* Rare Radium Dialed Military issue Type A-11 Navigation.
Chrome plated Silver Case measures 40mm lug to lug x 32mm wide non inclusive of the Crown using Calipers. Black Dial shows Military standard Radium numerals, tracks are printed in White. Hour and Minute Hands are 'Spade and Sword' style, radium filled. Center seconds Hand is White (broken shaft) An anti-magnetic shield and gasket appears between the Caseback and Movement. Decagonal Stainless Steel Caseback screws on and is stamped as shown.* * Note: PART NO 10AKCSH-R Crown is original.
Project, will update.
I wondered who snagged that of the bay! Great catch!
James @ MWWC
Out of the ordinary for sure. I hope you keep it hermetically sealed at least temporarily in a mayonaise jar, at least until your gieger counter arrives. Great Find!
it does look a little hot doesn't it....
1st Caseback I've seen with the 'R' designation.
In reply to it does look a little hot by FifthAvenueRes…
Possibly late enough that they finally thought to designate 'radium'???
The majority of A-11 Dials are not Radium, the numerals and tracks are simply printed in White.
As in the White 'NAVY-RAD' (radium) A-11 Dial shown below (#66-40) this one is Black with radium numerals, most likely the Dial designated 'RAD' (#66-2) but missing from the sample card.
The nicety is the Casebacks 'R' appendix to the model # matches the Dial characteristics bolstering the Watches authenticity.
as stated, the first I have seen.
In reply to The majority of A-11 Dials by FifthAvenueRes…
It also could be a RAF unissued 6B. (R appendix) The dial and hand set up does remind me of a /l\ watch. Most RAF issued watches had US markings, but would have been marked by the RAF ORD on top of the already existing US markings. They Also were specd' with radium dials. Sorry don't have a pick. I'll try and find one for you guys though.
James @ MWWC
RAF...no back pic, but description has ther RAF markings but no R...this sold for $43 on the Bay...
militariawwii.com/vintage-ww2-bulova-military-raf-6b234-hack-watch
James,
I've seen the Royal Air Force 'Broad Arrow' stamp before, as You mentioned always over the U.S. markings.
I'm tryin' to think of where I've seen the R appendix. I'm not sure so don't qoute me on this. I'v got a friend who's grandfather was a FAC in WWII. He told me most of the FAC's were indeed issued the R's due to they were operating at night in most cases for Forward Air Control. Wether thats a true statement I can't say. Although it does seem feasable as they would have had to plot incoming aircraft by time as they hand only radio and no radar to tell them ETA's.
J
Just noticed a double Date stamp on the Movement 1943 & '44.