Thoughts on Mark V Cockpit Watch
I recently bought this Mark V cockpit watch off eBay. It was advertised only as a 'military pocket watch' so my interest was a bit random - isn't that always the most dangerous time :).
https://i.imgur.com/PgHo2Qe.jpg
I really like the dial and a bit of research indicated to me it was a Zenith dial, the numerals and the C.B. mark mainly. I could see that the hands were completely wrong but I surprised myself by winning for not much more than a decent GSTP (so I tell myself).
There were no movement pictures so when it arrived I was half hoping for a Zenith movement. As it turns out it's a Doxa movement and case, still very nice but I don't believe matching the dial. It seems to run very well. The numbers inside the case all match.
https://i.imgur.com/y8lJVvQ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/1yy7AjA.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/C8vuwcb.jpg
So I'm guessing what I have is a Doxa watch where the dial and hands were damaged and replaced by a Zenith dial and some mongrel hands, sometime in the last 100 years. I really like the dial and I'm happy with a bit of a Franken in that respect. I would like to fit the correct non-luminous hands though.
Thoughts, suggestions, opinions, corrections very welcome. As I said, it wasn't a lot of money and I'm realistic about what I have.
Incidentally, for those like me who aren't familiar with these watches, they were apparently issued to WWI Royal Flying Corps pilots and mounted into the cockpit of a plane for each flight, although quite possibly they weren't issued until right at the end of the war by which time the RAF was in existence.
This picture of a Sopwith Camel shows a similar watch mounted bottom right.
http://www.detailandscale.com/photos.../large/04b.jpg
PS I've also posted this on MWR, apologies to MWR members for the repetition.
