New to fourm - Question on WWII Laco I just purchsed

[davidwh007]

I have been wanting to purchase a vintage Laco for years and finally made the commitment. I purchased this from a seller in the UK. The watch was aquired during the war by her father in law along with a luftwaffe dagger - both taken from an aviator who was shot down. This is what finally pushed me to go for it - the provenance is solid.

I have several questions for the experts on the site.

1. Looking at the watch can someone tell me the possible year of production
2. It has its original leather strap. Can I condition it with some Picard's or will it hurt the value
3. I have in the past sent my 1940's era Omega's to Omega to be refurbished. Can I do this with the Laco - or will it hurt the value?
4. If the recommendation is to leave it alone - I do want to have it serviced to keep the mechanism clean - who is the best to have it sent to?
5. Is there any general information or link that can give me the best information on the backgorund of the watch

See attached photos

[stuffler,mike]

You got a Laco B-Uhr Baumuster A

The German term „Beobachtungsuhr“ goes back to pilot´s watches of WW II. Strictly translated it has to be an „Observer´s watch“ or „Observation watch“ but on most watch related fora you`ll read „navigator´s watch“, „pilot´s watch“, „B-watch“ or even „Flieger“, which is the expression I like most.

These B-watches have been made for the German Luftwaffe by only 5 manufacturers

A. Lange & Söhne
Laco (Lacher & Co)
Stowa (Walter Storz)
Wempe (Chronometerwerke Hamburg)
IWC

and contained high quality pocket watch movements:

Lange & Söhne: cal. 48/1
(due to limited capacities watches have been assembled by Huber/Munich, Felsing/Berlin, Schieron/Stuttgart, Schätzle & Tschudin/Pforzheim, Wempe/Hamburg).
Laco: Durowe cal. D 5
Stowa: Unitas cal. 2812
Wempe: Thommen cal. 31
IWC: cal. 52 SC (SC= „seconde central“)

The specifications of these watches had been defined by the „Reichsluftfahrtministerium“ (RLM) – Imperial Air Ministry (see attached file)



Due to those specifications all B-watches had the following features in common:

- A case diameter of 55 mm
- Marked on the back with FL 23883 (FL = flight, 23 = navigation)
- Equipped with large crowns in order to be used with gloves
- Hacking movement (the second hand stops when pulling out the crown / essential for a precise time setting)
- Breguet balance spring
- Regulated and tested as chronometers
- Long leather strap (to be worn on the sleeve of a flight jacket).

There have been two different types of dials (Pls. note: there are other figures available on the net. not sure whioch are correct)

Type A (Baumuster A) from 1940 to January 1941
a classic dial with numerals 1 to 11 and the triangle with two dots at 12

Type B (Baumuster B) starting in January 1941
Big minute numerals from 5 to 55 and a small inner circle with numerals for h, at the position of 60 min a triangle and a line on its top.


If your are interested in watches of WW II and their history I recommend to visit the hompage of Konrad Knirim (Militruhren: Collectors Site for Military Timepieces) .


The Stowa B-Uhr Baumuster B



A. Lange & Söhne, Baumusuer B:



Stowa, Baumuster A:



IWC, Baumuster A:



Laco Baumusuer B:



More to read: B-UHR Beobachtung Uhren

It has its original leather strap. Can I condition it with some Picard's or will it hurt the value

I wouldn't do anything.

I have in the past sent my 1940's era Omega's to Omega to be refurbished. Can I do this with the Laco - or will it hurt the value?

If it is done very carefully, cleaning, servicing, it will not hurt the value. However, you can't take it to your watchmaker around the corner. Ask LACO for a quote or contact Meister Buse in Mainz, Germany. He's an expert on B-watches.

Is there any general information or link that can give me the best information on the backgorund of the watch

Search google for B-Uhren, look into Konrad Knirim's web site, use the forum search.

[davidwh007]

Mike,

Thanks for the indepth information. I appreciate you taking the time. Can you tell me what the H 418 number is? - Is it a production number?

[stuffler,mike]

Mike,

Thanks for the indepth information. I appreciate you taking the time. Can you tell me what the H 418 number is? - Is it a production number?

Kind of - it is the movement number (engraved on the movement and engraved on the inside of the back (Werk = movement).

[Uwe W.]

2. It has its original leather strap. Can I condition it with some Picard's or will it hurt the value

Leather can dry out and disintegrate. I would absolutely treat the strap with a proper leather conditioner to preserve its condition and ensure it lasts for another 70 years.

[Bluefrenzy]

Wow that is a lovely time piece. Thanks for sharing.

[davidwh007]

Wow that is a lovely time piece. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks - I am feeling lucky to have it.

[Clockwork Blue]

What's the current ballpark figure for an original B-uhr?

[stuffler,mike]

3000 to 6000 Euro, depending on the condition.

[davidwh007]

3000 to 6000 Euro, depending on the condition.

Good to know - I paid 2025 GBP for it and it came with the dagger the piolot was wearing when he was shot down - I am not a fan of the owning the dagger as I collect WWII US and British Militiaria and stay away from German stuff for a multiude of reasons. But they came together so there it is...

Interesting provenance:

The owner was in grammar school in Nantwich (Cheshire) and his Dad was in the UK Home Guard. His Dad took the watch and the dagger off a downed German aviator and gave it to him. His widow (who sold it) does not know if the aviator was dead or alive when her husband’s father acquired “liberated” it.