I bought this described as an A-11, but learned that the caseback appears to be from an ORD watch. I believe the date code is a circle, so I've taken the date to be 1944. The movement model is hard to read as it's obscured by the wheel driving the centre second pinion, but it looks like it may be 10AK.
Military Issued watches that do not contain further classification on the case back (such as A-11, A-17A, 1917-H, 3818-A) and only are marked as ORD- XXXXXX(X), have been classified up to this point as "Military Issued". Regardless of the movement, in that it may be a swap, This should be classified as 1944 Bulova "Military Issued" like THIS watch - we do not use the classification ORD on myBulova. Military type watches that have no marking on the case back have been classified as "Military Non-Issued"
In reply to Military Issued watches that… by Geoff Baker
At one time the 10AK was classified as 'ORD DEPT', it's unclear to Me as to when that changed.
The subject watch is not a Military issued piece.
This video (10 min.) seems to describe the differences in these military watches fairly well.
In reply to This video (10 min.) seems… by 1955mercury
nice video ty !
In reply to This video (10 min.) seems… by 1955mercury
Great video Merc.
So a quick summary:
A11 (intended for aviation and maritime operations)
- Hack movement
- Black dial
- White hands with center second hand
- White Arabic indices
- 10-minute demarcations
- 30-32mm case size
- Brass or steel case
ORD (general purpose, issued to US Army soldiers)
- Non-Hack movement
- White dial
- Radium hands with sub second hand
- Nickel plated brass case
This does appear to be a case back swap. It could have been done during WWII or after but definitely before 1957 which is the service date etched on the case back. 1944 Bulova Military Issue is a good ID.
Based on the information from the video, the dial, hands are certainly from the A11 and the case (at least the back case) from the ORD, so a marriage of parts.
In reply to Based on the information… by mybulova_admin
it is.
So a marriage of 'Military issue' parts whilst could be considered as non-conforming, for the sake of this ID I believe we can still ID as such 'Issued'.
We can note the high chance that the case back has been swapped and is not correct for an A-11.
Thus keeping as a generic 'Military Issue' seems the best ID in my mind.