The Universal Squirrel Bites Hard

LouS · Jan 19, 2014

The UG squirrel was particularly vicious and I picked up something well out of my area of interest, or even knowledge.

Some dial verbiage to conjure with:

Unfortunately not a rattrapante, but a nonetheless spiffy dashboard chronograph from the 1940s, presumably Regia Aeronautica. I know precious little beyond that and am having trouble turning up more.

Bottom knob winds and sets, and the 4:30 knob starts, stops and resets the chronograph. Outer bezel turns the inner bezel

The mounting plate affixes to the watch with a leather washer

I haven't had it open yet, but here is what lies within - pic from an ebay seller of a similar clock

Already asked over at the military forum, will convey any info over.

Perhaps some of our Italian members can shed a little light or point me to the appropriate authorities on Italian fora?

Fritz · Jan 19, 2014

a properly cool piece! the local watchmaker has a pair of Waltham 8 day dashboard clocks in the showcase, they are always a temptation to a weak one such as I.

and, obviously, you...... I guess you'll be looking for a Macchi fighter to screw it to the panel of.... or maybe a nice Piaggio, you can take the whole family in one of those babies!

One really must flesh out the collection with stuff like this, they are just too cool to pass up. Its just they're such a bitch to get strapped to the arm!

cicindela · Jan 19, 2014

You were lucky this time, sounds like an attack from a Indian Malabar Giant Squirrel,
Ratufa indica. Some horophiles have lost their watch and their hand.

Notice the large ear tufts used in detecting the telltale, tick, tick, tick, tick in the placid early morning jungle air.

Here he is in watch seeking mode.

You can see here that this photographer has a bandage from an earlier attack.

You're a lucky man Lou, a lucky man.🤦

Fritz · Jan 19, 2014

Vicious little buggers from what I hear..... I once saw one rip an IWC dash mounted clock out of an AMG S65, it drove the owner off by making noises like a Volkswagen diesel.

gatorcpa · Jan 19, 2014

Fritz
Vicious little buggers from what I hear..... I once saw one rip an IWC dash mounted clock out of an AMG S65, it drove the owner off by making noises like a Volkswagen diesel.

You mean the squirrel can imitate a lawnmower? I'll bet it can run faster than a VW diesel.
gatorcpa

Interstatetime · Jan 19, 2014

I would imagine that this is a pretty scarce item. It is certainly different from a Heuer Super Autavia. Nice nut for a hungry squirrel to turn up.

JohnnyC

cicindela · Jan 19, 2014

Interstatetime
Nice nut for a hungry squirrel to turn up.

JohnnyC

Well Lou is all about the squirrels.👍

LouS · Jan 19, 2014

So I have spent a good part of the afternoon touring WW2 Italian aircraft cockpits on the interwebs. I started with floatplanes and long range recon, figuring these would be most likely to require a chronograph for navigation. Then I looked at bombers, and finally at fighters. And I think I have a match.

Here are some pics from cockpits of a couple of variants of the Macchi C.202 Folgore

what do you guys think?

The beast itself:

dsio · Jan 19, 2014

Nice!

cicindela · Jan 19, 2014

dsio
Nice!

Sharp

alam · Jan 19, 2014

LouS
So I have spent a good part of the afternoon touring WW2 Italian aircraft cockpits on the interwebs. I started with floatplanes and long range recon, figuring these would be most likely to require a chronograph for navigation. Then I looked at bombers, and finally at fighters. And I think I have a match.

Here are some pics from cockpits of a couple of variants of the Macchi C.202 Folgore

what do you guys think?

The beast itself:

Unusual and nice piece, what's the size of the dial and outer casing?

Mothra · Jan 20, 2014

So I'm guessing picking up the fighter would be the equivalent of an oem strap and buckle for a wristwatch? Good luck with the hunt....

SpikiSpikester · Jan 20, 2014

LouS
So I have spent a good part of the afternoon touring WW2 Italian aircraft cockpits on the interwebs. I started with floatplanes and long range recon, figuring these would be most likely to require a chronograph for navigation. Then I looked at bombers, and finally at fighters. And I think I have a match

One of these would look good on the lawn ::stirthepot::

Northernman · Jan 20, 2014

SpikiSpikester
One of these would look good on the lawn

Sure way to end neighbor disputes! 😗

LouS · Jan 20, 2014

alam
Unusual and nice piece, what's the size of the dial and outer casing?

The dial diameter including the inner bezel is 62mm, the outer casing is 70mm, and the outer diameter of the bezel is 80mm.

I also posted this on the Italian military forum at O&P. It appears chronographs of this pattern, manufactured by at least Leonidas in addition to Universal, were fitted into a variety of Regia Aeronautica fighters from 1943 until the end of the war. Images from a Fiat and another Macchi cockpit from user Recon59 there are quite clear. http://orologi.forumfree.it/?t=67959810

Thanks to MWRforum member east Al, there is this link from IHC185 which I found interesting, although the submarine talk is apparently without foundation
http://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/990103944/m/6531096491

LarryG · Jan 20, 2014

Excellent catch, Lou. I'm a fan of these cockpit chrono's as well, but have no real info to share.

J-Luc · Jan 20, 2014

Hello Lou,

i have purchased this countdown watch Universal Cairelli
made for the Italian Air Force Bombardier circa 1940 (size 52.5mm)

LouS · Jan 20, 2014

That looks like it takes a strap. How large is it?

J-Luc · Jan 20, 2014

LouS
That looks like it takes a strap. How large is it?

27mm = 1.063 inch

LouS · Jan 20, 2014

J-Luc
27mm = 1.063 inch

That is the strap size, I assume? I should have been clearer - I was asking about the whole timer.