Air Ministry WW2 Airplane Cockpit Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c. 1944
This Air Ministry WW2 airplane cockpit dashboard clock carries military markings including stores reference 6A/1002 and date reference 10451/44. Housed in a powder-coated aluminium alloy case with corner mounting flanges, it features a 1-day manual-wind movement operated by rotating the fluted bezel.
Hand setting is controlled via a spring-loaded lever located at the lower corner. The black dial displays white Arabic numerals alongside luminous indicators, dummy time-of-trip hands, and a central setting knob. The seller notes that while the clock displays no maker signatures, it is attributed to Smiths.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Cockpit dashboard clock
- Movement
- Self-starting keyless 1-day mechanical movement with 7 jewels
- Jewel Count
- 7 jewels
- Case Material
- Powder-coated aluminium alloy
- Date Reference
- 10451/44
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Stores Reference
- 6A/1002
- Maker / attribution
- Smiths
Design
- Visible features
- • Black coated aluminium housing with visible edge wear and paint loss exposing bare metal • Black dial with Arabic numerals, central adjustment knob, and red trip hands • Fluted knurled bezel designed for manual winding • Visible crack across the transparent crystal
- Casing and Display
- The case is crafted from powder-coated aluminium alloy metal. Observations note black coated aluminium housing with visible edge wear and paint loss exposing bare metal, along with a transparent crystal displaying a visible crack across the face, which the seller states occurred in storage. The black dial features white Arabic numerals described by the seller as part luminous, alongside dummy hands used for setting the 'time of trip'. Direct observation confirms a black dial with Arabic numerals, a central adjustment knob, and red trip hands.
- Identity and Attribution
- The item is described by the seller as an Air Ministry WW2 airplane cockpit dashboard clock. It is catalogued under Stores Ref. 6A/1002 and reportedly bears an Air Ministry ('A.M.') marked backplate carrying a date reference of 10451/44, pointing to circa 1944. While attributed to Smiths in the dealer's listing, the source explicitly clarifies that the object displays no markings indicating this maker. The identification is reported solely as the opinion of the seller's watchmaker.
- Movement and Operational Controls
- The instrument incorporates a 7-jewel mechanical self-starting keyless 1-day movement equipped with a centre second hand. The seller reports manual winding functionality operated by rotating the fluted bezel. To set the hands, the operator presses a spring-loaded lever projecting from the lower right corner while simultaneously rotating the bezel.
Identification
- Reference
- 6A/1002
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The maker attribution to Smiths is based on seller watchmaker assessment and lacks visible dial or case signatures
- Research required: The seller notes that the crystal cracked while in storage
- Research required: The backplate markings mentioned in the text are not visible in the provided images