Military watches

A place to discuss & share pictures of military related knives and tools. Conversation relating to objects of war and peace from all eras welcome.
GerryD
Posts: 159
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2016 6:43 pm
Location: UK

Re: Military watches

Post by GerryD »

This military watch was only 30sec + or - when it was new and I have serviced it and there were some issues and spare parts are hard if not impossible to find so you have to do the best you can. :D You also have to remember this was made around 1939 and I'm happy if its 2mins +- a day.
Yes thats the sign for pounds sterling.
GerryD
Posts: 159
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2016 6:43 pm
Location: UK

Re: Military watches

Post by GerryD »

This one of two Cortebert ATP watches I own. This one is interesting because the ATP marks have scores through them and the watch reissued the RAF some time during the WW2 or shortly after the end of hostilities. Its unlikely that any records exist now most being lost or destroyed after the war.
Like knives there are schools of thought to cleaning, I will do the minimum to get it working but leave its "patina" alone, I have resumes in the past but it never looks right to me.
This works now, it was bought as a non runner but I stripped and reoiled and fitted a new main spring.

gerry
Attachments
_DSC3797.jpg
_DSC3798.jpg
_DSC3799.jpg
GerryD
Posts: 159
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2016 6:43 pm
Location: UK

Re: Military watches

Post by GerryD »

That should read "re lume" not resumes?

Gerry
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11645
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Military watches

Post by Miller Bro's »

15 jewels is a pretty good watch.
AAPK Janitor
369
GerryD
Posts: 159
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2016 6:43 pm
Location: UK

Re: Military watches

Post by GerryD »

Dimitri
the 15 jewel movement was one of the specification for an ATP watch but there is one exception (theres always one) that had 17 jewels. Surprisingly though, shock absorbing balance wasn't one, bizarre, but of course there is another exception. The truth of the matter is the British army was desperate for watches and took anything that came from Switzerland.
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11645
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Military watches

Post by Miller Bro's »

That's good to know, fact is over the years I have seen several of these old watches marked ATP and never knew what it meant. I did collect watches for a few years pocket and wrist watches, I never found any really valuable ones but I did like them and still wear old wrist watches on occasion.

I even bought out several boxes from a retired watch mechanic, lots of screws, crystals, etc. I haven't seen those boxes in over a decade! :shock: :lol:
AAPK Janitor
369
GerryD
Posts: 159
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2016 6:43 pm
Location: UK

Re: Military watches

Post by GerryD »

Thought I would share my Christmas present from my son and daughter.
It's called a Reconvillia and as rare as hens teeth, this one was bought in the late 1940's when the army were getting rid of the old style watches in favour of the Dirty Dozen. Its in unworn condition with the original issue Pig skin one piece strap also as rare as hens teeth.
Attachments
D335E40F-4F5B-4C9D-9AFD-2F73F0F00652.jpg
IMG_0735.jpg
IMG_0739.jpg
knife7knut
Posts: 10114
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:02 pm
Location: Tecumseh,Michigan

Re: Military watches

Post by knife7knut »

Looking through this post I thought I remembered having such a watch in my pile of parts watches and the like and sure enough I did. Pulled the case back off and found it is a 15 jewel Bulova.Doesn't work though;the balance wheel doesn't seem to function;looks like it might be off the pivot points. The case is a bit corroded but the internals seem to be intact. Is it worth having it fixed? Case is stamped "Ord Dept- of 66320 -Bulova Watch Co" in three lines
Attachments
Bulova15JMilitaryWatch 001.jpg
Bulova15JMilitaryWatch 002.jpg
Bulova15JMilitaryWatch 004.jpg
Adventure BEFORE Dementia!
GerryD
Posts: 159
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2016 6:43 pm
Location: UK

Re: Military watches

Post by GerryD »

I would say it is worth repairing but it all depends how much that's going to cost you. I've not got any Bulova but they are good watches and were issued via the USA ordinance dept. Can you take a photo without flask K7K? The numbers would then be legible and i suspect you would be able to get a clearer idea when it was issued.
I like the look of the watch and i would repair it. Since giving up collecting knives I've taught myself how to service and repair to a degree my military watches so if i can get the spares thats the only cost. A quick look on the UK eBay does reveal a market around £100 -200 but you will i suspect see higher retail prices.
The re-enactors is a good market if you decide to sell but I would wear it and see the reaction to an 80 odd year old watch that may have seen action.
Good luck
GerryD
Posts: 159
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2016 6:43 pm
Location: UK

Re: Military watches

Post by GerryD »

K7K I've just found this thread on MWR looks like its WWII and army ground forces http://www.mwrforum.net/forums/showthre ... PT-Watches
mrwatch
Posts: 1453
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2007 4:58 pm
Location: michigan

Re: Military watches

Post by mrwatch »

knife7knut wrote:Looking through this post I thought I remembered having such a watch in my pile of parts watches and the like and sure enough I did. Pulled the case back off and found it is a 15 jewel Bulova.Doesn't work though;the balance wheel doesn't seem to function;looks like it might be off the pivot points. The case is a bit corroded but the internals seem to be intact. Is it worth having it fixed? Case is stamped "Ord Dept- of 66320 -Bulova Watch Co" in three lines
You describe it having a broken balance staff. Common non shock jeweled movements.
mrwatch
Posts: 1453
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2007 4:58 pm
Location: michigan

Re: Military watches

Post by mrwatch »

I like!
Attachments
rob and jackie 289.jpg
rob and jackie 290.jpg
mrwatch
Posts: 1453
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2007 4:58 pm
Location: michigan

Re: Military watches

Post by mrwatch »

Here a couple, the Elgin fancy crystals are had to find. But I had them in stock.
Attachments
Christmas 2014 040.JPG
knife7knut
Posts: 10114
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:02 pm
Location: Tecumseh,Michigan

Re: Military watches

Post by knife7knut »

GerryD wrote:K7K I've just found this thread on MWR looks like its WWII and army ground forces http://www.mwrforum.net/forums/showthre ... PT-Watches
OK I looked at this site and the case number on mine is OF 66320. Inside the waterproof case it is a 15 jewel movement marked 10 AK whatever that means. Not sure if it is broken or dislodged but the balance shaft(the thing with the spring on it) does not turn when the watch is shaken.
I am going to take it to my local jeweler who is into vintage watches and does a lot of repair work and get an estimate to repair it.
Adventure BEFORE Dementia!
mrwatch
Posts: 1453
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2007 4:58 pm
Location: michigan

Re: Military watches

Post by mrwatch »

knife7knut wrote:
GerryD wrote:K7K I've just found this thread on MWR looks like its WWII and army ground forces http://www.mwrforum.net/forums/showthre ... PT-Watches
OK I looked at this site and the case number on mine is OF 66320. Inside the waterproof case it is a 15 jewel movement marked 10 AK whatever that means. Not sure if it is broken or dislodged but the balance shaft(the thing with the spring on it) does not turn when the watch is shaken.
I am going to take it to my local jeweler who is into vintage watches and does a lot of repair work and get an estimate to repair it.

10 AK refers to who actually made the movement for them.
GerryD
Posts: 159
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2016 6:43 pm
Location: UK

Re: Military watches

Post by GerryD »

Do you know who AK is or was?
Scale Military
Posts: 220
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2019 1:34 pm
Location: Yorkton, SK
Contact:

Re: Military watches

Post by Scale Military »

GerryD wrote:Thought I would share my Christmas present from my son and daughter.
It's called a Reconvillia and as rare as hens teeth, this one was bought in the late 1940's when the army were getting rid of the old style watches in favour of the Dirty Dozen. Its in unworn condition with the original issue Pig skin one piece strap also as rare as hens teeth.
That is one beautiful watch. That is kinda what my dream watch will look like. BTW, how large is it?
William C. Westmoreland "The military don't start wars. Politicians start wars."
George S. Patton Jr. "Live for something rather than die for nothing."
GerryD
Posts: 159
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2016 6:43 pm
Location: UK

Re: Military watches

Post by GerryD »

Scale Military
Only just seen your post don't lurk on here very often now but its raining in blighty so I'm surfing. To answer your question the watch is one of the largest ATP's measuring 33mm. These Reconvilla watches are rare and represent good value at around £200 if you ever see one.This one keeps time on the wrist to about 30sec a day not bad for an eighty year old watch eh.
Here’s a nice watch with some family provenance, it is a Vertex Revue 57 ATP watch that somehow became the property of an RAF airman Flight Engineer Kenneth Board. He was shot down over Normandy on 7 August 1944 (Lancaster bomber) He subsequently got back to UK via the French resistance escape route, this automatically enlisted him into an exclusive club called the “Caterpillar club”. This watch is unlikely to have been issued to Kenneth its more likely he acquired it through unofficial channels but it’s still poignant as we’ve just passed the 75 commemoration of the Normandy landings.
Attachments
IMG_1148.jpg
IMG_1147.jpg
User avatar
OSCAR
Posts: 2276
Joined: Fri May 17, 2019 6:32 pm
Location: Deep South

Re: Military watches

Post by OSCAR »

Yes. L is British pounds.
I think those watches you found look like they have age on them. I’m not an expert. But I believe that as a watch to wear they won’t bring much. To a collector however they are way more valuable. Try going on that watch forum. Also, try some military collectibles forums. They can probably tell you what you have price wise. You also have better chances of finding a collector there that would buy them. Fewer people these days wear watches. They use cell phone for the time. A collector however would probably like to buy them.
"The Edge...There is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.
Post Reply

Return to “Military Related Knives And Tools”