*British, WW1, RFC Trench Art Propeller Boss Clock, Avro 80HP Clerget, with Period Brass Mantel Movement*
An original WW1 Royal Flying Corps trench art clock, crafted from the laminated mahogany boss of an Avro aircraft propeller manufactured for the 80 h.p. Clerget rotary engine. The Avro 504, fitted with Clerget engines, became the most widely used British aircraft of the First World War, serving primarily as a trainer but also in reconnaissance and light bombing roles.
This example retains the distinctive laminated mahogany boss section, cut down and shaped into a domed display form, with all the original Air Board production stamps still visible to the sides and rear. The front has been carefully adapted to house a circular brass Art Nouveau bezel and vine-decorated surround, framing a cream enamel clock dial with gilt central medallion and black stylised Arabic numerals.
The clock itself is a period French or Swiss brass movement, accessible via a hinged rear cover, with winding and regulation apertures clearly marked. Together, this piece represents both a genuine fragment of a WW1 RFC aircraft and the postwar ingenuity of trench art, when damaged propellers were repurposed as functional keepsakes.
Dimensions: 29 cm tall (including base), base 18.5 cm x 18 cm, bezel 14.9 cm diameter, dial 7.5 cm, rear aperture 10 cm.
Markings:
Propeller Boss - “AVRO” (carved above dial). -“80 HP CLERGET” (carved). -“DIA [likely 2740 or 2744]” (stamped; numerals partly worn). -“1829” (PITCH) (stamped). -Prop serials/batch: “4550” (right side of boss) and “8744” (left side of boss).
-Inspector/acceptance stamps (A.I.D./broad-arrow) as visible.
Clock Movement:
Brass backplate with stamped adjustment codes: “S / F” – regulation. “W” – winding. “A.T.” – likely maker or contract initials. Hinged wooden cover to rear with original fixing screws.
History Note:
This clock was fashioned from the laminated mahogany boss of a WW1 Avro 504 propeller, originally designed for the 80 h.p. Clerget 7Z rotary engine. The Avro 504 became the most widely produced British aircraft of the First World War, serving in reconnaissance, bombing, and, most famously, as the principal trainer of the Royal Flying Corps. Nearly every British pilot who flew in combat learned first on an Avro 504.
Propellers of this type were stamped with standard Air Board identifiers. The present example retains clear markings: “1829” denoting pitch, “DIA” indicating diameter (approx. 2740–2744 mm on Clerget-fitted Avro 504s), along with unique serial/batch numbers “4550” and “8744”. The carved inscriptions “AVRO” and “80 HP CLERGET” further confirm its association with the aircraft and engine type.
Damaged or retired propellers were often repurposed as souvenirs. Many craftsmen, both servicemen and civilians, converted laminated mahogany bosses into clocks, picture frames, and presentation pieces. This example, engraved with both AVRO and CLERGET, links directly to the iconic RFC training aircraft of WW1, and its survival in clock form represents both trench art ingenuity and the postwar desire to preserve fragments of aviation history.
*Condition*
The clock presents well with a rich aged patina to the laminated mahogany propeller boss, showing light surface marks, handling wear, and minor age-related cracks consistent with service material of this period. The original Air Board stamps and inscriptions (“AVRO” and “80 HP CLERGET”) remain clearly legible. The brass bezel and embossed Art Nouveau foliate surround have mellowed with age and show some tarnish and rubbing, while the cream enamel dial has slight discolouration but retains its gilt centre and crisp numerals. The hands are intact and the rear wooden cover and hinge remain present and functional. The brass movement is complete but requires servicing and attention to return it to working order. Overall, a very good, complete and authentic example of a WW1 trench art propeller boss clock. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
