Grandfathers watch

Submitted by John B on April 18, 2011 - 6:59pm

After my grandfathers passing I found this amongst his things.  I looked around but had no luck finding what model / year this watch is.  Anyone able to lend a helping hand?

 

Wayne Hanley
Posted April 19, 2011 - 3:01am

John B

Looks like a mid to late 1940s military style watch. Please log all the stamped text from the movement & any text on the iside backcase please. We can name the year and movement that-a-way. Please measure the diameter of the cse, without lugs

Wayne

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 18, 2011 - 7:49pm

The Presidential seal on the case is pre 1944. - possibly a 'WATER TITE'.

Was Your Grandfather in the armed forces?

shooter144
Posted April 20, 2011 - 8:33am

love that secs hand.....be carefull if you open that watch as it is a Radium illuminated watch and the dust from the Radium paint is radioactive and if ingested or breathed in, would be dangerous !!!!

John B
Posted April 20, 2011 - 10:15pm

Sorry guys took a bit to get back to ya.  Wayne, the watch is not in the best of shape and I was not able to remove the back.  Beign a novice i do not wish to cause more harm.  Fithavenue yes he was in the army during WWII for mid 42 to the end of 45.

Wayne Hanley
Posted April 21, 2011 - 2:08pm

John B

 Please measure the diameter of the case, without lugs. Is it 26mm or 28mm?

Wayne

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 21, 2011 - 5:48am

I'd say this is WWII'ish Military - Pre any Ordnance Dept requirements/markings which began in 1943 - no concrete proof, just an opinion based upon what I have seen.

mybulova_admin
Posted April 21, 2011 - 5:49am

I tend to agree Mark, but what about the box? Would have they been issues to military personnel with the box?

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 21, 2011 - 6:02am

The box threw Me off admin, it's very similar to the presentation box sold with the '43 - '45 Air Warden etc We have seen.

Unclear on the box, it's possibly issue or purchaseable at an AX.

I've only seen one other like it and argued with the Owner that due to the Presidential Seal it must belong to a Bulova 'PRESIDENT'. Aparrantly I was wrong.

lol

John B
Posted April 21, 2011 - 9:01pm

Wayne i just measured it at 28mm.  Side note he was out of country from late 42 until late Dec of 45 so not sure if that will narrow anything down.

Wayne Hanley
Posted April 22, 2011 - 12:51am

Fifth

Does your A11 manual give any indication of when the sweep second hand first appeared?

Wayne

shooter144
Posted April 22, 2011 - 8:56am

My 43 (not AII) still has sub secs, and this dial has no outer chapter of mins to aid in navigation and the secs hand is wrong anyway, tho it could be a replacement...very cool secs hand !!! All of the watches in my ord manual from 1945 except a 16 j Elgin and a Waltham show sub secs dial, but it only shows the 10 AK Bulova watches... I'm thinking on the lines of Fifth, that it was probably a civilian purchase of an ord watch except that it looks like a snap back...we need it opened up !!!!

My ORD shows a 31.8 mm case diam and about 26mm opening...and shows outer chapt of mins as well with a sub secs dial.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 22, 2011 - 9:43am

shooter,

The A-11 never had a sub Dial, all A-11's have sweep center seconds.

The sub Dialed 'ORD DEPT' Watches and the hacking A-11's with sweep center seconds are 2 different Watches.

'ORD DEPT' - sub Dial.

'A-11' - sweep Center seconds w/hack feature.

2 different Watches made at the same time issued to different departments of the Military.

 

Wayne,

this Watch is not an A-11.

The copy of the A-11 Manual has a publish date of January 1945.

the earliest manufacture date of a Bulova  ORD or A-11 personally seen is 1942 - the vast majority being 1943.

John B
Posted April 23, 2011 - 6:28pm

Managed to get the back off today.  Hopefully this will help indentify the watch.  Thanks again for looking.

shooter144
Posted April 23, 2011 - 6:38pm

Well if its 10k bezel its not military of any sort...tho it is a 10AK mvmt...Triangle dates mvmt to 1945.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 23, 2011 - 6:58pm

I agree shooter, it's non - issue, no spacer for the movement so it's a smaller diameter Case.

 'WATER TITE' perhaps.

John B
Posted April 23, 2011 - 7:00pm

I asked his wife about the watch.  She remembers him coming back from the war with it but has no clue where you got it.  Also, shorty after his return he boxed it up and left it where it was until i found it last week.  Doubtful it was ever repaired.

NOVA
Posted April 23, 2011 - 7:01pm

I thought Water-Tites had to say "Water Tite" or water-proof somewhere?  No?