Bulova 1946 Military Issue

Submitted by jjb117 on September 9, 2011 - 6:27pm
Manufacture Year
1946
Movement Model
10AK
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
OF369608
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Star
Crystal details
26.4mm
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

I have not seen a military issue with thin lugs like this before is it a special military issue of not? Can someone help with the question

Bulova watch
Bulova watch
shooter144
Posted September 9, 2011 - 8:21pm

Probably an aftermarket  case as ORD specs were very specific and this is not an ORD case.

Wayne Hanley
Posted September 10, 2011 - 1:09am

Can you spell out what is stamped on the back case? It would be helpful to get the case manufacturer from inside the back case. A picture of the movement would also be a big help. Does the watch run? If so by chance does it have a hack feature?

jjb117
Posted September 10, 2011 - 3:54pm

In reply to by Wayne Hanley

back case spells

ORD. DEPT.

U S A

OF. 369608

BULOVA WATCH CO.

Inside case has the figure of a STAR and the words stainless and numbers 6320915

I was wrong on the number of jewels it is a 10ak 15 jewel runs perfect just serviced and is non hacking

Wayne Hanley
Posted September 10, 2011 - 4:30pm

In reply to by jjb117

jjb thanks for the info. Individually, the dial, hands and case back look to me like issue parts. The case does not look like a MIL issue that I have ever seen or could find since your post. Looking at the picture of the front, the case appears to have a bezel attached to a mid-frame. An ord watch of 1943 vintage have a 2-piece case. If in fact it is a 3-piece case, can you seperate the bezel from the mid-frame? Very interesting case!

 

jjb117
Posted September 10, 2011 - 5:03pm

In reply to by Wayne Hanley

The mid frame area is what comes around to make up the lugs and the case area above and below the mid frame are recessed inward from the mid frame, but all is a one piece case only the back screws off. Hope that makes sense.

I will try to take a picture of the side view next week and post

 

Thanks for your comments JB

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted September 10, 2011 - 7:35am

I've seen quite a few of these Watches in this exact configuration called just about everything including a frogmans Watch but there is no documentation that I am aware of to show it was ever Military issue. They may very well have been.

The Military sub Dialed 10AK would be non Hacking Wayne and 15 Jewels, this one is listed as having 17?

jjb117
Posted September 10, 2011 - 3:56pm

In reply to by FifthAvenueRes…

i was incorrect on the number of jewels it is a non hacking 10ak 15 jewel bulova movement

vintagebulova.com
Posted September 10, 2011 - 9:10am

When I first saw this post my first inclination was to declare it military issue as, like Fifth, I had seen them before.  After some research into the military specs it seems that they were very specific on certain aspects of the case such as its size and two piece design.  If it conforms to these specs there is a possibility that it is indeed military issue, but unless we can dig up some sort of specific documentation showing this specific case type we may have to forego giving it the official seal of approval for now.

Jay

vintagebulova.com

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted September 10, 2011 - 9:22am

I was hoping You'd chime in Jay - great info!