Antique & Militaria

**SCAPA FLOW RECOVERED**WW1 Imperial German ‘Franz Happe Kiel’ Kaiserliche Marine Brass Cased Battle Ship’s Clock With Key & Provenance. Sn 23307 - 23307

After the WW1 1918 Armistice, 74 German ships were held at Scapa Flow (a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy); during negotiations German Admiral von Reuter ordered them scuttled to prevent them from being seized by the British. WW1 Scapa Flow ship clocks, particularly from the sunken German High Seas Fleet (scuttled June 21, 1919), are very rare, sought-after maritime antiques often featuring brass casings, bevelled glass, and makers like F.N. Tietz Kiel. Many were salvaged during the 1920s /30s and represent the dramatic end of the war when the German ships were sunk. Authentic clocks feature markings from the German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine). Salvaged items often show signs of being underwater for years, but our example was recovered from a partially submerged vessel and has no sea water damage. Some artifacts from Scapa Flow are displayed at the Scapa Flow Museum at Lyness on the island of Hoy. This is an excellent very rare & desirable original WW2 era Kaiserliche Marine Battle Ship’s clock with brass case & silvered face complete with key numbered 7 & 400. The clock is in perfect working order and the key winds the clock. It has its original brass casing with three fixing brackets. The clock including case measures 8 ½” in diameter (including face lock) and is 3 ¾” depth. It has a silvered dial set with Arabic numerals within minute marker chapter ring and fast slow adjustment lever & minute timer dial. The clock face has a hinged glass cover with brass rim numbered 85 & lock (locking mechanism absent). The face is marked with the Kaiserliche Marine Crown and 'M' (Marine) mark together with serial number ‘1196’ & known maker of Scapa Flow recovered clocks maker detail ‘Franz Happe Kiel’. The rear of the case is numbered ‘2327564’. A label found with the clock describes it and circumstances of its recovery which reads: “Franz Happe Kiel Brass Bulk Head Clock Number 1196, Serial 2327554. This Clock is from one of the German Battle Fleet Ships scuttled in Scapa Flow in June 1919. Unfortunately the ship's name is not known. It was removed from a ship that still had its superstructure above water so thankfully no saltwater damage. It was retrieved by an employee of Cox & Danks who were responsible for raising the ships from Scapa Flow. There is lots of Historical information on the Scuttling and Raising of these ships online. The clock is in good working order”. The price for this very rare fully functional Scapa Flow recovered ships clock with provenance includes UK delivery. Sn 23307

£2,975