I appreciate your help verifying the identity of this "war-time" watch. The movement indicates it's from 1941. After reading all the previous similar submissions, this appears to be a men's 1941 Apollo (likely for boys at 25.8mm). It has a 15J, 10BE movement, and a snap-back case. Since the dial and hands appear non-luminescent, it is likely not a Nighthawk like I originally thought. I couldn't find any black-dialed Apollos, making me question my choice...
Othert than the hands your watch is a match for a Nighthawk or Air Warden.
I suspect the above two watches might actually be the same model, and the same as yours.
I also suspect that the numbers on your dial were at one time lumed like the above two examples.
I'm interested to hear what others make of your watch.
Hi Slsummers. Your case serial number indicates it was made in 1947 and the movement date code indicates it was made in 1941. I think possibly there has been a complete movement swap. Neetstuff has a 1947 American Clipper posted that has what looks to be the same case as yours. Both yours and his case serial numbers start out with "755... Let's see what others think.
I've been back to this one a few times and have to agree with 1955mercury. Watch appears to be a "marriage of convenience". There is a pretty big gap between dates. That leads to the problem of how to ID - by dial and movement date, case date or potentially non-conforming.? I suppose it's possible the case back was replaced as well, and everything else is 1941..
In reply to I've been back to this one a… by neetstuf-4-u
Here is a side-by-side of my 1942 Nighthawk and 1947 American Clipper. Cases are identical and case backs will interchange.
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Based on this, I would be inclined to date and identify by the majority of parts. If case bezel, movement and dial are original and case back is a replacement, it's a
1941 Nighthawk, noting replaced back and hands.
If the complete case is 1947, and the movement and dial are 1941 it's
1947 non-conforming.
This last post (side by side from Neetstuf) was a flash of realization and an OMG moment.
I was cleaning a 1945 American Clipper with 10BAC movement at the same time. I'm now wondering if I inadvertently swapped case backs. The case back on the AClipper is 6510514.
In reply to This last post (side by side… by slsummers
I agree with Jim that, as presented this really is a non-conforming watch.
I would also note the owners comment that the size indicates a boys watch. Bulova made Men's and Women's watches. They did not produce or distribute watches for children. This is the normal size for Military watches of the era (even though this was not produced for the military.