SMITHS Vintage MA 8 Registered Trade Mark Eight-day movement luxury CAR CLOCK for Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Daimler & various Sports Cars of the time

Circa 1930-1940's

Made by Cricklewood Works, London

These clocks could be fitted where desired to a CAR, a BOAT, Or AIRCRAFT

Smith aircraft instruments range was launched in 1937, & a separate department also incorporated their marine activities

According to this UK militaria dealer?

https://www.whartonmilitaria.co.uk/details.php?section=generalcollectables&item=GC0003

They were "standard equipment" on early RAF Fighter planes INCLUDING the Supermarine SPITFIRE & Hawker HURRICANE

His £150.00 priced example does NOT open & close freely (Rather useful if you wish to USE this fine antique Smiths Instrument Company clock as winder & "set" functions are located at the rear)

MY CLOCK is in VERY GOOD WORKING ORDER winds, runs & keeps good time (BUT not recently serviced & would likely be overdue for such)

By 1907 Smiths themselves started to manufacture some of their own automotive products made at the wonderfully named Speedometer House in Great Portland street AKA ‘Motor Row’

Speedos were soon joined by multi-jet carburettors (designed for Smiths by Trier & Martin), lighting sets, headlamps, sidelights, tail-lights, dynamos & electric starters, generators & not forgetting the Smiths Auto-Clear mechanical horn

Pre-WW1 Smiths came to a gentleman’s agreement with rivals Lucas, which meant that they wouldn’t compete in certain areas, while Lucas even took over some of Smiths’ non-automotive range

The Smith & Sons automotive division moved to Cricklewood in North London (imaginatively called ‘Cricklewood Works’)

Smiths became the leading supplier of instruments to British motorcycle & car makers

The legend ‘Smiths’ started to appear on their gauges Smiths began to acquire other businesses such as KLG spark plugs in 1927

Next, they bought out Edward Jaeger in 1932 changing its name to British Jaeger Instrument Company