wrote in message
ups.com...
OK smartass Mr Lamb !!!

Perhaps I should have written what were they FROM ?

They appear to have been part of a plane which crashed a loooong time
ago as the props were damaged toward their tips. Someone recovered them
and built a sort of steel framework stillage to hold them upright. They
were thus mounted on the lorry and it's trailer.

There was some evidence of a start to restoration because the tyre had
an overspray of grey paint

Ah- Grey paint. There's the *vital* clue you left out of the original post.
Here's what you saw:
http://www.polarinertia.com/jan04/im...irs/airs21.jpg
Of course, the position this photo was taken hides your trailer from view.
And they took the props in to the shop (for repairs ya know).