Messages: 833 Location: Long Island
Registered: January 2004
WWII era Dash Clock
Fri, 22 June 2012 01:33
I've had this piece for a few years but have been hesitant to post it. I have 3 very sentimental horological pieces and this is one of them for sure, however my pride is not just the way I've obtained it, but more in the way it was obtained by the gentleman who gifted it to me...
I'll try to tell the abridged version of the story while maintaining the integrity...
I had a friend, a gentleman who was well aware of my love of all things timepiece related. He happened to love mechanical alarm watches In particular which I would help him operate. He was well into his 80's, about 5' 2", soft spoken, WWII US Army Vet (hero in my eyes). He was a dental school graduate upon joining the war effort. His job in the military was to maintain and service his outfits equipment (guns, binoculars, scopes, and other essentials). His biggest challenge was that all of the tools had other things that he needed to do his job would not make it to the front lines where he was stationed.
As the story goes (in his own words), he was at a point of desperation in Munich, fighting was tense, there wasn't a simple screwdriver or alcohol swab on hand to make sure his men were well equipped. Across a courtyard where they were held up was a watch and jewelry shop. Knowing that there would be the things he needed there, he snuck over, turned the doorknob (it was unlocked), quietly he walked in and started gathering what he needed. 'click' was what he heard... He turned 90 degrees an had a pistol pointed at him by the shop owner.
In the best broken Dutch he could, he held the tools in one hand and his pistol in the other and attempted to explain to the shop owner that he had no intention of stealing from him, rather he simply needed the tools. The shop owner in turn explained that if he let him walk with the tools, he be aiding the enemy... Stalemate....
The shop owner proceeded to pack 3 Zenith clocks into a bag, handed them to my friend and asked him to punch him in the eye (for evidence of robbery if needed).
Abe made it home, became a dentist for almost 50 years.
Retired and I gather rather lonely,I think that Abe would visit me so often because I would love to hear him tell stories of all sorts.
He told me he was giving me this clock because he couldn't be bothered with winding it, but I think he really wanted someone to care for it almost as much as he did.
I haven't heard from Abe in about 8 months. He was in a dream I had last night which made me want to write this.
From what I understand, this was the type of clock that would mount to the dashboard of a very high end automobile, but also on the dash of a Zepplin...
Here are some photos of one of my most important timepieces...
- the Clash