B-UHR Beobachtung Uhren

[raiderkilo]

My research about B-Uhr from different sources
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3666531/B-UhrArticle.rar
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3666531/B-UhrArticle.zip
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3666531/B-Uhr%20Article.pdf
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3666531/B-Uh...20Watch%20.pdf
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3666531/B-Uhr%20IWC.pdf
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3666531/B-Uhr%20Lange.pdf
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3666531/Pilo...%20B-UHREN.pdf

[Janne]

It would be easier for us if you used a format which is more comon, like pdf.

[Mike V]

.RAR is an archive utility somewhat like a .zip file. You can get a free trial here: WinRAR archiver, a powerful tool to process RAR and ZIP files

The files inside this .rar file are all .pdf files.

Mike V

It would be easier for us if you used a format which is more comon, like pdf.

[raiderkilo]

In first post I ad link in .zip format and link to .pdf files on archive

[Janne]

Excellent!!
Now I will read!!

[Nalu]

"My" article seems a bit overstated: from my brief perusal of the five pdf files, it seems most of the material is Konrad Knirim's work (which is copyrighted and should only be re-published with permission) or cut/pasted from company literature

[raiderkilo]

"My" article seems a bit overstated: from my brief perusal of the five pdf files, it seems most of the material is Konrad Knirim's work (which is copyrighted and should only be re-published with permission) or cut/pasted from company literature

My article - My search or research.

[Janne]

I was not aware of that the B-uhr was issued to British deck officers?
(I understand you, the Swiss movement was. The Swiss sold to both sides of the conflict, as they were Neutral)
And the rivets were NOT for any adjustment of the length of the strap, but only to hold the strap to the case (fixed lugs and bar)
And forget the Buffalo leather. Pure German Cow was used!
The inner iron core was not a feature on all watches, indeed I do not think it was a requirement.
Stowa has not been making B-uhr since 1927

Somehow I doubt anybody strapped the B-uhren on the thight. Highly unprectical, it would catch everything, and it is turned 90 degrees wrong.
They were not loaned to the Pilot. The Navigator got them.
And yes, the Bomber guys were primary recepients.
Never the Stuka or Fighter pilots.

[Crusader]

Correct Janne. on all counts.

In fact there was no special antimagnetic case on any of the five makes - the IWC, which for a time was thought to have such an inner case, proved to have a dust cover only (like the Omega Speedmaster) which does not increase the antimagnetic properties.

Stowa was founded in 1927, but B-Uhren production by IWC started in 1940, and with the other four (German) makers only after that.

The myth of the "thigh strap" has been long debunked - it is amazing to see it perpetuated over and over again.

[Janne]

There exists a B-uhr looking watch, with the dial print back to front (correct expression?)

Those watches were meant to be strapped to the forehead of the Pilot (not navigator, as he had his own B-uhr).
The reason for this was quite simple. The Pilot had his hands and feet busy operating the aircraft, but he could easily check the time in the small rear view mirror, if the watch was strapped on the head.

Logic, is it not?

It is very easy to reconstruct something wrongly. In archeology this happens a lot.
OP, I hope you take our criticism with a good heart!

Crusader, interesting about the non existing AM protection. Maybe the movement holder/spacer was misstaken for a iron core?

[Janne]

BTW, there was no need for a AM protection.

No equipment with a sufficiently strong magnetism in the aircraft.

[Crusader]

There exists a B-uhr looking watch, with the dial print back to front (correct expression?)

Those watches were meant to be strapped to the forehead of the Pilot (not navigator, as he had his own B-uhr).
The reason for this was quite simple. The Pilot had his hands and feet busy operating the aircraft, but he could easily check the time in the small rear view mirror, if the watch was strapped on the head.

Logic, is it not?

It is very easy to reconstruct something wrongly. In archeology this happens a lot.
OP, I hope you take our criticism with a good heart!

Crusader, interesting about the non existing AM protection. Maybe the movement holder/spacer was misstaken for a iron core?

Excellent parody, Janne.

Yes ... there appears to be little visual difference between a dust cover and an antimagnetic cover, and IWC, having introduced the inner antimagnetic case to the world of aviation watches in 1948, naturally assumed a few decades later that the B-Uhr was a precursor of that technology. Research showed, however, taht the IWC dust cover does not have special antimagnetic properties.

[raiderkilo]

My research about B-UHR is last two week's old,I would like build homage B-UHR in 47 mm case (wearable as 55 mm) with ETA A07.111 and plexi.

Thanks for additional info.

[Janne]

Plexi scratches. Scratch that option!

Laco will soon bring out a truly accurate 45mm re-creation.
Those watches wear big, and unless you weight 300 pounds +, 45mm should be OK.
In fact, there are some watch makers that do make a 47-48mm cased watch.
Not as good as Laco, but close enough.

I have a correction:
There is a possibility that Stuka pilots wore a B-uhren on long range missions over the Soviet Union.
The Japanese were envious of the Headwatch wearing German pilots, but did not produce a watch of similar dimentions, so they devised a visually similar look:





This of course became a very clear targer to the opposing pilots, so they changed the look, so it looked like they already had been hit:



I know I am being stupid and tasteless, it is OK to delete this post.
Sorry.