Smiths jaeger mk3b

[joemc]

Hi folks

New here, I'm after information regarding this smiths jaeger mk3b cockpit clock, I bought it on Saturday from an antique fair, ?

 

[Wurger]

Welcome to the site ..

Regarding the clock ... the S. Smith & Sons (MA) Ltd London 24 hours/8-day clock. Judging by the dial - luminous variant. Widely used for WW2 British plane such Spitfires, Hurricanes and many other wartime RAF aircraft including Stirling, Hampden, Wellington and Lancaster bombers. Its s/n indicates it was made in 1939.

 

[joemc]

Welcome to the site ..

Regarding the clock ... the S. Smith & Sons (MA) Ltd London 24 hours/8-day clock. Judging by the dial - luminous variant. Widely used for WW2 British plane such Spitfires, Hurricanes and many other wartime RAF aircraft including Stirling, Hampden, Wellington and Lancaster bombers. Its s/n indicates it was made in 1939.

Hi thanks for the reply, do you think this 24hr clock would have definitely been used in spitfires ?

Regards
Joe

 

[Wurger]

Hi thanks for the reply, do you think this 24hr clock would have definitely been used in spitfires ?

Regards
Joe

I doubt there is any info available anywhere else. It is not able to state the particular aircraft the clock was mounted to. Personally I have seen the very similar looking clocks by the S. Smith & Sons (MA) Ltd London with slightly different markings made in 1937-1940. These also were said to be used in Spitfire and other planes. Taking the fact into consideration that's the 24hr clock , I would say it could have been used for a larger RAF aircraft rather. Perhaps the Beaufort, Battle, Beaufighter. However, IIRC , the MkIIIB was fitted to early Spitfires and Hurricanes and is considerably rarer than the 12 hour MkIIIA. So ....

 

[joemc]

I doubt there is any info available anywhere else. It is not able to state the particular aircraft the clock was mounted to. Personally I have seen the very similar looking clocks by the S. Smith & Sons (MA) Ltd London with slightly different markings made in 1937-1940. These also were said to be used in Spitfire and other planes. Taking the fact into consideration that's the 24hr clock , I would say it could have been used for a larger RAF aircraft rather. Perhaps the Beaufort, Battle, Beaufighter. However, IIRC , the MkIIIB was fitted to early Spitfires and Hurricanes and is considerably rarer than the 12 hour MkIIIA. So ....

Thanks very much for that information, mine is the 24hr mk3b so that's cool to think it was on a spitfire even if it wasn't still cool, and it's even better they are rare, probably why I can't find much information

 

[Wurger]

Thanks very much for that information, mine is the 24hr mk3b so that's cool to think it was on a spitfire even if it wasn't still cool, and it's even better they are rare, probably why I can't find much information

Exactly .. it is your clock. Just enjoy. I let myself and found a couple shots of the MkIIIB clock via the net. The most of sellers believe these were used in Spitfires and Hurricanes but also in bombers. As you may notice all of them look almost the same. For instance the second one in the first row is said to be used in the Spit while the last one in the second row is said to be used with bombers. But these just look the same.

the pic source: the net.

 

[joemc]

Exactly .. it is your clock. Just enjoy. I let myself and found a couple shots of the MkIIIB clock via the net. The most of sellers believe these were used in Spitfires and Hurricanes but also in bombers. As you may notice all of them look almost the same. For instance the second one in the first row is said to be used in the Spit while the last one in the second row is said to be used with bombers. But these just look the same.

View attachment 804226
View attachment 804227
the pic source: the net.

Wurger thank you so much this has really helped me out, it's running well it could probably do with a clean and service but that's the price of what it cost me, I'll just admire it and keep it safe.

 

[Wurger]

My pleasure. Glad I could help a little bit.

 

[joemc]

My pleasure. Glad I could help a little bit.

You helped a lot mate I'm really glad I found this forum.

 

[Canaus]

I take it these clocks are not electric. Did they require winding up? Did the pilot synchronise the time with his own watch in the start up procedure or was this done by ground crew? Any original information on the accuracy of this time piece?

 

[joemc]

I take it these clocks are not electric. Did they require winding up? Did the pilot synchronise the time with his own watch in the start up procedure or was this done by ground crew? Any original information on the accuracy of this time piece?

 

[joemc]

They are manual, with well engineered manual clocks you can't go wrong electric can let you down, I think ground crew got them ready for the pilot.
As long as they are well serviced they will be spot on.