My Grandfather's Watch

Hi. I'm hoping someone here can assist me in my effort to find out which specific wristwatch (manufacturer, year, model number, etc.) my grandfather would have been issued when he enlisted in the US Army on 11/2/1944. If I can track down this information (or get close enough) my plan is to purchase one of the same make & model.

His Army Record information can be found here in case that helps:
http://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=GP23&tf=F&q=33894672&bc=sl&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=4344137

Thanks in advance to anyone who can shed any light on this topic.

Bill

 

During WW II, usually, a watch was only considered necessary for ground and naval officers, aviators, and others with command or technical responsibilities. While official service watches were available, many enlisted men, and particularly officers, obtained their own stylish wristwatch or added a distinctive band to their military watch.

The A-11 was generally the most common issued watch. However, the A-11 was not so much a specific model but a standard used by several companies (Elgin, Bulova and Waltham), with many case and minor dial/hands variations, even silver housings as nickel was highly sought for the war effort. Some design aspects were largely universal: Black dial; white hands; a hand wound hacking movement with center second hand, hour numbers from 1 to 12; a second scale with smaller minute/second numbers in increments of 10 on the outside edge of the dial; and same-type minute and hour hands. Several A-11 versions featured a characteristic coin-edge bezel and caseback. Some were dustproof, others were waterproof.

Here is the handbook issued for the Type -11 Navigation (Hack Watch, No. 10616. A very common issued watch.

So I think maybe you can see that if he was issued a watch it would be next to impossible to know which one he was specifically issued.

I hope this helps.

 

Hi @andrwoo. Thank you for the information - really helpful and really appreciated. I think my best bet is probably to just look for an A-11 I like from 1944/45.

Bill

 

I have an A-11 like the one pictured in Lou's post...it is in good condition; but it doesn't work, it did work though. I wore it for quite a while as a dress watch.

 

Thanks guys! Appreciate the additional info.

 

I guess the moral of my story was that I have one if you want it

 

Hi formerjughead. Very interesting. What are you looking to get for it?... and any idea what kind of investment will be required to bring it back to life?

 

I do not know....I can't imagine it would be very much. I have a guy I'll get to take a look at it an et you know.

As far as price I am not too concerned with that either; it's a busted watch.

 

Sounds good, thank you. That is an extremely generous offer.

I'd be interested in seeing a picture of it if you get a chance.

 

I will certainly do that as soon as I find it and figure out how to post a picture, feel free to keep on me about it

 

Hi formerjughead. Wanted to check back in about that watch and whether you are able to post a picture. Thanks.

 

Jug you can Post a pic on a buffer site like imageshack and copy and paste it here. If it doesn't work send it to me via email and I'll do it for you

 

PM me your email address....please

 

done

 

Here are the pictures

 

Thanks Skip.

Jug, I'll send you a PM.

 

That back picture is not very clear....let me see if I can get it any better

 

Don't worry about an updated picture, I would be interested to know if the serial # on the back starts with a 43, 44, or 45, though.

 

This is what is written on the back:

TYPE A-11​

SPEC NO 94-2783-B​

SER NO AF-44-43211​

MFRS PART NO2114​

ORD. NO. W11-107-AC267​

ELGIN
​