Fall 2026 Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 107:
Description
WWII Vickers Viscount Multi-Engine Aircraft Fuel Management Instrument Sub-Panel Assembly, aluminum fascia mounting fuel quantity indicators, selector switches, and warning components, circa 1940s. Offered here is a rare fuel management sub-panel sourced from a WWII-era Vickers Viscount, a self-contained assembly of tank-level indicators, selector switches, and associated warning fittings mounted to a riveted aluminum fascia bracket. While the Viscount is often associated with the post-war era, this specialized component represents the complex fuel management systems engineered for multi-engine aircraft of the period, vital for tracking fuel distribution across main and auxiliary tanks to maintain proper flight balance. Fuel management aboard such aircraft was a demanding task. Flight engineers relied on dedicated panels of this configuration to monitor quantities, operate transfer and selector switches, and manage weight distribution throughout long-range missions. The assembly features a cluster of circular fuel quantity gauges with graduated dials, an array of toggle and rotary selector switches for tank operations, and associated indicator fittings secured to the aluminum fascia plate. The rear wiring harness has been cut and disconnected, consistent with removal from an aircraft rather than bench or shelf storage; the unit is untested, and no claim of operational function is made. Mounting hardware and fascia screws remain largely intact, with instrument bezels and the plate showing typical service wear including surface oxidation, edge wear, and finish loss. No case, manual, or accompanying paperwork is present; the lot comprises the standalone sub-panel assembly only. The piece is offered strictly for historical display or restoration reference, serving as a tangible survivor of mid-century aeronautical engineering and the vital, unglamorous work of flight systems management.
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