24th Aug, 2026 19:00
Open House | to include the John Mitchell Collection of Military Horology
A WWII RAF operations room sector wall clock
1940s,
the twenty-four hour circular cream and polychrome enamel sector dial, with an RAF insignia to the centre, red, blue and yellow sector markings, in a circular stained mahogany case, the back stamped '17898'
dial 14in., 47cm diameter
Provenance:The John Mitchell Collection of Military Horology
Footnote:Sector clocks were widely used during the Second World War to track enemy aircraft movements. As an enemy plane was spotted, its position was marked on a UK map using the British Modified Grid system laid out at a sector operations room, using a coloured disc matching the coloured segment on the clock dial as pointed to by the minute hand, each coloured sector representing five minutes. The discs were then repositioned on the map as further sightings came in, using a magnetic 'rake', which enabled the controllers to follow the progress and formation of each flight and work out its possible target. This simple, but extremely effective, method of gaining the required information with speed allowed quick decisions to be made in the battle of the air.
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Estimated at £1,500 - £2,000
Condition Report
Flaking to the sectors colours, the four mounts to the dial and mechanism - overpainted. With pendulum and key. Cracking to the paint overall.
Auction: Open House | to include the John Mitchell Collection of Military Horology, 24th Aug, 2026
Viewing
Viewing will be held at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE, as follows:
Wednesday 19 August, 10am - 3pm
Thursday 20 August, 10am - 3pm
Friday 21 August, 10am - 3pm
Monday 24 August, 10am-3pm
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