- Posts
- 152
- Likes
- 268
Veritas99
·Like many manufacturers, Zenith made timing instruments for the military. One I've been looking to add to my collection for awhile is the Zenith 8-Day Chronometer. The movement likely began as a clock for an automobile or other vehicle, but was up-jeweled from 6 to 15 as part of a partnership with Vail Watch Co. to supply marine chronometers to the US Navy during WWII. Enough with the history lesson...on to some photos.
Balanced on gimbals, the clock is mounted in a three tier box for protection:
Opening the first lid provides the viewer with glass-protected access to the time (top set of screws are not original)
The next level opens to allow access to set and wind the clock, as well as locking it in place.
The face shows some wear, but I choose to look at it as character. This was the seller's photo and doesn't do justice in showing how crisp the different colors look all together (blued hands, red day indicator, black numbering).
The back is weighted down by a sold chunk of brass that screws on. Once removed, the movement is revealed. You can see where the "6" in the number of jewels has been scratched off and replaced with "15." The serial number is 200368, but there is no caliber information under the balance wheel. I've seen a suggestion that it's a modified Caliber 271, but I never seen another example outside of these marine chronometers and the 271 isn't shown by Rossler or Ranfft. [EDIT - It is a Caliber 271, and a photo is on page 302 of Rossler]
And, finally, here's some source info from a book called Military Timepieces (and shamelessly borrowed from the internet)...
Thanks for reading to the bottom!
Mike
Balanced on gimbals, the clock is mounted in a three tier box for protection:
Opening the first lid provides the viewer with glass-protected access to the time (top set of screws are not original)
The next level opens to allow access to set and wind the clock, as well as locking it in place.
The face shows some wear, but I choose to look at it as character. This was the seller's photo and doesn't do justice in showing how crisp the different colors look all together (blued hands, red day indicator, black numbering).
The back is weighted down by a sold chunk of brass that screws on. Once removed, the movement is revealed. You can see where the "6" in the number of jewels has been scratched off and replaced with "15." The serial number is 200368, but there is no caliber information under the balance wheel. I've seen a suggestion that it's a modified Caliber 271, but I never seen another example outside of these marine chronometers and the 271 isn't shown by Rossler or Ranfft. [EDIT - It is a Caliber 271, and a photo is on page 302 of Rossler]
And, finally, here's some source info from a book called Military Timepieces (and shamelessly borrowed from the internet)...
Thanks for reading to the bottom!
Mike
Maybe a 24mm mesh?
) purchase.
.....
I know ... having more than 3 wrist watches is definitely not practical.
: