Germany, Fliegertruppe. A Pilot’s Pocket Watch By F.w. Kreis

(Taschenuhr). A steel-cased, magnetic, non-functional pocket watch with an inverted face allowing the pilot to read the time without having to turn the watch the opposite way, the white enamelled face has bold numerals in black, marked “EIGENTUM DER FLIEGERTRUPPEN” (“PROPERTY OF THE FLYING CORPS”), with steel blue hour and minute hands, each minute position marked with black rules, a steel blue secondhand partially obscures the 12 o’clock position, maker mark “F.W. KREIS, BERLIN. W.,” the reverse stamped with the Flying Corps’ winged propeller insignia and FLZ, indicating that it was used by a member of a Zeppelin airship crew circa 1915, the inside cover is inscribed with “356 u 94 u,” “B21/10-46,” “B2/6-50,” and “AHsberj,” measures 52.55 mm (w) x 63.39 mm (h - inclusive of ball finial), weighs 84.9 grams, shows major wear and cracking, and in good condition.

Footnote: “Property of the Flying Corps” found on watches between 1914 and 1918. See Z.M. Wesolowski, A Concise Guide to Military Timepieces, 1800-1990 (Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire: The Crowood Press, 1999), 14 and 33.