Anxious to earn part of the United States government's unprecedented $640 million dollar appropriation for aviation production when the country entered World War I in 1917, a few High Point, North Carolina, furniture factories contributed directly to the nationwide war effort. Instead of bureaus, chairs, and tables, manufacturers converted to the production of wagon wheels, gun carriages, and airplane propellers. The Giant Furniture Company renamed itself the Southern Aircraft Company and used its woodworking machinery to make propellers from local hardwoods, primarily white oak, for use on United States Navy flying boats, training aircraft, and airships for service during the Great War.

The artifact was most likely built according to a Lang propeller design as indicated by the markings and approved by the government.