Hi everyone,
I wanted to share a vintage military piece following a full movement overhaul. I’ve noticed a few similar models on the site featuring sterile dials, and I believe mine is also a post-WWII / Korean War era depot reconstruction.
Watch Details & Specs:
- Movement: 15-jewel Bulova Caliber 10AK with a 1944 date symbol (circle) on the bridge.
- Case: Stainless steel decagonal screw-down case stamped ORD CORPS on the back, with its original anti-magnetic dust cover.
- Dial & Hands: Unbranded, sterile silver/white sub-seconds dial with radium cathedral hands. Factory brass dial feet are completely original, un-modified, and seat directly into the 10AK mainplate.
- Service Etchings: Hand-scribed bench watchmaker marks inside the case back with writing that appears to display “complete”
The evidence points to an Army Ordnance depot overhauling surplus 1944 10AK stock, fitting them with sterile replacement dials, and recasing them under updated "ORD CORPS" specs. The white dial and cathedral hands strongly point to non-combat, auxiliary, or medical support deployment.
Has anyone else documented similar U Bulova bench marks or depot-reissued 10AK variants in their research? Would love to hear your thoughts!
I for one would not be fine with a non-conforming category designation for the example I own. The watch, almost identical to the subject, has been categorized as a 1950 Military issued piece for 15yrs here now.
If the experts would like to change how it is classified please do not bother and simply remove the watch from the database.
thanks.
In reply to I for one would not be fine… by FifthAvenueRes…
In reply to ....and that's why you're… by Geoff Baker
In reply to being a panel member is not… by FifthAvenueRes…
Oh sorry, you completely missed my point. Your comment stated that if we don't ID the watch the way YOU wanted you demanded that we delete YOUR watch record. As panel members we generally have our debates in public and ALL agree to let the majority consensus rule. None of us ever get mad at or make childish demands of the others. You were not sharing knowledge, you were making demands and that's why you'll not be a panel member.
In the 5 or 6 years or however long you were ignoring myBulova we (the panel members) updated every single watch in the dB as well as changing the names of up to one hundred watches because we discovered new information. As we make new discoveries we will continue to do so, with no regard to the owner or their demands.
Several years ago, Stephen blocked the ability to delete records from the data base from all members other than panel members. We don't delete records except in a few very rare instances and never by demand of the owner.
Apologies bmags, for throwing shade on your watch - it really is a unique piece of history. Congratulations on a nice example. Thank you for sharing it.
I believe that the 10AK was the workhorse for most of Bulova's military watches. So, it at the very least has the correct spec/type of movement.
Was this example officially rebuilt and issued or was it cobbled together by someone more recently? We all know how easy it is to do these days with the amount of parts available online.
The way it sits I would like to see it ID'd as a generic Military Issue, noting the early movement. Technically it does fall into our definition of non-conforming due to the year difference, but all parts (at least IMO) are correct for a base Military Issue ID.
The question therefore for me is what year do we date it to? It has to be post 1950.
The 'O-1394 U balance complete' Military inscription inside the caseback of the subject and the fact that there is an existing almost identical example in the database leans more toward authenticity than not.
1950 has been fine as for a date of manufacture for the current example in the database.