Bulova: A military issue wristwatch Model: A-11 Date: Circa ...

Estimate

£100 - £150

Bulova: A military issue wristwatch Model: A-11 Date: Circa 1944 Movement: 16 Jewel Cal.10AK CHS manual wind Dial: Black, white Arabic numerals, 'railroad' outer minutes track, centre seconds, luminous hands Case: Chromium-plated tonneau form, screw-down back stamped 'Type A-11 Spec No. 94-27834', inner cover, pull-out crown Strap/Bracelet: Associated black leather Closure: Steel buckle Size: 32mm Footnote:The Type A-11 was introduced in 1942, with three American watchmakers being commissioned — Elgin, Waltham, and Bulova — following U.S. Government specifications. Although these three brands were already making watches for the military, the Government determined that a more robust, more accurate wristwatch was needed for the United States’ entry into the war. Many thousands of the Type A-11 were produced for the infantry and paratroopers, designed and built to be solid and reliable. As with other military watches, the emphasis was on mechanics above looks, requiring a manual-wound and hackable movement (to time precise military operations), a centre seconds hand, and a shock-proof acrylic crystal. Because they were manufactured during the war, cases were typically made of chromium-plated brass for higher corrosion resistance but also because steel was reserved for munitions and vehicles. To be as robust as possible, the movements used 16 jewels to reduce wear and tear on the main gears caused by perpetual friction and were built to withstand extreme use. The Elgins were powered by the calibre 539, the Walthams by a 6.0 Premier movement, and the Bulovas, as with the present lot, by the calibre 10AK CHS.