Clocks · Clock
Leonidas MIlitary Aircraft Clock With Chronograph Function, circa 1950s
- Maker / attribution
- Leonidas (maker)
- Date
- c. 1950s
- Historical period
- Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Object type
- Clock
- Stock no.
- vws3487
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Vintage Watch Specialist (vws3487)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Leonidas MIlitary Aircraft Clock With Chronograph Function - c.1950s (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Vintage Watch Specialist (dealer), United Kingdom (stock number vws3487), this is a clock by Leonidas, dated c. 1950s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Clocks collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Vintage Watch Specialist
A Beautifully Preserved Leonidas Military Aircraft Clock With Chronograph Function Mounted on Neat Metal Desk Stand - The Perfect Gift For an Aviation Enthusiast, c.1950s Leonidas Clocks, a name synonymous with precision and craftsmanship, traces its origins to the early 20th century. Founded by Jean Leonidas in Switzerland, the brand quickly established itself in the world of horology. Its early years were marked by the production of robust pocket watches, catering to railway workers and military personnel, ensuring accuracy was maintained in demanding environments. As the 20th century progressed, Leonidas adapted to the changing landscape of timekeeping. By mid-century, the company had diversified its offerings to include wristwatches, which became immensely popular during the post-war era. Known for their durability and innovative design, Leonidas Clocks gained a reputation among adventurers and professionals alike. In the 1960s, Leonidas merged with Heuer, a move that expanded its technological prowess. This partnership led to advancements in chronograph mechanisms, cementing the brand’s legacy in precision timekeeping. Today, Leonidas Clocks is celebrated for its heritage and continual pursuit of horological excellence. What's on Offer This wonderful 1950s military aircraft dash clock is in wonderful condition, so much so that it has been mounted in this neat little metal display stand and makes a wonderful desk clock. Just look at the beautiful dial with near-perfect pumpkin lume across the hands and the hour plots. There is a crisp sub-seconds dial at 6 o'clock and of course the brilliant white needle hand for the chronograph function. This would make a wonderful gift for any aviation enthusiast and a beautiful keepsake that can be passed down through generations.
Historical context
Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.
Post-war clocks combined new materials and industrial design: plastic and metal cases, battery-powered transistor movements from the late 1950s, and design classics by George Nelson, Max Bill and others. The first caesium atomic clock (1955) moved the definition of time from astronomy to physics.
Read the period in the timelineMore clocks from this periodEarlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking
Atlas type guide
Domestic clocks
A clock combines four systems: a source of power (falling weight, coiled spring, or later electricity), a gear train that divides time, an escapement and oscillator that regulate it (foliot, pendulum or balance), and an indicating system of dial and hands or a bell. Its history runs from the large iron weight-driven clocks of the late thirteenth century to Renaissance spring-driven table clocks, the pendulum revolution of 1656, the factory clocks of the nineteenth century and electric and quartz clocks of the twentieth.
Domestic clocks also reflect regional furniture and decorative traditions — English longcase and bracket clocks, French pendules, Viennese regulators, Black Forest and American shelf clocks — and therefore record changing tastes as much as technical progress.
What to look for
- How the clock is powered: weights, spring barrel, fusee, electric coil.
- The oscillator: foliot, short pendulum, long seconds pendulum or balance.
- Whether it strikes: hour only (count wheel) or hours and quarters (rack striking).
- The maker or retailer's name on dial and movement, and any factory trademarks.
- Signs of alteration — replaced dials, converted escapements, 'married' cases.
Dating clues
- Before 1656 clocks used foliots or balances; after, most domestic clocks have pendulums.
- Anchor escapements spread after c. 1670; minute hands became common at the same time.
- Factory production in America and Germany transformed prices after c. 1840.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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