I acquired this group of clocks last week.
It was being auctioned as:
A Chelsea Ships Bell chronometer; a Russian wall clock; another (3)
As expected the other is an Air Ministry Clock MK1 dated 1940 and made by Mercer.
Hens teeth are everyday items compared to Mk1 clocks.
Used in flying boats – Short Sunderland, Stranraer and Singspore and nowhere else.
The Chelsea is quite nice too – it left the factory in 1943 probably for convoy duty
By: FarlamAirframes - 26th April 2022 at 08:07
Chris – very nice and still very rare clock!
I get a lot of clocks that were painted white or gold in the 60’s and 70’s as well as many bulkhead clocks that were painted around on the wall.
I tend to use 0000 wire wool and increasing solvents to find the point that the paint lifts but not any layers below it. So starting with meths, then turps and then 3M 08984 ( always useful for removing sticky labels) then standard thinners and final option is Synchem strippit.
You need to wet the surface for a minute or two and gently wipe with the fine wire wool to see if it is lifting any paint. Then wipe off and try the stronger solvent etc.
It helps being a chemist.
Good luck.
By: splash65 - 25th April 2022 at 13:01
Hi new to this forum but found this topic after a Google search. My partner’s dad was in the Fleet Air Arm during the war and this clock was found in a draw.
As you can see it was painted blue at some point, maybe it was being used in the home but it covers the relevant markings. It is marked Air Ministry on the back. It certainly looks like a mk1 and I would like to remove the paint to see what lies beneath. Any thoughts?
Cheers Chris
By: FarlamAirframes - 26th June 2017 at 10:53
Just for completeness – in this modelling thread- halfway down is a picture of crew having tea in a Sunderland wardroom with the Mk1 on the bulkhead.
http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/52006-airfix-sunderland/
So Short Sunderland also used the mk1.
By: FarlamAirframes - 10th June 2017 at 15:04
Mk1
Some pics of the markings on this one.
By: aircraftclocks - 10th June 2017 at 14:45
I guess I just have to reply to this thread.
On my Mk I someone has gone to a lot of trouble to mill all the markings off so I do not know its serial number.
Still a great clock, a hybrid naval/aviation machine.
By: Versuch - 10th June 2017 at 14:29
Number 136 thats an early one, heres No 306 next to a Mk II , 2lb 2 ozs VS 8 ozs. No contest !
Cheers Mike
By: FarlamAirframes - 10th June 2017 at 14:12
In Knirims book there is a pic of one in a Sunderland wardroom otherwise I would say only the others..
I have a pile of different keys and it has been running nicely now for a few hours…
Only thing is I think the dial has been partly repainted. Case is pristine.
By: Versuch - 10th June 2017 at 14:06
Nice pick up Brian, I have not seen one for sale for years. Did you get the key ? Its either a 5 or 11. They have a quality movement in them.
I was also unaware they were fitted to Sunderlands, and you can understand why the Singapore and Stranraer were under powered with the size and weight of these Mk Is !
Regards Mike
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June 10, 2017 at 1:47 pm