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Help ID an Army Air Corps 8-day clock

Sat May 12, 2018 2:49 pm

I have acquired an Army Air Corps 8-day clock. Since Photobucket disallowed linking to photos posted there, I don't have a way to post photos here. Below are the markings I see on the clock. I assume the dial contains Radium; I won't mess with it. The clock runs, but I haven't run it long enough to see if it keeps good time or not. Any suggestions on where I might be able to have it serviced? Can any watchmaker do it? Will they refuse because of the radioactive material on the dial and hands?

The face is marked:
A.C. U.S. ARMY
TYPE A-11
A.C. SER. NO. (blank)

The dataplate is marked:
ORDER No. AC-34898
MFR'S PART No.1776
SPEC.No.94-27970A
SER.No.AF43-10455
ELGIN NAT'L WATCH CO.

Based on the above, it looks like a 1943 contract. correct?

Re: Help ID an Army Air Corps 8-day clock

Sat May 12, 2018 3:22 pm

K5DH, sure would like to see some pics of your find. A couple of WIXers have clued us in to the following free image hosting links. You load directly from you computer file for free. Excellent for single use postings, dunno anything about'em as a permanent image host or if they even offer that. No registration! Just clic and use...
https://imgbb.com

https://postimages.org
Last edited by airnutz on Sat May 12, 2018 6:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Re: Help ID an Army Air Corps 8-day clock

Sat May 12, 2018 3:33 pm

Dean: The AF43 contract prefix is not a date code, I'm pretty sure it's a commodity category. I used to deal with stuff that was on an AF33 contract that was procured in the 70's and 80's

94-27220 was superceded by the 94-27970-A and that was converted to AN-5743 part number. AN-5743-1 was made inactive for new design 11 Dec 44.
The book has some interchangeability notes with the A-9 clock, based on lighting compatibility. Data comes from "Index of Aeronautical Equipment" Volume 6, Revised: 1 Mar 44.

I think ForgottenField can overhaul or service them.

Re: Help ID an Army Air Corps 8-day clock

Sat May 12, 2018 5:36 pm

Here's one on ebay to show some pics. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Elgin- ... SwCsBa71ca

I have a WWII Elgin E-37500 which was made without radium. Not sure if all clocks have radium. I had mine serviced at a local watch shop.
Image

Re: Help ID an Army Air Corps 8-day clock

Sun May 13, 2018 1:26 am

Mike: Your instrument is an AN5741-1, the replacement for the A-10 Civil Date version. There was a previous A-10 that did not have the date feature. Your version was procured for the Navy and the Brits according to the books. Lighting was provided by luminescent UV paint and a cockpit UV light. Production of this version was 1944-45 only.

If you can find a copy of "Military Timepieces" by Marvin E Whitney, you should be able to find more info on it.
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