Here we have a good original example of a rare British Miliary Issue 1967 Heuer Monte-Carlo cockpit stopwatch. It has the reference 6B/5209604 engraved to its case. It is engraved with the serial number 2288 with the H.T.L.1. designation. It comes on its military issue mounting plate, with the broad arrow, ref 6B/4193. This example was purchased as having come from RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall. It has the 7-jewel calibre 7714 movement, which is manual wind. It has been recently serviced and is functioning perfectly.
 
The history:
The Heuer Master Time and Monte Carlo were a staple of the cockpit of nearly every 1960s rally car. There was a specific mounting plate that allowed both to be fitted within a car, together with a Curta Calculator. This allowed navigators to perform complex speed, time and distance calculations with relative ease. A feature of the dash of cars ranging from the works Mini Coopers to Porsche 911s, they also found their way into military aircrafts under official MOD order. They were a vital tool in the cockpit to allow pilots to see Elapsed time. In aviation it is hugely important for navigation (particularly dead reckoning navigation) and timing the legs of journeys/turn around points. It is also vital in calculating fuel usage and timing precision work such as bombing runs and time on target. 
 
In the late 1960s the two-button variation seen here replaced the earlier three button examples. All reset to zero functions were combined to the right button, with the dial slightly changed with the markings for one-fifth of a second in line with the second and minute markings. It was available commercially in 1967 but was mentioned in the July 1966 Air Publication over a few lines. 
 
A batch of around 600 timers were ordered with the marking 6B/5209604, broad arrow and a four-digit issue number, but without the circled ‘T’ on the dial.
These were then followed by another batch of between 600 and 1000 timers with the additional markings H.T.L.1/2, of which this is one. The seen serial number range for this batch is 2085 to 2584.
H.T.L. most likely stands for Heuer Time Ltd, the UK distributor for Heuer, which had announced its contract win for supplying Monte Carlos to the newly built Jaguar aircraft in the Horological Journal in August 1968. They also featured in the Hunter and Buccaneer aircraft. 
 
Specifics of this example:
The dial is matte black with the luminous Arabic numerals at 5-minute intervals, with outer minute divisions, with single second graduations and 1/5th of a second graduations. The dial is signed below 12 O’clock ‘Monte-Carlo Heuer’. 
There is the white chronograph seconds hand which is coated in luminous paint. The large white arrow hand is for 60-minute recording, which also has luminous paint to the tip. The aperture at 6 O’clock for recording the hours and is displayed clearly in black Arabic numerals on the white window.
The case is black painted and has retaining screws at 2, 6 and 10. It has the bi-directional rotating serrated bezel with the luminous arrow on the raised inner section. The dial is protected by the domed acrylic crystal. The snap-on case back is signed ‘Heuer Leonidas’. 
There is an oversized knurled black winding crown at 12 which is also responsible for pausing the stopwatch. The pusher between 1 and 2 O’clock is responsible for re-setting the stopwatch. It is mounted to the black painted back plate with the broad arrow and military reference 6B.4193 with three screws, with counter sunk mounting holes at each corner. This is the original mounting plate that was used to fit it within a cockpit.
 
Condition:
This is a good original example. It has some loss to the painted finish, particularly in high contact areas such as the pusher and winder. It also has some loss to the painted finish on the mounting plate. The dial is very good, without marking. The luminous paint is original and un-touched with ageing and darkening. The movement is recently serviced and is functioning perfectly. All aspects are original an un-altered.
 
Case dimensions:
Width: 55.5mm
Length: 55.5mm
Length with winder: 71.8mm
Width with side pusher: 66.5mm
Depth: 25.3mm
Base plate width: 58mm
Base plate length: 58mm