers: https://www.barnstormers.com/classified-1508457-RARE-EDO-339-JHS-AMPHIBS.html?catid=16320
Some interesting photos for comparison as well.
Thank you for talking with JJ and getting that information. I’ve had a couple of other very experienced float types tell me they are definitely Edo built. Thanks again for your time MTV!
skywagon8a
MEMBER
SE Mass MA6
Show us a close up picture of the spreader bar attachment to the float location. They do look a lot like EDO 2000 with the correct number of inspection covers. Your pictures above seem to indicate that the spreader bar attachments are not EDO 2000. Also those nose gears are definitely not EDO. They look very amateurish homemade. EDO did not make an amphibious version of the 2000.
The small EDO amphibs are the 339-2250 or 339-JHS. The above nose gears are definitely not from the 339s. AND the spreader bar on the 339 extends through the floats like the 2440, 2870, 2960 and others. Also the 339- bottoms are fluted like the 2440 etc.
I have installed and annualed two different sets of 339s on 3 separate PA-18s over the past nearly 50 years, those are not the small EDO amphibs. JJ is correct on the numbers and reasons the 339-s were built. The story of where they went for the L-19s has become rather sketchy as they disappeared into the military's dungeons.
The small EDO amphibs are the 339-2250 or 339-JHS. The above nose gears are definitely not from the 339s. AND the spreader bar on the 339 extends through the floats like the 2440, 2870, 2960 and others. Also the 339- bottoms are fluted like the 2440 etc.
I have installed and annualed two different sets of 339s on 3 separate PA-18s over the past nearly 50 years, those are not the small EDO amphibs. JJ is correct on the numbers and reasons the 339-s were built. The story of where they went for the L-19s has become rather sketchy as they disappeared into the military's dungeons.
