WW1 German Fliegertruppen Taschenuhr – AIRCRAFT COCKPIT CLOCK – DOXA – RARE!

You are bidding on a VERY NICE used example of a WW1 German / Prussian Fliegertruppen Issue Pocket Watch / Cockpit Clock! This type of clock is featured in Dr. Konrad Knirim’s book titled, “Military Timepieces”.

During the First World War, reliable cockpit clocks and aviation watches became essential equipment for German military aviators navigating long-distance reconnaissance, artillery spotting, bombing, and fighter missions. Early aircraft lacked advanced navigation instruments, making precise timekeeping critical for dead reckoning navigation, fuel management, coordinated attacks, and mission timing. Swiss manufacturers such as Doxa supplied high-quality oversized cockpit and observer’s watches that were favored for their accuracy, durability, and highly legible dials. Mounted within primitive open cockpits exposed to vibration, oil, cold temperatures, and combat conditions, these timepieces represented some of the earliest specialized aviation instruments used by German aircrews during the pioneering years of military flight.

Made of nickel-plated bras, this OVERSIZED Swiss-made DOXA Cockpit Clock is in EXCELLENT functioning condition! Some light scratches, marks and wear due to the age, but nothing that detracts. The dial is clean and original, with bold black numerals, “DOXA” signature, correct sub-seconds register, and period ornate hands. Sadly, there are some chips to the dial, as you can see in the photos. Crystal shows age-consistent marks but no cracks. Movement is original and unmodified. Though it is 100% FUNCTIONAL, the mainspring slips a bit, so it will only run for about 12 hours. This is an easy fix, so I will leave that to the winning bidder. It has not tested for accuracy and may require cleaning or adjustment. An exact example is shown on page 85 of Dr. Konrad Knirim’s, “Military Timepieces” book. Closer to the size of a large deck watch, there has been no re-plating, polishing, or restoration of any kind has been performed. Overall an EXCELLENT, uncommon, and highly desirable Imperial German aviation timepiece…PERFECT for any collection or display!