RAF Issue Aircrew Stop Watch 6B/221

this example dates from 1940 when it was issued as a 6B/117 the standard RAF code for a General Purpose stop watch. The instrument then clearly went back to the stores in 1941 and was over stamped with stores reference code 6B/221 with a new reference number and re issue date of 1941. The code 6B/221 indicates it was for use as a substitute watch and not when I high degree of accuracy was required, as by a Navigator. According to Ziggy Weslolowski in his excellent book on Military Timepieces this could have been used by a Lancaster pilot as a back up mounted on his panel should other instruments pack up on an Op. This example does run for some seconds but the hands then sticks and this is how it was when it came in. We would imagine not a massive job to get it serviced/cleaned but we are now offering for sale in A/F condition as an interesting example showing the evolution of wartime stop watches. It carries a large and crisp Kings Crown engraving to the rear of the case.