Bulova 1943 Military Issue

Submitted by bobbee on July 18, 2012 - 8:00am
A-11
Manufacture Year
1943
Movement Model
10AKCSH
Movement Date Code
X
Movement Jewels
16
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
AF43-26617
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Crystal details
Military Type A-11
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

All working lovely military WW2.  Solid silver case, not chromed. No more info, let you do the work! ; )

Bulova watch
1943 Bulova watch
1943 Bulova watch
1943 Bulova watch
1943 Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
bourg01
Posted July 18, 2012 - 8:20am

A nice A-11 but in a Solid silver case? Is the inside of the caseback marked "Sterling Base"? Without markings to that effect I would have to question it. Mark, this is your area of expertise, What are your thoughts?

oliverb
Posted July 18, 2012 - 8:31am

Were they still using coin silver at this time?

bobbee
Posted July 18, 2012 - 8:40am

Silver was used during the war as steel, brass and other metals were needed for the war effort. This case has never been plated with anything, the tarnish is the same as silver tarnish everywere, black, and can be seen easily in all the angles. It is not dirt as I have looked with a 10X loupe. The only thing on the caseback inside is 7 jeweller's service marks, no stampings.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted July 18, 2012 - 8:53am

A case Diameter would help, the correct dimension for a WWII A-11 Bulova Case is 32mm.

Most early Bulova A-11 cases were base metal Silver, although not pure, and Chrome plated, the Chrome being susceptable to corrosion, pitting and flaking over the Years. It's possible the Chrome plate has been removed and the Case polished. -  I'm unaware of any Bulova A-11 issued with a solid Silver Case.

bourg01
Posted July 18, 2012 - 9:06am

Thx Mark, That's something I didn't know about the Military watches but I knew you would.

bobbee
Posted July 18, 2012 - 9:09am

Case dimensions are; 32mm. Dia., 40.5 mm. long, 16mm lug gape. This has never been plated,  I have looked all over it with  loupe, plate removal and subsequent polishing would leave evidence, i.e. reduction in size, rounding of edges, some small plate leavings, as plate removal would be incomplete in hard to get at areas like between the lugs.

bobbee
Posted July 18, 2012 - 9:50am

Wow Darren, as Elmer Fudd said to Bugs Bunny, "Dem's big lugs, Wabbit!"  : )

DarHin
Posted July 18, 2012 - 2:33pm

Correction:

Inside Lugs: 15.8mm

(What happened to the EDIT option?)

bobbee
Posted July 18, 2012 - 9:41am

A previous post by Shooter144 "Caseback for 1943 military issue" gives a link to another respected site, where a discussion by highly thought of members mentions a couple of silver cased Bulova Type A-11's.