Маяк (Mayak) desk clock with thermometer and weather indicator

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

"Маяк" (Mayak) desk clock with thermometer and weather indicator

Entry/Object ID

2025.11.1

Description

A rectangular desk clock in a polished wooden case on two dark feet, behind a glass front in a nickel-plated brass bezel. The cream plastic panel carries, at left, a clock dial with Roman numerals, black hands, the cursive maker's name, and "Сделано в СССР"; at right, a vertical thermometer (0–40 °C, doubled scale) above a curved weather-indicator scale reading "ПАСМУРНО / ПЕРЕМЕННО / СОЛНЕЧНО" (overcast / variable / sunny). The reverse is a black-painted metal back plate (now heavily rusted) with the winding arbor and a setting lever.

Acquisition

Accession

2025.11

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Notes

$10

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Serdobsk Watch Factory, "СЧЗ"

Time Period

1970s

Place

City

Serdobsk

State/Province

Penza Oblast

Country

U.S.S.R.

Region

Eastern Europe

Continent

Europe

Edition

"Маяк" (Mayak)

Notes

Date: No fully legible date on this example (the back plate bears a partly legible molded part number). The Mayak brand dates from 1964 and this barometer/thermometer desk model was made circa late 1960s–1970s. Place of Origin: Serdobsk, Penza Oblast, RSFSR, USSR (per maker; "Сделано в СССР").

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Notes

Dial: "Маяк" (cursive); "Сделано в СССР." Weather scale: "ПАСМУРНО," "ПЕРЕМЕННО," "СОЛНЕЧНО"; thermometer graduated 0–40. Back plate: partially legible molded part/model number.

Materials

Material Notes

Materials: Polished wood case; plastic dial/panel; glass front; nickel-plated brass bezel; painted metal back plate; mechanical clock movement; spirit/mercury thermometer; weather-indicator mechanism; metal/plastic feet. Technique: Wooden cased desk instrument combining a jeweled mechanical (7-day) clock movement with a thermometer and a barometer-type weather indicator behind a single glazed front.

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Relationships

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

use

Place

City

Serdobsk

State/Province

Penza Oblast

Country

U.S.S.R.

Region

Eastern Europe

Continent

Europe

Notes

production

Research Notes

Notes

Maker/type: the Serdobsk factory (est. 1943; "Mayak" brand from 1964) was a major Soviet clock producer, best known for cuckoo and desk/mantel clocks, with substantial export. Combined clock-thermometer-"weather" desk pieces like this were popular Soviet interior objects of the 1960s–1970s.

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

July 31, 2025

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 18, 2026