WW2 "MetroVick" Omega / Lemania Chronograph

A special-purpose wrist timer, once owned by the firm Metropolitan Vickers Electric Limited and made by the Omega / Lemania group in Switzerland. Designed with a hi-beating balance, these chronograph based timers were state of the art, capable of providing very accurate time measurement. All of this at a time when war had been declared in Europe, suggests that something interesting was being worked on at MetroVick.

Vickers or MetroVick", as the company was affectionately called by its employees, was helping A.V. Roe in the war effort by building heavy bombers such as the Manchester, Lancaster and Lincoln types. However, the Royal Aircraft Establishment was additionally interested in the secret research that MVE was undertaking, involving the production of jet engines. In fact, in 1941 Vickers, whilst under contract to the RAE and another rival company, became the world's first industrial jet engine manufacturer (Frank Whittle's engine became the first jet to enter operational service in 1945).

Towards the end of the war, MVE had built well over 1000 Avro bombers before the Air Ministry cancelled the remaining orders and aircraft production ceased in December 1945. After the war, the building of jet engines continued before that business was sold to Armstrong Siddeley in 1947.

This actual watch is beautifully marked, "Property of M.V.E. Co. Ltd" and, whilst cosmetically being in excellent used condition the timer is mechanically in full working order.

A great item of Aeronautica, used in critical applications during the development of the jet engine.

Code: 51286