VOISIN VIII -- ALLION A VERSAILLES

THE CLOCK

I still have not found any information about this clock.

The main characteristic of the clock is the case, it has a vibration damping system consisting of 4 rods that cross inside, at the center, which is precisely where the machinery is set, giving two free axes to the clock.

The movement, “M” marked, is from a Pocket Watch dated around 1900, it has 11 jewels and one barrel with one day power.

THE AIRPLANE

Gabriel Voisin who worked for the Bleriot factory, was the man that built this airplane which started working in 1916.

1.100 were built, but only one remains today. It was bought by the American Government in 1917 together with one Caudron, both for a technical evaluation. They were transported by boat and when they finally arrived and were ready to fly, they were so obsolete that no one paid any attention to them.

In 1918 they were given to the Smithsonian Institution without the Voisin engine. They were restored in 1989 and are situated in the Air and Space museum of the Smithsonian Institution, in Washington, where cockpit instruments are exposed, that´s how I found in witch plane this clock was mounted, (see photo at the left with the altimeter, notice the springs they were used to mounted it to cushion the vibrations).

The Voisin VIII is the first aircraft specifically built as nocturnal bomber, and has gates for bombs, interior lighting, and landing lights.

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