Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent example of a Mid-War production OF Officer Grade issue Stainless Steel Case Waltham Model 10617 17-Jewel wrist watch, with a stainless steel screw back closure. This wonderful example has been fully cleaned, tested and runs perfectly. It was manufactured for the US Army, and has a white face with radium luminous numbers for night use. It has the name WALTHAM on the dial face. The band is a correct high quality OD Green web reproduction. The watch movement serial number is 31008580, which places production in 1941.

Please take note that this watch does not come with a warranty, and we will not accept returns for watches that are not functioning. Please be aware that all watches are manually wound and tested before being shipped out, and a video of the testing process is recorded for reference. We are not in the watch repair business, and all sales are therefore final.

During WWII, Waltham supplied watches for the US Army, Navy, and Marine Corps [the Air Force was the Army Air Force]. In 1940, the Ordnance Department published the requirements for military watches. The list includes pocket, wrist, and stop watches.
Marking on the case reads:

ORD.DEPT.
U.S.A.
OC - 185385

The inside of the back case has a laundry number (M247675) which we were able to identify as Marino J. Menichelli. Menichelli enlisted in the US Army on March 9, 1942, having served with an unknown infantry unit. We saw that he was captured on December 20, 1944 most likely during the Battle of the Bulge and was sent to Stalag IV-B Mühlberg. The camp, covering about 30 hectares (74 acres), was opened in September 1939. The first inmates were about 17,000 Polish soldiers captured in the German September 1939 offensive. For the first two months they dwelt under the open sky or in tents. Most of them were transferred further to other camps. In May 1940 the first French soldiers arrived, taken prisoner in the Battle of France. In 1941 British, and Australian soldiers arrived after the fall of Greece, and later in the year Soviet POWs from the invasion of the Soviet Union. In September 1943, further numbers of British, ANZAC, and South African soldiers, previously captive in Italy, arrived after the Italian capitulation. In October 1944 several thousand Poles arrived, members of the Armia Krajowa ("Home Army") captured after the Warsaw Uprising, including several hundred women soldiers. In November 1944 the Polish women were transferred to other camps, mainly Stalag IV-E (Altenburg) and Oflag IX-C (Molsdorf). At the end of December 1944 about 7,500 Americans arrived from the Battle of the Bulge. At least 3,000 of them were transferred to other camps, mostly to Stalag VIII-A. On 23 April 1945 the Red Army liberated the camp. Altogether soldiers from 33 nations passed through the camp.

This watch is definitely in very good shape. The metal components are nice, with most of the scratching present towards the bottom of the case. The watch runs smoothly, and appears to keep good time, though it is important to remember that the specification for wrist watches in WWII could be off by several seconds a day. The watch crystal is a modern plastic replacement made to original specifications.

This is a great chance to pick up a wonderful WWII Issue watch, ready to display or wear!

Specifications:
Brand: Waltham
Size: 6/0 - B
Movement: OC - 7 to 9 jewel wristwatches
Movement Serial: 31008580
Model: 6/0
Watch Shape: Round
Serial Number: 185385
Case Color: Silver
Year of Manufacture: 1941
Face Color: Cream
Country of Manufacture: USA