Just bought this one . .

[xpatUSA]

. . on eBay fairly cheap, so I've got my fingers crossed. There was a vacant space in my military watch box.

(images courtesy of TimeXcetera)

It's an A-11. Can't say the hands look genuine, spring bars look a bit funny, and the strap is crap.

Cheers,

Ted

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Looks nice Ted :P

[xpatUSA]

Looks nice Ted :P

Ta Chris,
After a little research, it looks like the hands might be genuine. (Never do your research before buying something, it's too boring :wink: ).

And then I found this!


Cheers,

Ted.

[Mike K]

Ted, if you don't like the strap I'll take it off your hands - really. :)

BTW - Looks right to me.

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Looks nice Ted :P

Ta Chris,
After a little research, it looks like the hands might be genuine. (Never do your research before buying something, it's too boring :wink: ).

And then I found this!


Cheers,

Ted.

LOL!! :lol: Wonder how many times folks have bought something in a rush and then researched? Sometimes you win - well done sir!!

[xpatUSA]

Ted, if you don't like the strap I'll take it off your hands - really. :)

BTW - Looks right to me.

Thanks, Mike!

More research needed! :wink:

Ted

[Crusader]

Awesome catch, Ted!

The A-11, as unconspicuous as it may be, is for me the quintessential "American" mil.watch - produced in huge numbers with sensible features, but not as overengineered as the german aviation watches of the time ... the GG-W-113 is an appropriate successor.

Now the questions:
- hacking?
- antimagnetic inner case?
- crystal type acrylic? armored?

:D

[Mike K]

Can't make out the manufacturer on the case back (it usually says a the bottom of all the verbiage) - Bulova?

[xpatUSA]

Now the questions:
- hacking?
- antimagnetic inner case?
- crystal type acrylic? armored?
:D

Martin - Haven't received it yet, it ships Monday. I'll let you know, I have to service it anyway - so all will be revealed. I did buy a handbook too, see here.

Can't make out the manufacturer on the case back (it usually says a the bottom of all the verbiage) - Bulova?

Mike,
I should have clarified - it's a Waltham, see here. Original eBay pics were pretty bad, but I took a chance on it.

Oh dear, I just found this eBay category -
Collectibles > Militaria > WW II (1939-45) > United States > Personal Gear > Watches

And of course what should I find but this! This cheap A-11 is getting bloody expensive!

Cheers,

Ted

[Don Aldo]

The seconds hand should be white in order contrast with the dial. One can barely tell that a seconds hand is present but if it is correct is anyone's guess. I love the way Ebay sellers will sell relatively high value items and not pay the extra few cents to make their photos available in larger format!

The Waltham A-11 should hack. If it doesn't, then it means the hack lever and spring were removed in servicing.

The springbars look nice and original ('burnished' I believe is the term to describe these), whatever you do, don't replace those spring bars!

The crown also seems correct. There doesn't seem to be much brassing on the plated case - a mighty fine deal I should say - at $56 USD!

Here's a pic of my RCAF Waltham which was made to roughly the same spec as the A-11.

<center><img src=http://www.fototime.com/%7B6108A188-C576-406B-A275-D309091B4958%7D/picture.JPG></center>

[abraxas]

. .................

It's an A-11. Can't say the hands look genuine, spring bars look a bit funny, and the strap is crap.

Cheers,

Ted

I haven't seen one of those spring-straps for years. :pukeleft:

john

[xpatUSA]

The seconds hand should be white in order contrast with the dial. One can barely tell that a seconds hand is present but if it is correct is anyone's guess. I love the way Ebay sellers will sell relatively high value items and not pay the extra few cents to make their photos available in larger format!

The Waltham A-11 should hack. If it doesn't, then it means the hack lever and spring were removed in servicing.

The springbars look nice and original ('burnished' I believe is the term to describe these), whatever you do, don't replace those spring bars!

The crown also seems correct. There doesn't seem to be much brassing on the plated case - a mighty fine deal I should say - at $56 USD!

Here's a pic of my RCAF Waltham which was made to roughly the same spec as the A-11.

Thanks Don (?) for the info and the pic, that's a pretty watch. Can't wait to get at it (my watch that is!).

BTW, which end of Canada are you from? Do you say "eh" or "bien sur"?

Ted

[abraxas]

...........................

Here's a pic of my RCAF Waltham which was made to roughly the same spec as the A-11.

..........

Lovely! :love10:

Is that aged-lume or paint? Whatever the case, it's a lovely piece. Speaks to me lots.

john

[xpatUSA]

I've received the watch and the 18-page letter-size manual AN 05-35A-8, April 1945. Just waiting for the NOS period strap and I'll be ready to get to work!

Will be happy to answer questions by PM or e-mail from A-11 owners on parts and procedures from the manual, it is very complete!

Cheers all,

Ted.

[Crusader]

Ted, is there any chance you can electrify (scan/PDF) the document?

[xpatUSA]

Ted, is there any chance you can electrify (scan/PDF) the document?

Hi Martin,

I just knew someone would ask me that!

Yes, we've got a scanner, don't know about .pdf creation. I'll ask SWMBO, she does that sort of thing better than I.

cheers,

Ted

[Crusader]

Ted, is there any chance you can electrify (scan/PDF) the document?

Hi Martin,

I just knew someone would ask me that!

Yes, we've got a scanner, don't know about .pdf creation. I'll ask SWMBO, she does that sort of thing better than I.

cheers,

Ted

SWMBO = :lol:

Any sort of electronic format ... gif. jpeg, bitmap, PDF will be fine. :)

[xpatUSA]

Any sort of electronic format ... gif. jpeg, bitmap, PDF will be fine. :)

Martin (Crusader),

It's up on my website, accessible only here.

These .jpg files are fairly big ~400K on average, and there's 21 of them - so plan to spend some time downloading. Also, every other page scanned upside-down - so there's 10 rotation operations to do.

Bob (Frazier),

You might find page 7 of interest.

Y'all have fun now, y'hear ?

Ted

[rfrazier]

Bob (Frazier),

You might find page 7 of interest.

Y'all have fun now, y'hear ?

Ted

They are a bit hard to read, I'm afraid.

Restricted? What a joke.

At least I was, at one time, cleared for it. ;)

Best wishes,
Bob (who once had a pretty complete BI, and, to the surprise of friends and family, was "okay'd")

[xpatUSA]

They are a bit hard to read, I'm afraid.
Best wishes,
Bob (who once had a pretty complete BI :?: , and, to the surprise of friends and family, was "okay'd")

You need to view them with a program that can zoom in (unless you already tried that). The copy that I got was US letter size 8-1/2" x 11". Viewing programs tend to bring them up too small at first.

I just now opened page 7 with "Windows Picture And Fax Viewer". Then I maximized the window. Then I clicked the zoom button twice. What you see is about the same as what I received, i.e. a copy of a copy of . . . .

Ted

[xpatUSA]

Now the questions:
- hacking?
- antimagnetic inner case?
- crystal type acrylic? armored?

- hacking: yes - it also hacks when you take the crown&stem out, which is why the manual sequence has them in when the balance is removed and replaced.
- antimagnetic inner case: yes
- crystal type: acrylic. But this one doesn't look original. Manual says that the crystal is supplied flat and takes up a slight domed appearance when installed with a special tool.

The movement is a Waltham 6/0 '42. The mainspring is broken, or it's not catching on the barrel wall. No biggie, dashto.com has parts for this watch.

The hands are the right shape, but of polished brass or gold-plated and they are too long. The seconds hand is clearly incorrect, haven't seen any others like it.

The screw back came off fairly easily, but those octagon segments actually slope in a little bit, so that a regular wrench would slip for sure. I used an Indian watch movement holder held upright in a vise, and pushed the watch down hard while turning.

cheers,

Ted

[rfrazier]

They are a bit hard to read, I'm afraid.
Best wishes,
Bob (who once had a pretty complete BI :?: , and, to the surprise of friends and family, was "okay'd")

You need to view them with a program that can zoom in (unless you already tried that). The copy that I got was US letter size 8-1/2" x 11". Viewing programs tend to bring them up too small at first.

I just now opened page 7 with "Windows Picture And Fax Viewer". Then I maximized the window. Then I clicked the zoom button twice. What you see is about the same as what I received, i.e. a copy of a copy of . . . .

Ted

Thanks. I'll see what I can do.

A BI is a background investigation. I was in communications, so needed to be cleared to see what got communicated, and to use the crypto stuff. Agents (whose I'm not sure) talked to my teachers, my family, my friends, etc.

Best wishes,
Bob

[Crusader]

Many thanks, Ted, and a great find!

Great little watches in an American tradition (high-volume production numbers with good reliability and accuracy, and given to everyone who could make use of it), as opposed to the somewhat overengineered German watches (Fliegerchronographen and B-Uhren) with restricted use.

I like to think that my GG-W-113s are direct descendants of the A-11 concept.

I found it interesting that the waterproof version has a different strap from the dustproof-only version.

[Crusader]

They are a bit hard to read, I'm afraid.

I employed a thoroughly antiquated method for reading them ... I printed them. :wink:

[Crusader]

Another thing I found curious when comparing the A-11 and the GG-W-113 wa sthat they require a similar accuracy (+/- 30" per day), but the temperature in the A-11's 1945 document is given as

20° C (68° F)

whereas the GG-W-113's 1967 document states

at 75° +- 3°F

Proof, if one was needed, that the US and Europe have grown apart after WW II. :wink:

[xpatUSA]

Another thing I found curious when comparing the A-11 and the GG-W-113 wa sthat they require a similar accuracy (+/- 30" per day), but the temperature in the A-11's 1945 document is given as

20° C (68° F)

whereas the GG-W-113's 1967 document states

[quote:36ki45fg]at 75° +- 3°F

Proof, if one was needed, that the US and Europe have grown apart after WW II. :wink:[/quote:36ki45fg]

Interesting observation, Martin. 20 deg C has continued to this day as the standard temperature for just about all things industrially electronic, I believe due in part to 68 deg F being the ideal temperature for an average humans comfort.

For things atmospheric, aerodynamic and heat engines, it's 15 deg C (59 F).

Maybe the 1967 spec is trying to account for temperature on the wrist, or maybe some fool actually calculated the average temperature of all the theaters of operation of the US Armed Forces :shock:

BTW, would you happen to have an electronic copy of GG-W-113, or a link to it?

Cheers,

Ted

[Crusader]

Ted,

try this:

http://assist.daps.dla.mil/docimages/00 ... /GG113.PD1
http://assist.daps.dla.mil/docimages/00 ... 113IA2.PD3
http://assist.daps.dla.mil/docimages/00 ... G113N1.PD7

:)

[Crusader]

Another thing I found curious when comparing the A-11 and the GG-W-113 wa sthat they require a similar accuracy (+/- 30" per day), but the temperature in the A-11's 1945 document is given as

20° C (68° F)

whereas the GG-W-113's 1967 document states

[quote:2v6x1q4o]at 75° +- 3°F

Proof, if one was needed, that the US and Europe have grown apart after WW II. :wink:

Interesting observation, Martin. 20 deg C has continued to this day as the standard temperature for just about all things industrially electronic, I believe due in part to 68 deg F being the ideal temperature for an average humans comfort.

For things atmospheric, aerodynamic and heat engines, it's 15 deg C (59 F).

Maybe the 1967 spec is trying to account for temperature on the wrist, or maybe some fool actually calculated the average temperature of all the theaters of operation of the US Armed Forces :shock: [/quote:2v6x1q4o]

Ted,

I was not referring to the difference in temperature, but to the fact that in 1945 the measurement was in degrees Celsius, and degrees Fahrenheit only in brackets, whereas in 1967 no mention of Celsius is made at all.

[xpatUSA]

I found it interesting that the waterproof version has a different strap from the dustproof-only version.

I bought a NOS strap for it before I received the manual. Now I find that I have the "dustproof" strap, signed "Elgin" on the buckle.

(Sigh) now I'm going to have to buy an Elgin dustproof A-11!

I tried last night but got sniped by an expert eBay rifleman

Oh well . . . .

Ted

[xpatUSA]

I was not referring to the difference in temperature, but to the fact that in 1945 the measurement was in degrees Celsius, and degrees Fahrenheit only in brackets, whereas in 1967 no mention of Celsius is made at all.

Oh, right, and thanks for the links - I think we cross-posted!

TTFN,

Ted

[Don Aldo]

BTW, which end of Canada are you from? Do you say "eh" or "bien sur"?

Ted

Hi Ted,

Sorry for not responding earlier. I actually say both "eh" and "tabernacle". I was born and raised in Montréal.

[Don Aldo]

Is that aged-lume or paint? Whatever the case, it's a lovely piece. Speaks to me lots.

john

Hi John,

It's aged lume not paint. I don't wear this watch that often... even though it's not terribly valuable it's one of my "safe deposit queen" pieces.

Donald

[Don Aldo]

Now the questions:
- hacking?
- antimagnetic inner case?
- crystal type acrylic? armored?

- hacking: yes - it also hacks when you take the crown&stem out, which is why the manual sequence has them in when the balance is removed and replaced.
- antimagnetic inner case: yes
- crystal type: acrylic. But this one doesn't look original. Manual says that the crystal is supplied flat and takes up a slight domed appearance when installed with a special tool.

The movement is a Waltham 6/0 '42. The mainspring is broken, or it's not catching on the barrel wall. No biggie, dashto.com has parts for this watch.

The hands are the right shape, but of polished brass or gold-plated and they are too long. The seconds hand is clearly incorrect, haven't seen any others like it.

The screw back came off fairly easily, but those octagon segments actually slope in a little bit, so that a regular wrench would slip for sure. I used an Indian watch movement holder held upright in a vise, and pushed the watch down hard while turning.

cheers,

Ted

Hi Ted,

Judging from the photo of your watch, the hands do seem correct. Could it be that paint was once stripped and the brass polished? Maybe a little coat of white paint, skillfully applied, could bring them back to 'spec'?

Henri and Ernie from Sterling times in New Mexico have a lot of parts on hand for these types of watches. It may be worth giving them a call. Here's their website:

http://www.sterling-times.com/

Donald

[xpatUSA]

Hi Ted,

Judging from the photo of your watch, the hands do seem correct. Could it be that paint was once stripped and the brass polished? Maybe a little coat of white paint, skillfully applied, could bring them back to 'spec'?

Henri and Ernie from Sterling times in New Mexico have a lot of parts on hand for these types of watches. It may be worth giving them a call. Here's their website:

http://www.sterling-times.com/

Donald

You took the thought right from my mind! The hour and minute hands are certainly the right shape. And if they're brass then painting is quite feasible, as you say. What bothers me is the length of the minute hand - it goes outside the minute marks by about 1/2 mm. The hour hand looks about right. The seconds hand looks nothing like what's in the manual - it's black with a lozenge at each each, the pointer end being lumed which still works :shock: .

Thanks for the link, I'll take a look. [just did, inquired about a barrel and some hands, thanks again].

Cheers,

Ted.

[xpatUSA]

Henri and Ernie from Sterling times in New Mexico have a lot of parts on hand for these types of watches. It may be worth giving them a call. Here's their website: http://www.sterling-times.com/
Donald

Hi Donald,

Just looked at that pocket watch of yours :lol: :lol: :lol:

And thank you for the useful link.

I've been in contact with Ernie by e-mail - a pretty slow process, so I'll give him a call Monday. Also been talking to a gent who wants me fix up another A-11 and we're trading some parts. So, sooner or later I'll have a second working A-11. The first one is all fixed up and keeping excellent time, more by accident than by judgement!

cheers,

[Don Aldo]

Thanks Ted, the Hamilton is a real looker, I know. I think Ernie can be a little slow on the e-mails but calling him up should set things right.