Smiths Set of Six Stopwatches

Before fitness trackers, GPS running watches, and smartphones, there was the humble stopwatch. In the UK, it seems every school sports day, swimming gala, rugby match, and athletics meet must have had a Smiths stopwatch in a PE teacher or coach's hand. Rugged, accurate, and unmistakably British, they were the timekeepers of an era when fractions of a second were recorded with the satisfying click of a mechanical pusher.

This exceptional six-piece Smiths stopwatch set is a rare surviving retailer’s presentation, complete with its original molded display insert and illustrated presentation box. Manufactured in Great Britain during the 1970s, the set includes two red plastic-cased stopwatches, two blue plastic-cased examples, and two traditional chrome-plated steel models, each proudly signed “SMITHS” with “Great Britain” printed on the dial.

What makes the set particularly charming are the three specialized sporting timers. Their oversized red sub-registers are divided into clearly marked timing segments for 20-minute ice hockey periods, 40-minute rugby matches, and 45-minute football halves—a wonderfully practical reminder of Smiths’ role as Britain’s premier supplier of sporting and industrial timing instruments. The remaining stopwatches feature conventional timing layouts, illustrating the breadth of the company’s catalog during its heyday.

The original box is every bit as evocative as the stopwatches themselves. Boldly proclaiming “SPORTING FAMILIES NEED SMITHS STOP WATCHES,” its colorful groovy artwork celebrates the sporting culture of 1970s Britain with illustrations of horse jumping, swimming, track and field, and skateboarding—an unexpectedly stylish piece of period graphic design that perfectly captures the style of the era.

More than a collection of stopwatches, this is a snapshot of one of Britain’s most storied manufacturers. Better known today for its Everest wristwatches, military-issued W10S, and automotive instruments fitted to Jaguar and Aston Martin, Smiths also produced the dependable stopwatches that timed generations of athletes, students, coaches, and officials. Complete sets such as this—with six watches, the original insert, and illustrated retail packaging—are seldom encountered and represent an engaging piece of British industrial and sporting history.

Founded in London in 1851 by Samuel Smith, Smiths grew from a family jeweler into Britain's largest manufacturer of clocks, watches, and precision timing instruments. Beyond its celebrated wristwatches, the company supplied dashboard gauges for marques including Jaguar, Aston Martin, MG, and Triumph, as well as cockpit instruments for British aircraft and a wide range of sporting stopwatches.

During the mid-20th century, Smiths became one of the last companies to manufacture watch movements in Great Britain, earning a reputation for practical engineering and dependable timekeeping. The brand achieved lasting fame through its association with the 1953 Mount Everest expedition and later with the military-issued W10 wristwatch. Although Smiths ceased watch production by the early 1980s, its robust designs and uniquely British heritage continue to make its timepieces and timing instruments highly collectible today.

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Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a two-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

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All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.