Code: C27643
Air Ministry stores reference 6A/839. These were normally supplied to the Air Ministry by S. Smith & Sons (MA) Ltd. London but this example has no RAF/AM markings so is probably a 'commercial' variant. The metal cased clock has a Swiss made Jaeger-Le-Coultre 8-day jewelled lever keyless movement with 7.5cm 12-hour black dial, luminous Arabic numerals and subsidiary 12-hour dial which registers the 'time of trip'. The high quality movement provides a chronograph action for the time of trip. Two knobs located at 4 & 8 o'clock, control the operation of the clock and there will be a lever for regulating the escapement at the back of the case. The left hand knob acts as the winder (anticlockwise turn) and when pulled out can be used to set the time. The knob at 4 o'clock stops the second hand when depressed and a further press re-sets the second hand. A third 'arrester' knob located at 6 o'clock is used to interrupt the travel of the time of trip hands, so that on a flight which involves intermediate landings, the time of trip hands may be arrested during the period in which the aircraft is not airborne and restarted when the flight is resumed, thus recording the actual flying time for the whole trip. The knob is coupled to the coloured flag indicator which is visble through an aperture above 6 o'clock on the main dial. When the flag shows white the time of trip hands are stationary, when it shows red, the time of trip is 'recording'.
The case is very good and all three knobs are present. The glass, dial and hands are all excellent and the movement is in good working order and keeps good time. The clock is snugly mounted into a nicely shaped piece of varnished oak with pedestal feet and a brass moulding around the front. When used by the RAF, the MK.IIIA was fitted to early Hurricane & Spitfire fighters as well as some Beauforts, Battles, Beaufighters & other aircraft. As mentioned above, this clock is not marked so although virtually identical, may not have been used within the RAF. Priced accordingly. A lovely clock. Stock code C27643.
