Bulova 1944 Military Issue

Submitted by FifthAvenueRes… on
A-11
Manufacture Year
1944
Movement Model
10AKCSH
Movement Date Code
Circle
Movement Jewels
16
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
AF43-143686
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

*  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.

Bulova watch
1944 Bulova watch
1944 Bulova watch
1944 Bulova watch
1944 Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
bobbee
Posted December 3, 2012 - 10:22am

This actually does not conform to Federal Specification TT-R-58, Grade 22 "M".

"The watch dial shall be black with markings as shown in Figure 1 in white, except that the five minute markings shall be of a radioactive material".

Which means like this Hamilton.

(courtesy of Billy at Broad-arrow.net)

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted December 3, 2012 - 10:43am

bobbee
Posted December 3, 2012 - 10:46am

I'm not blind.

I can see the numbers actually do not conform.

They are not painted white.

bobbee
Posted December 3, 2012 - 11:13am

"6. E-17a.(1) The back of the watch case shall be engraved with the following:

FSSC 88-W-800

manufacturer's Part No.

manufacturer's name".

Release the Entrenching Tool.

 

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted December 3, 2012 - 2:43pm

Although the subject may not have been Bureau of Aeronautics "approved", it certainly appears to be an attempt. The numerals were White at one time, 70 Years ago +/-.

bobbee
Posted December 3, 2012 - 2:54pm

Yes, by someone with access to the correct radium paint, not freely available I should imagine.

Plus the "-R" on the case back, an enigma.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted June 17, 2024 - 5:50pm

the image of the box is one of an original Bulova Type A-11, clearly marked:  RADIUM and 10AKCSH-R  

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted June 17, 2024 - 4:56pm

Excerpt from Worn & Wound.com

Military Watches of the World: A11, the Watch that won the War.

 

The highlighted are is of interest (to Me anyway)  

*The previous post dated Dec 3, 2012 suggesting someone other than Bulova manufactured this watch is pure nonsense.

Although extremely scarce there are other examples of this watch out there.