Hi all, I have an unusual world-time clock called the “Willis World Clock,” the model I have being intended for aircraft instrument panels. Although originally designed as a cardboard world-time-indicator volvelle (1929) and subsequently as a table/shelf clock (1934/5), a smaller version of the clock intended for aircraft/ship use was advertised March 16th, 1939 in Flight magazine (http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1939/1939%20-%200770.html). This is the version that I have and I would be very grateful for any advice that anyone could offer regarding how this would have been “instrument-board mounted.” You will notice from the magazine photograph that the clock seems to be attached to a metal strip behind it via what look like two pins projecting through the upper edge of the bezel. On my clock the aperture diameters of the holes where these pins would have been inserted are absolutely tiny, measuring just 1/16″ in diameter and they are sunk on the inner rim of the bezel. Have these tiny apertures a function unrelated to mounting, or perhaps they serve as openings for slide/guides to position the movement housing correctly in place?? The clock as seen in the magazine article was probably mechanically driven because a subsequent three line advertisement in the December 7th 1939 issue of the same magazine states: “J.H. Willis and Co – World Clock for aircraft instrument panels now supplied in electric as well as in lever form.” The mechanical movement in my clock is unlikely to be the original and therefore offers little information regarding how the original clock movement was to be wound and its hands adjusted. My clock also has no case back and perhaps there never was meant to be one? The side casing (a 1&5/8″ wide metal strip shaped into a cylindrical form) does seem to be original and along with the bezel, does not contain any openings for an adjusting/winding stem. None is apparent in the magazine photograph either. I would be grateful to know whether mechanically driven clock movements were common or rare in aircraft instrument panels of this era and, if common, was it the norm that they were required to be removed from the panel for winding/hands adjusting ? Thank you for taking the time to read this. Deaglan1
By: Deaglan1 - 2nd December 2013 at 15:45
If you get a copy of the magnificent book by Konrad Knirim it shows their use in aircraft up to the 60’s ( Lynx, Vulcan, Phantom etc.).
Thank you for that suggestion. I had contacted Konrad some months ago and unfortunately he had not come across this particular clock. My own belief, which stands to be corrected, is that the clock probably was not a commercial success, especially when one considers that the cardboard volvelle version could readily provide the same information – I have come across the volvelle among flight accessories.
By: Deaglan1 - 2nd December 2013 at 15:35
It would be a logical companion for the 1934 London – Melbourne air race,
Interesting and astute observation – a short article about the clock in “The Listener” dated October 24th, 1934, stated that: “Among further advantages, the World Clock shows the time of the position of each aeroplane in flight (it is now in use at Mildenhall for the timing of the Air Race to Australia).” Whether the clock was present at Mildenhall in an official capacity or in an official/unofficial commercial marketing capacity is unknown to me. Enquiries to the Mildenhall Museum did not reveal any reference to the clock among their memorabilia. If there are any Mildenhall experts out there who could suggest further avenues worth exploring, I would be very grateful to them.
By: FarlamAirframes - 2nd December 2013 at 08:55
Mechanical clocks were the norm in aircraft until at least the 1960’s. I have several here beside me dating 1937, 1938, 1939, 1942, a couple of A11’s from the 1950’s and a 1960’s (Russian). I just parted with a US Navy one dated 1918.
If you get a copy of the magnificent book by Konrad Knirim it shows their use in aircraft up to the 60’s ( Lynx, Vulcan, Phantom etc.).
By: powerandpassion - 1st December 2013 at 09:57
Deaglan1, welcome.
It certainly looks like a fantastic object ! It would be a logical companion for the 1934 London – Melbourne air race, or the RAF making its way from the UK to India and Iraq in the 1920’s.
There are some folk on this forum with far more knowledge on clocks than me, but I understand that mechanical clocks were the norm even to WW2. I have an Air Ministry 6E/50 navigators ‘fob watch’ in my hand dated 1941, much the same as someone might have used on their waistcoat in 1890. Many of the RAF planes in the 20’s and 30’s had a rubber holder fixed to the instrument panel that allowed the navigator’s watch to be slipped in and out, which is probably how an intrepid traveller would handle the world time clock.
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November 29, 2013 at 11:14 pm