Description
2/3/26- For sale is a beautiful Kriegsmarine Uboat bulkhead clock.
The clock's outer case is manufactured of solid machine turned brass and is typically “segmented” and tapered inward and upward toward the clock's hinged crystal crown. The back of the clock case that would be against to the bulkhead when the clock was mounted is “tinned brass” and painted flat black. The crystal is secured to the brass-mounting bezel by six brass counter-sunk screws. The hinged bezel and crystal assembly are held in place by a single heavy-duty brass hinge on the left that is screwed in place with two anchor screws and then silver soldered to the clock case for added strength and stability. The heavy brass locking mechanism on the right side of the bezel is a likewise installed in the same manner. There are the usual three equally spaced brass-mounting brackets on the bottom outside edges of the base with a whole in each for securely mounting the clock to the boat’s bulkhead. The clock's outside diameter is about 8 inches including the key opening projection tube while the hinged crown assembly (bezel and crystal) is about 6 3/4 inches in diameter. The famous German clock maker, Friedrich Mauthe of Schwenningen, supplied a small number of naval clocks to the Kriegsmarine; this was one of those clocks.
This clock has a silver anodized aluminum face that is meant to be highly visible in low-light situations. The face features black silkscreened numerals with minute divisions. The hour and minute hands are matched with a sweep second hand all of which are perfectly blued blue-black steel. To the left of the center position on the clocks face is a black silk-screened Naval, open-wing eagle, clutching a wreath with mobile swastika in the center over the capital letter “M” (M standing for Marine or Navy). To the right of the center on the face, is the clocks issue number "355" over Upper-case initials “N/G” also black silk-screened on the white painted face. The "N" stands for Nordsee (North Sea) and indicates the clock was issued to a U-Boat of the North Sea Fleet stationed at Wilhelmshaven. It is unknown what the unique back-slash letter "G" represents.
There is a number "90" stamped into the clock shell in four places; two stamped on the key opening mechanism the third on the hinge bracket and a fourth on the inside of the shell. These numbers could represent assembly marks or inspector stamps. The bracket that houses the key opening mechanism is also stamped on the lower half of the front surface with a typical German World War II naval proof mark, featuring a Naval, open-wing eagle clutching a mobile swastika in a circle positioned over the upper-case letter "M". This clock is complete with its original factory issued key for opening the face to adjust the time and to wind the eight-day movement each seventh day. The date this clock may have entered service can be approximated as between 1940 and 1941 based on several pieces of circumstantial evidence. First of all, the clock has a silver anodized aluminum face with black silk-screened markings while similar clocks produced in the pre-war and early war years (1934-1939) usually have a more expensive machine turned brass faces with etched, blackened, numerals. This assumption takes into account the extensive use of brass a vital war material that became increasingly scarce early in the war.
The numerals are all crisp, clear and undamaged. The dark blued finish on all three steel hands is in perfect condition. There is minor wear to the black paint silkscreened sweep second hand minute divisions to the far left and far right of the face, most probably caused by hand rubbing wear from adjusting the time by moving the clock's hands during its years of service. This clock has no evidence of corrosion, discoloration, or inappropriate handling. There is some evidence that the outside case may have originally been painted black that would be typical for clocks issued to U-boats. The crystal appears to be original, it is tight in its bezel, and is in choice, unscratched condition. The crown hinge is tight without excessive play but moves freely. The crown locking mechanism is smooth and locks securely. The key is brass, in like new condition, fits solidly and securely in place with no excessive play. The clock runs well and is in overall near-mint condition. This is outstanding example of the kind of exceptional craftsmanship that was built into these practical works of art.
