A World War Two Italian Air Force elapsed time clock by Universal Genève. This is a remarkable piece of both watch making and military history. Very few of these pieces have survived the now eighty years since they were manufactured. Not to mention those that were destroyed during the conflict.
The clock comprises of a bakelite case with brass rotating outer bezel, painted black with red triangle indicator still set with its original beveled mineral glass. The beautiful black gilt dial features large, easy to read, recessed Arabic numerals cut into the dial. The larger 12, 3, 6 and 9 hour markers (some partially obscured by the two sub-dials, are filled with their original radium luminous material. The rest are simply painted. All of which has now toned into a beautiful and rich cafe latte color.
The operating of the clock is very simple. Inside is an eight day movement which is wound and set via the large crown sitting below the six o’clock marker. The additional button set at the four thirty position is to operate the chronograph function. It is a single button; start, stop and reset operation. The two sub dials on the clock are the constant seconds at the top, and the thirty minute recording below. A typical “up and down” configuration. The sweep seconds hand set in the center is for timing seconds with the chronograph.
The clock dates circa 1940, perhaps a little earlier, with this exact example featuring in the Universal catalog from the early 1940's. They were installed on the dashboard of aircraft which Reggiane fighters, Caproni and Macchi as well as bombers such Savoia Marchetti, Fiat P . 08 and others. It is a chronograph of outstanding mechanical quality and very handsome to look at. These clocks were instrumental in measuring flight time, navigation and timing bomb and torpedoes runs. A number of companies made these pieces for the Axis and Allied forces, but these Universal pieces tend to have been mounted to Italian aircraft, making them more rare. One other crowning feature of this amazing piece of history is the name “A. Cairelli Roma” on the opposing side of the dial to the Universal name.
Antonio Cairelli started his company in Rome in the early 1930's, operating until the end of the sixties. It comprised of a watch shop located in the center of Via del Corso 144, and a workshop on Via Trionfale. Along with being a retail store of all things clock and watch related Cairelli was the intermediary between the Ministry of the Armed Forces and the two Swiss companies that used Martel Watch movements; Zenith and Universal Geneve, of which he imported various models according to ministerial specifications. The workshop serviced and maintained these pieces for the throughout their operational lifespan. The most coveted and desirable of the pieces to pass through his hands came in the 1960's at which point they supplied the ZenithCP 2 models to the AMI (Italian military aviation) and in smaller numbers to other departments of the armed forces. These rare pieces are highly desirable and go for a large premium today. Rare pieces such as this are a great opportunity to own something of similar importance, but for the home or office.
The overall condition of the piece is excellent. The original black dial is free from any damage and retains a beautiful colouration, off set with the gilt printing and warm colour of the luminous material and hour markers. All of which are original and untouched. The same for the luminous material inside the cathedral hands. Both the clock and the chronograph are working perfectly and the eight day movement is keeping great time. All of which underlines the original quality of these tools that were a matter of life and death for the pilots and navigators replying on them over eighty years ago.
