A very good brass WW2 Smiths Astral 8 day ship’s clock with radio room sector dial no. 15618 c1940

Ships bulkhead clock having 6” off white painted dial, hand-decorated with Arabic numerals for 24 hours, the chapter ring divided into minutes/seconds. Marine wireless room ‘Titanic’ distress listening periods marked by two red sectors at the quarter past and quarter to the hour. Black spade hour and blade minute hands, and a red sweep second hand. Aperture for winding square and S-F regulation. Bevelled glass with hinged bezel and friction lock. Good quality jewelled platform escapement movement. All contained in a heavy spun lacquered brass case, rear flange with fixing points. Supplied with correct key.

Condition: Professionally serviced and conserved in March 2020 (report supplied with clock), the movement probably a comparable replacement of the same period. The dial clean and crisp with just a few marks, the case with the patina of age. The glass with a few light scratches, and wear to bevelled edge from use.

Comments: A much better than ordinary ship’s clock from the late 1930s-early 1940s in above average condition by the respected maker Smiths. This clock is set apart by the desirable addition of the sector dial, which shows the distress red ‘quiet periods’ for radio operators to receive only and not transmit. The maritime community established this system following the Titanic disaster. By 1947, a second distress frequency was established and two additional green sectors added after the hour and half hour, enabling this clock to be dated fairly confidently to c1940.

The jewelled platform escapement provides exceptionally good time-keeping.