Bulova 1945 Military Issue

Submitted by FifthAvenueRes… on May 3, 2011 - 4:19pm
Manufacture Year
1945
Movement Model
10AK
Movement Date Code
Circle
Movement Jewels
15
Case Serial No.
OF104157
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

WWII Bulova ORD CORPS. Stainless Steel Case measures 39mm lug to lug x 32mm wide non inclusive of the Crown while using Calipers. White Dial shows Military standard Arabic numerals and Black printed tracks. Hour and Minute Hands are Military radium and a radium 10AK Military Seconds Hand appears on a sub Dial fully obscuring the 6. Anti-magnetic dust shield and Gasket between Caseback and Movement. 10 sided Stainless Steel Caseback screws on and is stamped as shown.

 * although the Movement is Dated to 1944 this style of Military Case did not appear until 1945-'46. as found - glass in poor condition.

 

Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
Bulova Watch
Bulova Watch
FifthAvenueRes…
Posted September 3, 2011 - 7:55pm

Wayne,

The manual TM 9-1975 does not place Us in the ballpark for post WWII era Military timepieces. I don't know how long it took Uncle Sam to assemble all the information together but TM 9-1975's publication Date is 6 April 1945.

Germany's unconditional surrender in WWII did not occur until May 8,1945 and the Japanese did not surrender until August 15 of the same Year.

It's a safe bet that TM 9-1975 is great reference for timepieces produced prior to its publication: 6 April, 1945 but how it could possibly cover Watches manufactured post WWII's official end Date of 2 September, 1945, 5 Months later, is beyond Me. Please explain that one.....

You originally called this Bulova 'ORD CORPS' Watch a Frankenbully, an uneducated and highly insulting comment  Wayne - now You've been shown 4 other examples of this rare piece, all of which are sourced from highly reputable Military Watch collectors.

TM 9-1975 has no bearing on post WWII Military Horology.

Wayne Hanley
Posted September 4, 2011 - 3:54am

TM 9-1975 6 April 1945 covers Ordinance watches. You referenced your movement to be 1944 & your case to be 1945. The manual is certainly inclusive of your watch. I am only concerned with discusing your watch. Your watch case looks nothing like the Bulova watch cases depicted in the manual. TM 9-1975 is the authority for US military watches. It shows the correct case configuration of the Bulova ORD watch. Any deviation from that configuration is a Frankenbully. Not what I say, not what your experts say, it is what TM 9-1575 says because it is the authority.

 

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted September 4, 2011 - 5:36am

I would agree, on any Military issue 'ORD DEPT' Watch manufactured prior to 6 April, 1945.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted September 15, 2011 - 5:41pm

Hamilton ORD CORPS

images courtesy of coolvintagewatches.com

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted November 3, 2011 - 9:48pm

I found this little snippet from 'Cooksey's Guide.

The image clearly shows the 1945-46 design Military Case with a Black WWII 10 AK Dial.

 

Wayne Hanley
Posted November 4, 2011 - 1:16pm

Cooksey has been aware of this misprint since 2007 & also directly above it the so called BULOVA 15J..Military Style cat 10 bnch, c. 1940 ..... notice the picture is a issue A17. Cooksey asked IHC185 for & was provided markup for the 2008 edition,  but the errors are still there in the 2011 edition.

If you can show a mil spec or an amendment to TM-9-1575 showing an ORD 10AK movement in a MIL-W-6433 or later mil spec (Type A17 style) case in 1945. I'll eat that document & give this watch 4 gold stars & give you a public apology.

We are talking Bulova ONLY and in configuration of your subject watch!

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted November 6, 2011 - 8:43am

Perhaps the Cooksey errors are a result of the IHC?

Wayne,

We will certainly be seeking such documentation.

If You pay particular attention to the traits of this Watch You will notice the age patina of the Dial matches the age patina of the Hands. The Case screws are in place and there are Zero toolmarks showing on the Movement. Given that, the Movement and Dial assembly match the age patina of the Case and the Caseback aging matches the Bezel.

This is a very original and unmolested Watch IMO documenting the Military Case design change which occured around 1945-46, post publication of manual TM-9-1575.

above: Bulova ORD CORPS U.S.A. (parkerized Case?)

 

Wayne Hanley
Posted November 6, 2011 - 8:42am

You can rely on patina to date a watch, I don't normally eat patin! LOL. Only ocumentation shall solve this problem and I wish you well in finding it. We can all learn something.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted November 6, 2011 - 8:47am

Thanks, matching Patina across all componants of a Watch is impossible to duplicate.

I will keep this one updated with any findings.

stoddrob
Posted November 6, 2011 - 10:38pm

As usual, this is a perfect example of the ad nausium posts that goes on regarding what amounts to minutia on this site and bores me to tears. You guys sound ready to rip each other's hair our for crying out loud! Elementary schoolyard stuff! The term "Frankenbully' is highly overused on this site, and frankly, I could care less what someone thinks or doesn't think about originality.  Lot's of watches, especially military watches, were pieced together over the years during various repairs. Apparently, unless a watch meets some people's requirements as original and authentic they are B.S.! Unless a military watch is from Southeast Asia and includes a movement with Chinese markings labled "Bulova" I disagree with the argument over pedigree and wouldn't waste my time debating anyones prejudices which usually stem from ignorance. I feel that way about all the discourse and disagreeement over models on this site. Who cares?....love the watch and get over having to defend it or getting someone's "seal of approval!"