Item:
ON11489

Original WWII U.S. A.A.C. Unissued Shock Absorbing Case for Navigation Pocket Watch with Type A-8 Watch

Item Description

Original Items: Only One Available. We have had several of these cases with the correct watch previously, but this is the first time we are able to offer an intact unissued case, complete in the original box! When we received the case, it also came with a non-functional U.S.A.A.F. Type A-8 Navigator Stopwatch. This is not the usual watch for this case, but it does fit, so we have included it in the offering.

These cases were used by navigators on B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator as a shock absorbing carrying case for the AN5740 pocket watch. The case is marked U.S. Air Corps, which means it is quite early issue, as in 1941 the U.S. Army Air Forces were created, which by the end of the war had superseded the Air Corps, and would eventually become the U.S. Air Force.

These pocket watches were used for navigation purposes by all the branches of the US. Military prior to, during, and after WWII. The three main manufacturers of the AN-5740 and AN-5740-1 were The Hamilton Watch Co., The Elgin National Watch Co. and the Waltham Watch Co.

The Carrying Case is a steel case, topped with a glass window and rotation door, and  is marked with a brass data plate that reads:

CASE, CARRYING, WATCH,
NAVIGATION
U.S. ARMY A. C.
GEO. H. ADAMSON
TECUMSEH, MICHIGAN, U.S.A.

The case was designed to suspend the watch to protect it from the vibration and turbulence of an aircraft as well as a protective glass viewing panel to the user could look down onto it without removal. The internal springs are all still strong, and the felt padding on the cradle is excellent. The original box still has the label and original cardboard padding. It even has the original manual!

The included Type A-8 Stopwatch is in very good cosmetic condition, and the original markings on the rear cover are still legible:

TYPE A-8
SER.NO. AF-44-14054
ORD.NO. W-11-107-ac-693
SPEC.NO. 94-27749,"AM.#3".
MFR's PART NO. 130
WALTHAM

The watch winds, but does not run, so it definitely needs servicing. Even without working though it still makes a great display piece, and really completes the case.

A very nice WWII Unissued Watch case with a Type A-8 Stopwatch. Ready to display!

WWII Navigation Pocket Watch History
During World War II, Hamilton, Waltham, & Elgin produced a variety of time pieces to support the war effort. In fact, all of Hamilton's production was dedicated to defense purposes. However, they did still produce some wrist watches using excess movements produced in the 1920's.

One of the war-related watches was a pocket watch with a central sweep second hand. The movement was based on the 21 jewel, 16 size movement. However, an extra jewel was added to support the second hand pinion, so the movement got 22 jewels.

Known as a "Navigator's Watch" as it was used by aviators to aid in navigation by the US Navy during the war.

You'll notice a couple of advertisements from WWII-era Life Magazines that featured the 4992B.

You'll often see these in a case or a box that was intended to isolate it and protect it from shocks or accidental damage.

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