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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Clock · Aircraft cockpit clock

Smiths MK 2 8-Day RAF Aircraft Clock

Partially verified

This is a 1941 British RAF 8-day cockpit aircraft clock attributed to Smiths, catalogued under reference 6A/1104. The clock is housed in a black plastic casing measuring 54 mm wide, featuring corner mounting holes and a setting crown positioned at the bottom right. The matte black dial displays luminous Arabic numerals, a railway minute track, cathedral hands, and the inscription '8 DAY'. Below the center arbor, the dial is marked with a 6A code and the designation '40891/41', which the source identifies as indicating a 1941 manufacturing date. The source notes a manual-wind mechanical movement with 7 jewels and an Air Ministry crown stamp on the backplate.

Dial and casing of the Smiths 8-day RAF aircraft clock bearing serial number 40891/41
Dial and casing of the Smiths 8-day RAF aircraft clock bearing serial number 40891/41 — Vintage Watch Specialist. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
vintagewatchspecialist.com
Category
Clock · Aircraft cockpit clock
Maker / attribution
Smiths
Reference
6A/1104
Catalogue / lot identifier
vws2069
Source-reported date
1941
Country
United Kingdom
Source-reported serial
40891/41

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case Construction and Controls

The clock is housed in an instrument housing constructed from black plastic with a circular bezel and a square mounting flange featuring screw apertures at each corner. The seller lists the width as 54 mm and the crystal as plexiglass.

A control is situated at the lower right of the casing near the 4:30 position. Visual observation confirms a ribbed crown in this position, and the seller reports: "The time is set using the pin at the bottom right of the clock."

Evidence for this section
  • “Case Plastic”
  • “Width 54mm”
  • “Crystal Plexiglass”
  • “Ribbed winding/setting crown positioned at the bottom right at roughly the 4:30 position.”
  • “The time is set using the pin at the bottom right of the clock.”

Dial Display and Markings

Visual inspection reveals a black dial encircled by a railway-track minute scale, triangular hour markers, and Arabic numeral hour indices. Cathedral-style hour and minute hands display aged luminous fill, and the dial is lettered "8 DAY" above the center arbor.

The dial also carries alphanumeric markings below the center arbor. Observation confirms the inscription "40891/41" positioned above 6 o'clock, which the seller interprets as "indicating manufacture in 1941." The seller additionally notes: "The dial is marked 6A - I cannot make out the numbers after this".

Evidence for this section
  • “Dial Black”
  • “Railway track minute scale with triangular luminous hour markers and Arabic numeral hour indices.”
  • “Cathedral-style hour and minute hands with aged luminous fill.”
  • “Dial marked '8 DAY' above center and '40891/41' above the 6 o'clock position.”
  • “The dial is marked 6A - I cannot make out the numbers after this, it is also marked 40891/41 indicating manufacture in 1941”

Reported Movement and Markings

The internal mechanism is not visible in the supplied photograph. In the listing specifications, the movement is documented as a manual-wind mechanical type with 7 jewels and an "Unknown" caliber; the seller claims it was "Recently serviced".

The back of the clock is likewise not shown in the source photograph. The seller states that "The backplate is marked with the AM & crown stamp, denoting it as property of the MoD." Model reference "6A/1104" is also recorded in the seller's specification table.

Evidence for this section
  • “Winding Manual”
  • “Movement Type Mechanical”
  • “Jewels 7”
  • “Calibre Unknown”
  • “Recently serviced”
  • “The backplate is marked with the AM & crown stamp, denoting it as property of the MoD.”
  • “Model Ref 6A/1104”

Source Documentation and Provenance Limits

The seller states that "These clocks were produced and fitted to Mosquitos, Lancasters, Spitfires and Sunderlands amongst others", describing general aircraft applications rather than documented airframe provenance for this specific clock.

The source provides no original paperwork or log books, marking "Box/Papers No/No". Manufacture in 1941 is based on the seller's reading of the dial marking "40891/41".

Evidence for this section
  • “These clocks were produced and fitted to Mosquitos, Lancasters, Spitfires and Sunderlands amongst others.”
  • “Box/Papers No/No”
  • “it is also marked 40891/41 indicating manufacture in 1941”

Open research questions

  • What specific caliber of Smiths movement is fitted inside the casing?
  • What numbers follow the '6A' prefix marking on the dial below the center arbor?
  • Does the AM and crown stamping on the backplate feature a specific contract number or stores reference?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Smiths MK 2 8-Day RAF Aircraft Clock
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Model Reference6A/1104“Model Ref 6A/1104”
Marking40891/41“it is also marked 40891/41 indicating manufacture in 1941”
Case MaterialPlastic“Case Plastic”
Jewels7“Jewels 7”
Case Width54mm“Width 54mm”
WindingManual“Winding Manual”
Backplate MarkingAM & crown stamp“The backplate is marked with the AM & crown stamp, denoting it as property of the MoD.”
Movement CalibreUnknown“Calibre Unknown”
Box and PapersNo / No“Box/Papers No/No”

Visible details

  • Circular black dial surrounded by a black plastic instrument bezel and square mounting flange with visible screw holes.
  • Ribbed winding/setting crown positioned at the bottom right at roughly the 4:30 position.
  • Railway track minute scale with triangular luminous hour markers and Arabic numeral hour indices.
  • Cathedral-style hour and minute hands with aged luminous fill.
  • Dial marked '8 DAY' above center and '40891/41' above the 6 o'clock position.

Research qualifications

  • Specific aircraft service history mentioned by the seller (such as Spitfire or Lancaster use) represents general type usage rather than documented provenance for this individual piece.
  • The movement caliber is unknown and not exposed in the primary photograph.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Smiths MK 2 - 8 Day RAF Clock - Dated 1941 – Vintage Watch Specialist

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record ca02254b6d

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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