US $249.99, ésto es** EUR225** más impuestos y transporte por éste magnífico suizo con Sellita SW200, reedición de un flieger diseñado para ser usado en la Segunda Guerra Mundial por la fuerza aérea estadounidense.
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/11ImaiBulovaA-15.jpg
http://s3.amazonaws.com/bulova_production_assets/collections/type-a-15.jpg?1405706038
(Y ahora es cuando pienso que pagué un sobreprecio exagerado por otro flieger también con su historia y con dos biseles móviles). :ouch:
Anuncio en la bahía… :wao:
Bulova Accutron Men’s 65A106 Accu Swiss Military Collection Automatic](http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bulova-Accutron-Mens-65A106-Accu-Swiss-Military-Collection-Automatic-Watch-/112146648958?hash=item1a1c760f7e:g:qUMAAOSwmfhX5Vdm)
La gracia del reloj es que los dos biseles internos se usan a modo de un rudimentario cronógrafo. Ajustas cada bisel interno en el momento de turno, y el paso del tiempo se leerá en ambos biseles.
Buscando un poco, he encontrado algo de info sobre la historia de éste Bulova firmada por un tal **hq_sandman_ute **que, parece que 500 unidades fueron probadas por el ejército USA, pero no llegó a ser adoptado. Como siempre, usad el traductor de Google si no llevais bien la lengua inglesa.
Bulova Type A-15 Elapsed Time Watch Ziggy Wesolowski indicated in his book ‘Military Timepieces 1880 – 1990’ that the Bulova Type A-15 was “tested but never adopted”. Aside from this information, very little has been written on this rare wristwatch. While undertaking research on US military timepieces I unearthed a bundle of historical documents which included a USAAF file on the A-15. The following summarises the information included in the file.
Introduction
In June 1943 the USAAF (Air Technical Service Command, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio) initiated a project to test a new pilots’ watch developed by the Bulova Watch Company. The watch, a chronograph type incorporating a rim accumulator providing sixty minutes total elapsed time, was being considered because of reports that the Type A-11 hack watch was proving unsuitable. Key issues identified with the Type A-11 included difficulty in determining the elapsed time and the inability to read the dial at night.
Test Watch: Bulova Type A-15 Elapsed Time Wristwatch
The test watch was described by USAAF as a “Type A-15 Elapsed Time Watch”, and was designed by Buolva to meet the specific requirements of pilots navigating by radio aids, dead reckoning or pilotage. To overcome the perceived problems of the Type A-11, the Type-15 was developed with an incorporated elapsed time feature and a luminous dial.
Instructions on using the Type A-15
The Type A-15 operates exactly as the Type A-11 hack watch with regard to winding, stopping, starting, and synchronizing. The rim accumulator dials operates as follows:
-
The inside hour accumulator dial with the hourly markings 1 to 11 and the index for 12 is moved by turning the small stem on the case just clockwise of the winding stem. The outside minute accumulator dial with five-minute markings 5 to 55 and the index mark for 0 or 60 is moved by turning the small stem on the case counter-clockwise of the main winding stem.
-
At the beginning of any period for which it is desired to measure the elapsed time, the following procedures are to be followed:
[INDENT]- Set the minute accumulator dial index opposite the minute hand.
-
Set the hour accumulator dial index opposite the hour hand
- At the end of the period for which it is desired to measure the elapsed time one merely reads the elapsed hours opposite the hour hand on the hour accumulator dial and the elapsed minutes opposite the minute hand on the minute accumulator dial.
Type A-15 Dimensions and Cost
The A-15 case is nickel plated brass and measures 39.8 mm lug to lug; 35 mm including crowns (32.5 mm not including the crowns). The unit cost of the Bulova Type A-15 was $25 in 1944/45.
Movement:
The 1944 (indicated by “O” next to “Bulova” on the train bridge) 16 jewel hack movement (calibre 10AKCSH) was the same movement used in the ubiquitous Bulova Type A-11 hack watch.
Outside case back markings:
TYPE A-15
SERIAL NO. AF44-XXX
PART NO. 10AK-CSHE
ORDER NO. PO44-5995E
BULOVA WATCH CO.
**Inside case back: **
Bulova
Fifth Ave
New York
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/DSC_8813.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/DSC_5499.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/DSC_8790.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/DSC_5493.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/DSC_8789.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/DSC_5449.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/DSC_8783.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/DSC_5518.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/DSC_8780.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/DSC_8779.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/DSC_8782.jpg
Photos: Siewming
Testing of the Type A-15
Based on historical documents obtained, it appears that approximately 500 Type A-15 watches were service tested both in theatres of operation (Europe, Asia and the Pacific) as well as continental US in late 1944 and early 1945. Distribution for testing included the following locations:
Second Air Force (Colorado Springs, Colorado): 50 watches
Third Air Force, National Guard Armory (Tampa, Florida): 50 watches
AAF Board, Equipment Section (Orlando, Florida): 40 watches
Army Air Forces Training Command (Fort Worth, Texas): 50 watches
AAF 15, (Belling Field, DC): 10 watches
15th Air Force, APC (New York): 15
Watches were also distributed to six overseas air forces for service tests, including:
Warton, England: 88 watches
Fifth Air Force (Hollandia, New Guinea – now Jayapura City): 44 watches
Kunming, China: 44 watches
Naples, Italy: 69 watch
The Air Technical Service Command instructed that tests of the Type A-15 be completed within two months of receipt of the watches, at which time a questionnaire circulated should be completed and returned to ATSC. It was requested that all watches which were damaged or did not perform satisfactorily be returned for inspection.
The questionnaire circulated with the test Type A-15 sought the following, inter alia, information from testers:
-
Whether luminous markings on the dial were desirable
-
Extent that the rim accumulator was used in determining elapsed time, and whether the rim accumulator made it more difficult to ascertain the correct time or interfered with the operation of the watch.
-
Whether the Type A-11 was preferable for pilots’ use to the Type A-11 (as issued to pilots, navigators and radio operators).
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/buolvatypea-15-001.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/buolvatypea-15-002.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/buolvatypea-15-003.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/buolvatypea-15-004.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/buolvatypea-15-005.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/buolvatypea-15-006.jpg
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/buolvatypea-15-007.jpg
Was the Type A-15 issued?
All service tests on the Type A-15 watch were completed by 1 May 1945. The AAF Board subsequently made the decision that there was no military requirement for the Type A-15. So Ziggy was correct to say that the Bulova Type A-15 was tested, but never adopted.
However, the Air Technical Service Command instructed some locations after testing that the Type A-15 could be issued to pilots on the same basis as the Type A-11 hack watch. Therefore, at least some of the test Bulova Type A-15 watches were subsequently issued, and most likely to USAAF pilots involved in military operations in Europe, Asia and the Pacific.
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv207/hq_sandman_ute/notrequiredtobereturned-001.jpg
Many thanks Siewming
Thanks to Siewming for providing the photos of the A-15 and useful advice.
Regards, Ken
[/INDENT]
:cold:
