WWII German shell casing & clock

]Hello,
Today, I found an old German Kienzle vehicle clock mounted in the bottom of a WWII shell casing. The shell casing has an eagle over a swastika and the notation WaA406. There is also the mark IFH and a date 1938.
Curious to find out what else I can learn from these marks on the casing.

Thanks
ClarkB
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...e02_njpg-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...8c2_njpg-1.jpg

One other thing. On the base of the mount is "Germany THF 1945" I wonder if this is to commemorate a specific battle or event.

The IFH is the manufacturer of the shell and the date is the year it was made. The markings on the base are likely similar, initials of who made it and when. Probably post war made from scraps to make some extra rations, etc from the occupying troops.

Does the clock still work?

wa HASAG, Hugo Schneider AG, Abteilung Lampenfabrik – Leipzig, Germany. Found on ammunition headstamps and cannon shell cases

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

Does the clock still work?

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I've cleaned and oiled the clock. So far it runs for a few hours. After a little more exercise I expect it will run well

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

The IFH is the manufacturer of the shell and the date is the year it was made. The markings on the base are likely similar, initials of who made it and when

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The shell casing itself is dated 1938 and marked IFH

How old do you think the clock is? 1920's?

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Originally Posted by Flying10uk

How old do you think the clock is? 1920's?

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Hard for me to say. This is a new one on me. Their first automobile clocks were made in the early 1900's. They were major manufactures for aircraft cockpit and vehicle clocks during WWII. They used a lot of Polish slave labor to produce war time clocks.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ClarkB

One other thing. On the base of the mount is "Germany THF 1945" I wonder if this is to commemorate a specific battle or event.

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Sounds more to me like some industrious soul making up stands for surplus clocks to sell same to American servicemen.

Could also be something made by an American in Europe with workshop facilities and time on his hands.

WaA (WaffenAmt) 406 denotes the ammunition manufacturer Polte who was located in Magdeburg and manufactured 2.0, 3.7, 7.5, 8.8, and 10.5 cm. shells from 1935 to 1938.

Thanks

Agree, they weren't using the one, two, & three letter factory codes as early as 1938. I think the lfh probably indicates (in German which I won't attempt!) 'light field howitzer'.
Is there not a 'P' or 'P' followed by a number also marked on the base somewhere....?

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Originally Posted by Roger Payne

Agree, they weren't using the one, two, & three letter factory codes as early as 1938. I think the lfh probably indicates (in German which I won't attempt!) 'light field howitzer'.
Is there not a 'P' or 'P' followed by a number also marked on the base somewhere....?

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Leichte Feldhaubitze?

That's it!