@Shane Reed , thanks for that. There definitely was more hand engraving of WWII watch casebacks than I would have imagined. Just from sifting through Google images, "ORD DEPT" always seems to be stamped, and the wording "PROPERTY U.S.A. ORD. DEPT." seems only to appear on your watch and the Gallet FO that was sold in 2016.

 

David sent me this when I told him that there were questions others thinking fake. Have seen a few other pocket watches marked this way. My watch is a 1937 and flight officer? Supposedly Ord dept marks went on until 1945. It is strange how mine was so "Strongly denied"? Sifting through Google images of Gallet Fonts from the 30's. My watch movement marking and caseback inner engraving sure seems to fit. Those were also being denied. Pretty fishy? Could I actually have the real first "flyback" with flight officer not trully being first as claimed?

 

I’m willing to change my mind based on this. Watches for WWII were not marked this way and manuals from before WWII are nearly impossible to find.

 

1937 Gallet had to look at changing their caseback due to Rolex beating them out on waterproof patent. They went with a "clamshell" which became the flight officer.

 

This is a typical WWII ordnance marking, and likely started somewhat earlier than WWII, but when is not certain.

Later watches were marked with much more information.

 

That is actually post WWII. I have some of these. Hamilton, Bulova, Elgin, Waltham.

 

Hey, if you want to dispute the actual US Army manuals, go ahead, but you’d be incorrect. This is how the earlier cases were marked before the dust proof and waterproof cases were introduced. The later watches such as the A-11 and A-17 had more.

 

https://wornandwound.com/military-watches-world-u-s-part-1/

 

I counter your link with the actual source material.

http://www.90thidpg.us/Reference/Manuals/TM 9-1575.pdf

You'll note the very complete description of the O plus another letter with a sequence. The manual is dated 1945. The rest is left as an exercise for the student.

By the way, the "after 1950" in your link does not refer to the codes but to the name change of the Ordnance Department.

 

Good source..These were future specs put out just 5 months before WWII ended.

 

These what? Are you still insisting you're right for whatever reason?

 

See date on first page.

 

You are really dense.

https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref/TM/pdfs/TM9-575.pdf

I call your attention to page 21. This manual is from 1942.

I'm done with you. You're wrong. Admit it or go away.

 

Please direct me to the page that shows "ord dept USA OF" would be helpful to see screen shots. Thank you

 

Gentlemen, this is the War Room, you can't fight in here.

 

Ahhh, but I am not fighting Does appear as though someone is losing their temper however.

 

Gallet USA's Facebook page touts the military connection of their famous Flying Officer model.


This is a thing that shows up in every discussion of Gallet, but never with any evidence.

I asked Gallet directly via Facebook if any military had issued Gallet watches to its personnel previous to the 1990s. I don't know what else they could mean by saying "these watches were produced exclusively for the British military." Interestingly, old advertising for FO models doesn't mention military use at all.


The people running Gallet USA all "liked" my question without answering it.

Armchair logic would indicate that if Gallet had proof that WWII USAAF airmen were issued Gallet chronographs, they would provide it, since they seem anxious to assert a military pedigree for their brand, and the only reason they haven't done so is because none exists. Given the number of extant Gallet watches from that era, it is hard to believe that the only one with "military" markings happens to be the pristine one that Gallet themselves sold on eBay in 2016 for $6250.

I would welcome any proof of the military provenance of any Gallet chronograph that predates the 1990s, but it seems increasingly likely all this "issued to officers" stuff is purely marketing blather.

 

Thank you for your digging on this information. It seems as though you have very good points. Now, I have never heard of the British military use? Having collected British military prior to US; I have not come across a "Gallet" chronograph. You will find Pierce and Lemania for early year chronographs. Also makers of Weems for RAF as well, but those were not chronograph. I would like to see old Swiss archives.

 

You can dig in to searches on British military "issued" watches very easily.

 

Seems like they have been trying to build their own military history out of thin air.