Russian Timepiece from Submarine(?)

[Splord]

I'm repairing a Russian timepiece allegedly from a Russian submarine and would like to know if anyone has any information that they can provide me regarding age, translation of what it says on the dial, authenticity of it coming from a submarine, etc. etc. Any information would be helpful!
Thank you!

 

[John Arrowood]

The Russian script B translates into Roman alphabet V as in Vostock, if I remember correctly. There were many of these clocks sold in the US in the late 1980's and early 1990's. I think the one I have came from a Bridgestone catalog. I'm sure they were sold by other businesses.

 

[Schatznut]

John's memory is correct - this is the logo for the Vostock watch and clock company. I have one like it hanging on the wall in my kitchen. I purchased it from a catalog in the US in the mid-1990's. If you look on the case where the cover mates up with it, there should be a date stamp. Mine says 95-2, which suggests it was made in February 1995.

 

[Splord]

John's memory is correct - this is the logo for the Vostock watch and clock company. I have one like it hanging on the wall in my kitchen. I purchased it from a catalog in the US in the mid-1990's. If you look on the case where the cover mates up with it, there should be a date stamp. Mine says 95-2, which suggests it was made in February 1995.

Thank you for the help! I've attached a picture of the inside of my case. I can see the "93-3" in the 1:00 position perhaps indicating March 1993. Any idea what the "83" refers in the 8:00 position and the "2855" in the 5:00 position? Because it says USSR on the dial, could this have been made in 1983 (i.e "83") as after 1991 "USSR" turned to "Russia"?? Just thinking out loud.

 

[Schatznut]

I think they were just shoveling products out the door and into international markets to generate hard currency as quickly as they could. I believe the date stamp on mine at the 1:00 position because the code was only a few months before I bought it.

 

[JTD]

Yes, the letter B is for Vostok and the word below says 'Komandirskie', the words on the bottom of the dial say 'Made in USSR'.

And yes, it could very well have been made in 1993, as suggested by the mark on the movement. The case and dial, with what may be the earlier date, and the USSR on the dial, may well have been 'new old stock' being used up. The movement does look very new.

These clocks were made in large numbers, many for export and very few of them have ever been near a submarine.

JTD

 

[Willie X]

It's not a bad clock EXCEPT for the rotten balance assembly. It's never seen a submarine ... Ha
Willie X

 

[Schatznut]

What is it about the balance that has drawn your scorn, Willie?

 

[Willie X]

The balance staff break regularly. They were once available for 20 bucks but I haven't seen one of these clocks in a while. Willie X

 

[Schatznut]

Gotcha. I'll be sure to not set off any depth charges near mine.

 

[Willie X]

I think the staff breaks when the second hand is bumped but have no way to know this for sure. Willie X

 

[Willie X]

But are you completely sure about that?? Willie

 

[Schatznut]

I live about 40 miles from Naval Base Point Loma, so I know there are submarines in the immediate neighborhood. I just hope all of them are ours!

 

[claussclocks]

I worked on one recently that might have been the real thing. It was acquired by a gentleman who had been a field office agent for a U.S. newspaper in Russia, He got it while there in the 70's or early 80's. It looked different from the one pictured. It had a porthole type screw down cover with a heavy rubber seal. Internals were heavy & balance worked well. One interesting thing I noted was the bolt holes on the back. Very similar except the bolt down castings were broken out like it had been pried off a wall. I did not have time to pursue it further but it was an interesting clock to work on.

DPC