Clock Identification

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R

RAC49

Recruit
7
10
Oct 16, 2025
Hello,
I wonder if anyone can help with the identification of this clock.
I have known it all of my life - my father used it as a timer in his photographic darkroom and I seem to remember it being described as an aircraft clock from the WW11 period.
I have failed to find any markings on the clock.
It doesn't work and the glass is cracked, but it does turn freely and the time can be set, so I expect it is repairable. In any event, it seems a shame for it to become landfill!
Many thanks.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Welcome to the site.

Glad you managed to creat the thread here. To answer your question .. it is a Smith & Sons Mk.IIA 8-day cockpit clock used for Spitfire and Lancaster for instance. The other British planes were Auster, Anson and a couple more, if memory serves. The ID data should be pressed in the dial. But it is not the rule. There are known clocks without the data there. If you unscrew it from the wooden base you may find the Air Ministry (AM) stamp on the back of the clock case. Also there should be its serial number with the year of producing. Most of the Mk.IIA seems to be made in 1943/1944. The AM Stores Ref. number is 6A/1002 or 6A/1274 for earlier made ones. Here below images of these ( including your own I rotated and cleaned a little bit ) I found via the net as the example. I hope I helped a little bit.


 
Thank you so much for your prompt and detailed reply, and for your help navigating the website.
Yes, I have found the AM stamp, but no sign of any other markings - just scratches; I wonder if it has been painted over at some stage.
Nevertheless, it's good to know a bit more about it. It would be gratifying to get it going again - it could take pride of place alongside my 95 year old Leica (which still works perfectly!).
Kind regards.
Richard
 

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My pleasure.

And yes, it looks like being repainted. IIRC the late Mk.IIA , for example, of the 1944, could have the ID stamp made with a paint insted of stamping in metal. All depended on the manufacturers. For the reason it might be overpainted. Also it could be pressed on the inner mechanizm of the clock. Anyway the clock looks orginally. So it is a very nice artifact.


smiles,

W~
 


Oh ... BTW ... I have had a close up view at the back of the clock. The inspection revealed that there were the ID data printed with a paint.

here seems to be the manufacturer's logo/stamp printed ...



here is something that looks like the serial digits seen partially ...



and here a kind of inscriptions that looks like a part of the handwriting that could have been made by maintenace crew or a warehouseman with a pencil for example ...

 
I had nearly convinced myself of the same but wondered if I was searching for something which wasn't really there!
I think it might be as well now to leave well alone, and treat it with rather more respect. Unless I happen across a sympathetic clockmaker........
 


I grasped. If memory works there already was on the forum somebody who also had a cockpit clock that needed to be repaired. He found a good clockmaker who did that. You have to check on the section here. His thread should be still here.
 
Wurger said:
I grasped. If memory works there already was on the forum somebody who also had a cockpit clock that needed to be repaired. He found a good clockmaker who did that. You have to check on the section here. His thread should be still here.
Click to expand...

R RAC49 Just found .... you may try to send him a PM and ask about the clockmaker. . Not sure if he is still around but if he didn't switch off the notifications on the site he should get the info at his email box. Judging by his IPs he comes from the UK.

Smiths jaeger mk3b

Hi folks New here, I’m after information regarding this smiths jaeger mk3b cockpit clock, I bought it on Saturday from an antique fair, ?
ww2aircraft.net

Smiths jaeger mk3b

Hi folks just thought I’d share my fully serviced and cleaned smiths mk 111b It’s so nice to have it back and working how it should be, my clockmaker if anyone wanted to know for their clocks was Mike Elderton of All in the balance.
ww2aircraft.net
 
Thank you all for the responses. To CM, please don't put yourself to any trouble - I have sufficient information for now - but thank you for the offer.
The important thing is, the clock will not end up in landfill!
 
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