This is a vintage German Luftwaffe Obeservers WW2 watch. “B-Uhren” is short for Beobachtungsuhr which translates to “observation watches” in German. They were the equivalent of the 6B/159 and the Weems, used by German pilots to calculate flight time and their position in relation to their targets.
Type B dial
Unlike the pilot watches used by the RAF, B-Uhren were significantly bigger with diameters of 55mm. This was due to the fact they were made to be ultra legible and to be worn outside a pilot’s flight jacket. The material for making the cases was nickel-plated brass.
The dial of the individual watches had to be black in color and devoid of any kind of markings so that it could be clearly and easily read. To facilitate this, only the indication of hours, minutes and seconds were to be present.
The spheres, indexes, and seconds scale also had to be luminescent in order to make them easier to read even at night through the use of radium, which is a highly radioactive material that acted as a luminescent paste for the dial elements at the time.
The watch dial,in terms of configuration, was made in two types named Type A, which was produced from about 1940 until 1941, and Type B, which was produced from 1941 until the end of World War II.
In terms of layout, the Type A dial had a traditional peripheral minute track interspersed with Arabic numerals indicating the hours; the Type B, on the other hand, had the hour scale in the center and the minute scale on the outside.
In terms of movement, the hand-wound movements of pocket watches were taken. To protect the movements there had to be a case back, also made of nickel-plated brass, bearing the following inscriptions on the inside: Beobachtungsuhr (observation watch); Baurat (movement manufacturer); Gerät-Nr (instrument number); Werk-Nr (movement number); Anforderz (contract) followed by the initials that identified the entire type of these watches, namely FL 23883, also present on the outside right side of the case (FL stands for “aviator”).
In terms of movement, the hand-wound movements of pocket watches were taken. To protect the movements there had to be a case back, also made of nickel-plated brass, bearing the following inscriptions on the inside: Beobachtungsuhr (observation watch); Baurat (movement manufacturer); Gerät-Nr (instrument number); Werk-Nr (movement number); Anforderz (contract) followed by the initials that identified the entire type of these watches, namely FL 23883, also present on the outside right side of the case (FL stands for “aviator”).
Also on the case, at 3 o’clock, however, was to be the large crown so that it could be handled with the gloves that bomber engineers and navigators used to wear.
These watches were produced by Five manufacturers – four German and one Swiss – supplied the B-Uhren. In Germany, A. Lange & Söhne, Wempe, Lacher & Company/Durowe (Laco), and Walter Storz (Stowa) produced the watch. Wempe and Stowa used Swiss movements; Wempe settled on the Thommen cal. 31, and Stowa used the Unitas cal. 2812. Lange used its big cal. 48 and then its cal. 48.1, and Laco used its (Durowe) cal. 5 – the only two companies to use in-house German movements. When Wempe purchased the Chronometerwerk in Hamburg in 1938, it gained a significant increase in production capacity, and to assist the limited production faced by Lange and Laco, Wempe assembled watches for them. To meet demand, Lange also sent ébauches and cases to a variety of other manufacturers for assembly and regulation. In smaller numbers, the Swiss International Watch Company IWC who supplied watches to both Axis and Allied forces, manufactured the B-Uhr (cal. 52T S.C.) for the Luftwaffe. These five companies were the only ones to make the B-Uhr. (source : https://monochrome-watches.com/the-history-of-the-pilot-watch-part-five-b-uhr/ )
These watches were produced by Five manufacturers – four German and one Swiss – supplied the B-Uhren. In Germany, A. Lange & Söhne, Wempe, Lacher & Company/Durowe (Laco), and Walter Storz (Stowa) produced the watch. Wempe and Stowa used Swiss movements; Wempe settled on the Thommen cal. 31, and Stowa used the Unitas cal. 2812. Lange used its big cal. 48 and then its cal. 48.1, and Laco used its (Durowe) cal. 5 – the only two companies to use in-house German movements. When Wempe purchased the Chronometerwerk in Hamburg in 1938, it gained a significant increase in production capacity, and to assist the limited production faced by Lange and Laco, Wempe assembled watches for them. To meet demand, Lange also sent ébauches and cases to a variety of other manufacturers for assembly and regulation. In smaller numbers, the Swiss International Watch Company IWC who supplied watches to both Axis and Allied forces, manufactured the B-Uhr (cal. 52T S.C.) for the Luftwaffe. These five companies were the only ones to make the B-Uhr. (source : https://monochrome-watches.com/the-history-of-the-pilot-watch-part-five-b-uhr/ )
The watch may not be the IWC or lange but the condition of the watch is the best that I have came across with nearly no corrosion on the case. I used to own one 14 years ago in 2011, and for some reasosn, I have sold it away. Finally able to find one back in nice condition.
When Wempe purchased the Chronometerwerk in Hamburg in 1938, it gained a significant increase in production capacity, and to assist the limited production faced by Lange and Laco, Wempe assembled watches for them, which is why the above state Movement is Laco Durowe, (Durowe Cal.5, 17 jewels, 18000 vph )with Wempe at the bottom.
https://italianwatchspotter.com/the-history-of-b-uhren-watches/?lang=en
https://www.everestbands.com/blogs/bezel-barrel/the-most-important-world-war-ii-pilot-watches
Saturday, April 09, 2011
LACO WORLD WAR II BEOBACHTUNGS-UHREN
Being a history student, I have a deep interest in military subject. I have tried to start a military watch collection in the past but has never really got deep into it for various reason.
Lately, besides my vintage Longines pilot watch made for the Czechoslovakian air force, the Breguet Type xx made for the French pilot, I have added a JLC military watch. My recent find from Ukraine is the huge 55mm Laco military pilot watch made for the German pilot during world war 2. It comes with the original leather band! It seems like I can start the military series now..
There were five manufacturers: A. Lange & Söhne, IWC, Laco, Stowa, and Wempe. One down, four to go...
Military watches that have gone through world war reminding us not to have wars.











- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Lately, besides my vintage Longines pilot watch made for the Czechoslovakian air force, the Breguet Type xx made for the French pilot, I have added a JLC military watch. My recent find from Ukraine is the huge 55mm Laco military pilot watch made for the German pilot during world war 2. It comes with the original leather band! It seems like I can start the military series now..
There were five manufacturers: A. Lange & Söhne, IWC, Laco, Stowa, and Wempe. One down, four to go...
Military watches that have gone through world war reminding us not to have wars.











- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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