THIS OFFER IS FOR A BENRUS 17J SINGLE CASE LAST ON RIGHT
WARRANTY APPRAISAL WATCH BOX INCLUDED
__
***************************************************
THIS BENRUS WATCH WAS ONE OF TWO PROTOTYPES THAT WON BENRUS THE FIRST US MILITARY VIETNAM CONTRACT 300,000 FOR 10800 MARINE CORP WATCHES
SINCE ONLY ONE OF THREE OTHER SOURCES WHICH SUBMITTED THEIR PRODUCT FOR QUALIFICATION TESTING
SUBMITTED A PRODUCT WHICH PASSED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF MIL-W-3818B AND WAS APPROVED FOR
INCLUSION ON THE QUALIFIED PRODUCTS LIST, THE DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER
THAT IT WAS IMPRACTICABLE TO OBTAIN COMPETITION, AND THAT A CONTRACT SHOULD BE NEGOTIATED
WITH BENRUS,
THREE FIRMS SUBMITTED
APPLICATIONS AND SAMPLES DURING 1963, NAMELY, BENRUS WATCH CO., INC., LONGINES-WITTNAUER
WATCH CO., AND MATBEY-TISSOT WATCH CO., INC.
HOWEVER, BENRUS WATCH, INC., WAS THE ONLY
SOURCE THAT SUCCESSFULLY MET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR APPROVAL. THEREFORE, THAT FIRM WAS
FORMALLY NOTIFIED ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1963, THAT THE SAMPLES SUBMITTED WERE APPROVED AND THAT
ITS PRODUCT WAS LISTED ON THE QUALIFIED PRODUCTS LIST FOR SPECIFICATION MIL-F-3818B. THE
OTHER TWO SOURCES WERE NOTIFIED BY LETTER OF NOVEMBER 21, 1963, THAT THEIR SAMPLES DID NOT
MEET MINIMUM SPECIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
*******************************************************
GOLD FILLED
Restored - Serviced
THE FIRST BENRUS 3 STAR
SINGLE CASE DADDY TO THE VIETNAM WAR PROTOTYPE
THAT WON BENRUS THE FIRST VIETNAM US MILITARY CONTRACT 300,000 10800 WATCHES FOR MARINE CORPI
1959
BENRUS
THREE STAR
SELF WINDING
[AUTOMATIC]
THE
DADDY
TO THE
THREE STAR
MANUAL WIND
PROTOTYPE
SUBMITTED TO US MILITARY
FOR
JUNGLE WARFARE CONTRACT
32 X 40 MM
W/O
CROWN
WITH **********************
vintage new JB calendar strap
COMPLETELY RESTORED AUTOMATIC
DEPLOYMENT BUCKLE
SINGLE CASE PROTOTYPE OF WHICH THE NEXT VERSION WOULD BECOME THE BASE FOR ALL MILITARY WATCHES IN VIETNAM
IMAGINE AN AUTOMATIC SELF WINDING WATCH DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED BY BENRUS RESTORED TO NEAR MINT CONDITION FOR THE PRICE OF A LOW COST BRAND NAME QUARTZ
BENRUS( ETA 1256-47BF)
17J
SELF WINDING
WITH JB ORIGINAL
LEATHER CALENDAR STRAP
WITH BOX
GOLD OVER STAINLESS
DEPLOYMENT BUCKLE
THIS IS A RARE DESIGN VINTAGE
YOU
ALSO RECEIVE
FREE A ONE YEAR GSW LIMITED WARRANTY
FREE APPRAISAL
WITH INFO TO INSURE ONLINE
PLEASE ALLOW UP TO 6 WEEKS FOR LINK
19.00 UPS 2 DAY AIR INSURED
SIGNATURE DELIVERY
26.00 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED
INSURANCE SIGNATURE DELIVERY
FREE 800 438 6894
TOLL FREE SUPPORT
INTERNATIONAL +17708311257
M-SAT 11AM - 7 PM EST
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BEFORE RESTORATION |
AFTER RESTORATION |
KEEPING DIALS [ LEFT ] AS IS, OR RESTORING IT TO ORIGINAL CONDITION [RIGHT] ? ALL DEPENDS ON A FEW SIMPLE FACTORS IS IT SO RARE THAT IT IS WORTH MORE AS IS THE DIAL IS PRETTY CLOSE TO ORIGINAL LOOKING CONDITION. IT IS AN OLDER ROLEX OR TIFFANY, CHRONOGRAPH MILITARY OR A WATCH THAT SOLD FEW PIECES OR A PIECE THAT IS SERIOUS ANTIQUE [100 + YEARS] OR A PIECE THAT HAS A DESIGN , ENGINEERING FACTOR, "OR A FIRST TO" HAVE A FEATURE AND/OR DESIGN
[ GOOGLE "GOLDSMITHWORKS MILITARY PILOT TRUE 24 HOUR WATCH" ] NOTE IN SOME OF THESE CASES [PUN?] I WILL MAKE UP A NEW DIAL, INSTALL AND MOUNT IT, AND SUPPLY THE OLD ANTIQUE/VINTAGE WATCH DIAL WRAPPED UP AND SECURED IN A PLASTIC BAG. WHEN SELLING YOU STILL GET THE EXTRA BUCKS CAUSE YOU HAVE THE DIAL. [NOTE HANDS ALSO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON WATCHES- KEEP OLD HANDS IF YOU UPDATE.
NOW, THIS IS FROM ME, ROCK, YOUR RESTORATION GUY. 80% OF VINTAGE WATCHES ARE WORTH MORE COMPLETELY RESTORED. NOT ONLY THAT, MORE PEOPLE INVEST
IN WATCHES THAT LOOK NEW. SO, I RESTORE MANY DIALS AND KEEP AS IS ONLY THOSE HIGH ON THE LIST. (SAME MOVEMENT UTILIZED IN Girard-Perregaux)
(ETA 1256-47BF)
Features
automatic
sweep second
Data
17 jewels
f = 18000 A/h
power reserve 40h
***************************************************
Founded in New York City in 1921,
Benrus Watch Company was an American company created by three Romanian immigrant brothers.
"BENRUS" was a combination of one of the brothers first and last names:
BEN"jamin laz"RUS". by 1923, the Lazarus brothers acquired the trademark
Benrus from the Swiss federal office for intellectual property. Originally the company
watch headquarters were located in the Hippodrome building on 44th street in Manhattan
were watches were "put together" and the bulk of the actual movement
manufacturing in a Benrus factory in la Choux de Fond, Switzerland.
Due to the fact that all Swiss watches and parts were controlled by Swiss laws and cartels
or combined companies, parts makers provided Benrus with parts and, in some circumstances
ebauche - which they then assembled or upgraded. to overcome this fact and the fact that
swiss parts and assembled watches were being penalized through US Customs duties, Benrus
would found a factory in Waterbury CT where they made the cases for Benrus watches and
then in late 1950 to early 1960, Benrus opened factories in France, St. Thomas and the
Virgin Islands.
NOTE: During the Vietnam War, Benrus won a military Contract over Bulova and the rest of
the US companies. For part of this contract, Benrus would buy Japanese Seiko Movements...
Production steadily expanded throughout the 1940's with a boost during WWII when Benrus
manufactured watches for the various servicemen and woman who served as well as nurses and
other professions. Like most other watch makers, timing devices for use in bombs and
weapons were also produced.
By the 1950's, Benrus designers went to work fashioning top grade,luxurious watches in
Gold and with Diamonds. Due to their strong relationship with the Swiss cartel, and their
market share after the war, Benrus was able to invest in the latest high quality Swiss and
German watch movements and ebauche movements.
Designs from 1947 to 1959 were the best ever completed by Benrus and Benrus watches from
these same years are the most sought after by Collectors.
************************************************************
NOTE THE SEAL AROUND CRYSTAL
SINGLE CASE
W/BEZEL SYSTEM 1 THE SINGLE CASE W/BEZEL SYS 2 "LUGS ATTACHED TO SEPARATE BEZEL SLIP OVER CASE"
THE VIETNAM WAR SINGLE CASE SYSTEM ONLY THE CRYSTAL IS NOT PART OF CASE
BENRUS BUILT 2 PROTOTYPE WATCH AND CASE DESIGNS GET READY FOR THIS ONE! SINGLE "PIE PAN " BEZEL WITH LUGS
1 THE BENRUS "PIE PAN" REQUIRED A CASE FOR MOVEMENT AND THEN A BEZEL WITH LUGS OVER CASE
2 THE BENRUS "DEEP DISH"
CASE HAD LUGS 9ON THAT CASE AND ONLY REQUIRED A CRYSTAL TO LOCK IN THE DROPPED THROUGH TOP MOVEMENT.
SOME OF THESE DEEP DISH CASES HAD A ROUND BEZEL THAT LOCKED THE CRYSTAL TO CASE [WYLER DESIGN AND PATENT] SOLID STEEL DEEP DISH CASE NEEDS A TOP W/LUGS
THE BENRUS SYSTEM UTILIZED THE SEALING SINGLE CASE SYSTEMS THAT DATED FROM THOSE OF THE WYLER WATCH COMPANY IN 1927. THE TECHNOLOGY, THEREFOR, WAS ALREADY IN THE "SYSTEM". THE DESIGN MEANT THE ENTIRE WATCH MINUS CRYSTAL AND STRAP WAS ONE PIECE. YET THEY, BENRUS, DECIDED TO BUILD THEIR FIRST PROTOTYPE AS A PIE PAN [ABOVE], WITH AN EXTERNAL BEZEL WITH LUGS [ABOVE] AS YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH WITH LIFE, THEN THINK.... HOW MANY COMPANIES WERE IN THE LOOP FOR A POSSIBLE US MILITARY CONTRACT FOR WATCHES? THEY WERE ALL OVER THEMSELVES , SPYING AND VYING AND WONDERING WHAT CASE AND MOVEMENT AND COMPANY WOULD WIN.
THE BEZEL SNAPS ONTO THE PIE PAN AND PUSHES DOWN CRYSTAL KKK
MOST OF THE WATCH COMPANIES WERE SWISS BASED, ALL WATCH COMPANIES WERE UNDER DURESS AND STRESS-; THOSE NOT IN THE USA WERE ALSO AWARE THEY WOULD HAVE TO SET UP A FACTORY IN THE US. EVEN IF JUST TO ASSEMBLE THE PARTS INTO WATCHES --A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE WORK HAD TO BE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE USA.
KNOWING THE USA AND THE FACTS OF A POSSIBLE END LESS AMOUNT OF WORK, THEY RUSHED TO OUT MANEUVER EACH OTHER. THEY ALL KNEW THAT THE CONTRACT ON THE TABLE WAS FOR $300.000 AND THE WATCHES ONLY REQUIRED 7 JEWELS AND ALL IT HAD TO DO IS LAST TWO YEARS. *** US BASED TO REVCEIVE A US GOV CONTRACT YOU MUST BE LOCATED IN THE USA AND A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PRODUCT BE ASSEMBLED IN THE USA.
I PROTOTYPE ONE NO LUGS ON CASE
SO THE BENRUS' "IDEA" [BENRUS TIME 1958-1963] HAD ALREADY BEEN INITIATED 30 YEARS BEFORE [BY WYLER TIME 1927-1937]. YES, BUT WHY TWO SEPARATE PROTOTYPES???
AT THAT TIME BENRUS WAS ACTUALLY BASED OUTSIDE THE USA. IN FACT, LOOK AT WATCHES FROM WWII AND KOREA, BENRUS WAS THE LITTLE GUY. BUT HERE IT WAS, A 10800 PIECE MARINE CORP CONTRACT WITH 300.000 IN CASH. AND, THE WATCHES COULD BE CHEAPLY MADE [NOT MEANT AS CHEAP GOODS]. BUT IN THE FRONT OF THE RUNNING WAS BULOVA! JUST BASED ON THEIR PARTICIPANT IN WWII AND KOREA, BULOVA WAS THE ONE TO WATCH.
SO, AS ABOVE, THE MOVEMENT, DIAL MOUNTED , THEN DROPPED IN CASE, THE CRYSTAL OVER THEM ALL, THEN A SEPARATE BEZEL WITH LUGS FITS OVER THE PIE OF TIME. A FANTASTIC SYSTEM.. NO?? NO WEAK CASE BACK! LOOK AT THE ABOVE ITEMS. SO BULOVA BEGAN SELLING SELF WINDING AND CROWN WINDING VERSIONS. LIKE THIS ONE, YOURS..... AND SOON THE WORDS WAS BULOVA WAS SUBMITTING A "PIE PAN DESIGN" . WHILE THE FACT IS THIS BENRUS IS SELF WINDING WATCH, THE MANUAL WINDING WATCH FOLLOWED AND BENRUS HAD DEALERS DOUBLE THEIR ATTENTION TO ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE WATCH AND MOVEMENT. MIND YOU THAT ONLY 7 JEWEL MOVEMENTS WERE REQUIRED. YOU COULD HAVE MORE IF YOU W ANTED..
. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY BUILT THE WATCH AND YOU GET THE BLUE PRINTS. SO,YOU WERE GIVEN COMPLETE STATS, FEATURES, MEASUREMENTS AND BASIC MOVEMENTS IN ADVANCE YET, AS TO CASE AND MOVEMENT, WELL THAT WAS WHERE THE MONEY WAS AND THE AREA YOU COULD ALTER. THE FACT WAS IT WOULD BE SINGLE CASE W/NO CASE BACK AND THE MOVEMENT A MIDDLE GRADE ABOVE THE 7 JEWELS.
WELL, WHEN THE TIME CAME TO SUBMIT THE PROTOTYPE, BENRUS, THREE TIMES, SUBMITTED SEVERAL COMPLETE WATCHES ALONG WITH REAL DATA SHOWING HOW WELL BOTH PROTOTYPES HAD RUN IN THE PUBLIC FOR 3 YEARS
NOTE THE BOTTOM CASE IS COMPLETE. THEN MOVEMENT CRYSTAL LOCKING BEZEL RING
OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS, IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE WHAT YOU BUILT. AND THE MOVEMENT COULD HAVE JUST 7 JEWELS.THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERED AS FAR AS DESIGN AND MOVEMENT WAS THAT THE WATCH HAD TO LAST 2 YEARS WITH NO SERVICE. LIKE THE PLASTIC THROW-AWAYS THAT WERE BUILT TOWARDS THE END, IT HAD TO OPERATE WITH NO MAINTENANCE OR REPAIR FOR TWO YEARS IN THE VIETNAM JUNGLES, RICE PATTIES, MOUNTAINS, FROM EXTREME WET TO EXTREME DRY AND HOT BULOVA WAS THE REAL THREAT. WHILE MOST WATCH COMP VIEWED THE DOCS RELEASED AS TO WHAT THE BASICS WERE, SUCH AS SIZE STRAP CRYSTAL AND DIAL, IT WAS UP TO THE WATCH COMPANY TO HAVE IT RIGHT. OWING TWO MAJOR FACTS, BENRUS BUILT THE WATCH BEING OFFERED HERE AS PROTOTYPE . TO THE WATCH INDUSTRY BACK THEN, WITH SPYS AND LOOK OUTS AND.. ALL THE OTHERS SIMPLY THOUGHT SUBMITTED WATCHES [LONGINES +] .... NOTHING THAT WAS TRULY GREAT FOR AN EXTREMELY WET COUNTRY.
BULOVA SUBMITTED A DESIGN AT THE FIRST GO BUT FOR SOME REASON NOT THE FINALS BENRUS LEAD ALL TO BELIEVE THIS WAS [NOT AUTOMATIC] THE WATCH THAT WAS BEING OFFERED TO THE US GOVERNMENT FOR UPCOMING VIETNAM MILITARY WATCHES. LOOK, MORE THAN BENRUS AND OPPOSING FOE BULOVA WOULD SUBMIT APPLICATIONSAND DESIGNS TO MEET WITH US MILITARY REQUIREMENTS. SOME OF THE COMPANIES DECIDED THEY WOULD LEASE OR BUILD A FACTORY IN THE US. AS 4 EVER, JUST HAVING A BUSINESS IN THE USA WITH A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF PRODUCT BUILT, MADE YOU ELIGIBLE, YET, MOST OF THESE COMPANIES THAT WOULD APPLY NEVER USED A SINGLE CASE SYSTEM. READ THE ANSWER TO BULOVA DOWN BELOW, BENRUS GROSSED 300.000 FOR THE FIRST 10,400 WATCHES WHILE
BULOVA PROTESTED THE LOSS . GOOGLE "GOLDSMITHWORKS BULOVA PROTEST BENRUS" UPDATE ADDED AT BOTTOM
BETTER YET AT BOTTOM
THE PURE SINGLE CASE BENRUS
SYSTEM DATES FROM 1959 THROUGH 1965- THOUGH IT'S DESIGN WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL
1971!. THE SINGLE CASED BENRUS HAD A ONE PIECE CASE, A DROP IN MOVEMENT WITH SPLIT
STEM & SEALED LONG STEM TUBE CROWN AND WAS SEALED BY THE CRYSTAL ALONE.
[YES, IT WAS THE WYLER SYSTEM
HIJACKED BY BENRUS!]
BENRUS DESIGNED THIS SYSTEM
BY COPYING THE WYLER SINGLE CASE SYSTEM WITH OUT THE WYLER OUTER BEZEL. THOUGH MANY OTHER
MANUFACTURERS HAD PRODUCED SINGLE CASE DESIGNS, THE REASON WHY BENRUS CREATED
THIS SYSTEM WAS THE 1960 RUMERS OF LARGE US GOVERNMENT WATCH CONTRACTS FOR THE UPCOMING
VIETNAM WAR. WHEN THE US GOVERMENT RELEASED SPECIFICATIONS IN 1961 BENRUS HAD ALREADY RELEASED A WATCH TO THE PUBLIC WITH HALF THE
SPECS.
NOTE THE SEAL AROUND CRYSTAL
THE BENRUS THREESTAR X 1
GSW USES BOTH
A 1950 WATERLESS 4 JAR CLEANING SYSTEM W/HEATDRY
2 ULTRASONIC 4 STAGE CLEANING SYSTEMS
ORIGINAL JB BOX WITH GOLD AND BLACK PANELS
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MIXING AF LUMINOVA |
HANDS FOR 6 TIME PIECES DRYING |
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*******************************************************
THE FOLLOWING IS THE US GOVERNMENT REPLY TO BULOVA.
THIS WILL BE PART OF APPRAISAL --ALLOW SEVERAL WEEKS FOR LINK-- IT HAS THE IMPORTANT
INFORMATION AS TO THIS VERY BENRUS. THE FOLLOWING IS THE US GOVERNME NT REPLY TO
BULOVA. THIS WILL BE PART OF APPRAISAL --ALLOW SEVERAL WEEKS FOR LINK-- IT HAS THE
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AS TO THIS VERY BENRUS.
B-153564, MAY 4, 1964
TO BULOVA WATCH COMPANY, INC.:
FURTHER REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF FEBRUARY 20,
1964, PROTESTING THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO BENRUS WATCH COMPANY UNDER REQUEST FOR
PROPOSAL NO. AMC/A/36-038-64-490/NS), DATED FEBRUARY 7, 1964. THE RECORD SHOWS THAT IT WAS DETERMINED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AIR FORCE,
NAVY AND ARMY, THAT SPECIFICATION MIL-W-3818A, DATED MARCH 12, 1956, REQUIRED REVISION TO
ACCOMPLISH THE FOLLOWING RESULTS:
A. REDUCE THE VARIETY OF GRADES AND TYPES OF
WATCHES.
B. ASSURE CONSISTENT QUALITY OF ITEMS.
C. ELIMINATE TESTING REQUIREMENTS OF ONE YEAR AND SUBSTITUTE IN LIEU THEREOF A GUARANTEE
PROVISION.
D. INCORPORATE A NEW CASE DESIGN.
ACCORDINGLY, THE SPECIFICATION WAS FORMALLY REVISED
ON OCTOBER 17, 1962, AND IS IDENTIFIED AS MIL-W-3818B.
SUBSEQUENT TO THE APPROVAL OF SPECIFICATION MIL-W-3818B, ALL SOURCES ON THE
PREVIOUS QUALIFIED PRODUCTS LIST, UNDER SPECIFICATION MIL-W 3818A, WERE INVITED BY LETTER
DATED DECEMBER 6, 1962, TO MAKE APPLICATION FOR THE SUBMISSION OF THEIR PRODUCT OF
FRANKFORD ARSENAL FOR QUALIFICATION TESTING. UPON RECEIPT AND APPROVAL OF THE APPLICATION
AS REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH 104 OF THE PAMPHLET ENTITLED “PROVISIONS GOVERNING
QUALIFICATION,” SAMPLES WOULD BE AUTHORIZED TO BE SUBMITTED. THREE FIRMS SUBMITTED
APPLICATIONS AND SAMPLES DURING 1963, NAMELY, BENRUS WATCH CO., INC., LONGINES-WITTNAUER
WATCH CO., AND MATBEY-TISSOT WATCH CO., INC.
HOWEVER, BENRUS WATCH CO., INC., WAS THE ONLY
SOURCE THAT SUCCESSFULLY MET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR APPROVAL. THEREFORE, THAT FIRM WAS
FORMALLY NOTIFIED ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1963, THAT THE SAMPLES SUBMITTED WERE APPROVED AND THAT
ITS PRODUCT WAS LISTED ON THE QUALIFIED PRODUCTS LIST FOR SPECIFICATION MIL-F-3818B. THE
OTHER TWO SOURCES WERE NOTIFIED BY LETTER OF NOVEMBER 21, 1963, THAT THEIR SAMPLES DID NOT
MEET MINIMUM SPECIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
ON THE BASIS OF MILITARY INTERDEPARTMENTAL PURCHASE
REQUESTS FROM THE MARINE CORPS FOR A TOTAL OF 10,849 WATCHES, THE CONTRACTING OFFICER
EXECUTED A DETERMINATION AND FINDINGS DATED FEBRUARY 2, 1964, AUTHORIZING NEGOTIATION
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 10 U.S.C. 2304/A) (10) AND ASPR 3.210.2 PROMISED ON THE
CIRCUMSTANCES REPORTED AS FOLLOWS:
“A. THIS WATCH IS A QUALIFIED PRODUCT AND THE
TIME REQUIRED FOR TESTING WOULD UNDULY DELAY DELIVERIES.
“B. THE INTEREST OF THE GOVERNMENT REQUIRES
ASSURANCE PRIOR TO AWARD THAT THE PRODUCT IS SATISFACTORY FOR ITS INTENDED USE AND NO
OTHER MEANS OF QUALITY ASSURANCE IS AVAILABLE.
“C. AMPLE SOLICITATION AND OPPORTUNITY WAS
AFFORDED THE CLOCK AND WATCH INDUSTRIES, RESULTING IN ONLY ONE QUALIFIED PRODUCT, NAMELY,
BENRUS WATCH CO.’
THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL WAS ISSUED ON FEBRUARY 7,
1964, WITH A CLOSING DATE OF FEBRUARY 24, 1964, TO BENRUS WATCH COMPANY, AS A SOLE SOURCE
PREMISED ON THE FACTS SHOWN ABOVE. BENRUS QUOTED A UNIT PRICE OF $28.28 EACH FOR A
QUANTITY OF 10,849 WRIST WATCHES OR A TOTAL COST OF $306,809.72. ON FEBRUARY 20, 1964, AN
AMENDMENT WAS ISSUED EXTENDING THE CLOSING DATE TO FEBRUARY 27, 1964. THE PROCUREMENT
ACTION WAS SYNOPSIZES, FOR SUBCONTRACTING ONLY, IN THE COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY DATED
FEBRUARY 17, 1964. AT YOUR REQUEST, YOU WERE FURNISHED A COPY OF THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
ON FEBRUARY 13, 1964.
YOU ALLEGE, IN EFFECT, THAT FRANKFORD ARSENAL IS
ATTEMPTING TO CIRCUMVENT CURRENT REGULATIONS IN THE AREA OF COMPETITION AND METHOD OF
PROCUREMENT AND HAS FAILED TO CLARIFY AMBIGUITIES IN THE SPECIFICATION, PARTICULARLY WITH
REFERENCE TO THE GUARANTEE PROVISION AS SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH 3.21 OF SPECIFICATION
MIL-W-3818B, DATED OCTOBER 17, 1962.
YOU ALLEGE SPECIFICALLY THAT FRANKFORD ARSENAL,
WITH KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR INTEREST IN THE PROCUREMENT OF BACK-TYPE WATCHES, CIRCUMVENTED
PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS BY NOT OBTAINING COMPETITION.
THE RECORD SHOWS YOU WERE AFFORDED AMPLE TIME TO
SUBMIT YOUR PRODUCT FOR QUALIFICATION TESTING AND POSSIBLE INCLUSION ON THE QUALIFIED
PRODUCTS LIST. HOWEVER, YOU DID NOT SUBMIT YOUR PRODUCT UNTIL FEBRUARY 13, 1964, A LAPSE
OF 14 MONTHS FROM THE DATE APPLICATIONS WERE ORIGINALLY REQUESTED. THE PRODUCT YOU
SUBMITTED WAS REJECTED ON MARCH 11, 1964, FOR THE REASON THAT IT FAILED THE SHOCK TEST
PERFORMANCE PRESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH 4.8.9 OF SPECIFICATION MIL-W 3818B IN THAT OVER A
PERIOD OF 20 HOURS THE WATCH GAINED 1 HOUR AND 22 MINUTES.
THIS FAILURE WAS CONSIDERED A SUFFICIENT CAUSE TO
REJECT YOUR PRODUCT AS NOT QUALIFYING FOR INCLUSION ON THE QUALIFIED PRODUCTS LIST. SINCE
ONLY ONE OF THREE OTHER SOURCES WHICH SUBMITTED THEIR PRODUCT FOR QUALIFICATION TESTING
SUBMITTED A PRODUCT WHICH PASSED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF MIL-W-3818B AND WAS APPROVED FOR
INCLUSION ON THE QUALIFIED PRODUCTS LIST, THE DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER
THAT IT WAS IMPRACTICABLE TO OBTAIN COMPETITION, AND THAT A CONTRACT SHOULD BE NEGOTIATED
WITH BENRUS, APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN PROPER.
YOU FURTHER ALLEGE THAT THE PROPOSED PROCUREMENT
SHOULD BE CANCELLED AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROCEED ON AN ADVERTISED PROCUREMENT TO
ASSURE ADEQUATE COMPETITION.
AS INDICATED ABOVE, COMPETITION COULD NOT BE
ATTAINED BECAUSE ONLY ONE SOURCE WAS ON THE QUALIFIED PRODUCTS LIST AT THE TIME OF THE
INITIATION OF THE PROCUREMENT ACTION, AND SO FAR AS WE ARE ADVISED NO OTHER PRODUCT HAS
SINCE BEEN QUALIFIED. IN OUR DECISION OF AUGUST 9, 1961, 41 COMP. GEN. 93, IT WAS HELD
THAT WHERE THERE IS ONLY A SINGLE SOURCE LISTED ON THE QUALIFIED PRODUCTS LIST, THE PROPER
METHOD OF PROCUREMENT IS NEGOTIATION IN LIEU OF FORMAL ADVERTISING. WE SEE NO VALID BASIS
UPON WHICH A DIFFERENT CONCLUSION MAY BE REACHED IN THE INSTANT CASE.
IN ADDITION, YOU ALLEGE THAT THE GUARANTEE
PROVISION OF PARAGRAPH 3.21 OF MIL-W-38188 IS UNREASONABLE IN THAT IT REQUIRES THE
CONTRACTOR TO BE LIABLE FOR THE REPAIR OF WATCHES THAT FAIL TO MEET ALL SPECIFICATIONS FOR
A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS, AFTER ACCEPTANCE BY THE GOVERNMENT, WITHOUT ANY LIMITATION OF
REPAIR RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER.
SINCE THE THREE SOURCES THAT SUBMITTED THEIR
PRODUCTS FOR TESTING DID NOT TAKE ANY EXCEPTION, OR REQUIRE INTERPRETATION AS TO THE
GUARANTEE PROVISION IN THE SPECIFICATION, IT APPEARS THAT THOSE FIRMS WERE READY TO MEET
SUCH PROVISION AND THAT THE PROVISION WAS CONSIDERED REASONABLE. ANY EVENT IT DOES NOT
APPEAR THAT THE GUARANTEE PROVISION IS GERMANE TO YOUR PROTEST OR TO YOUR FAILURE TO HAVE
A WATCH APPROVED FOR INCLUSION ON THE LIST.
AS TO THE ALLEGATION THAT BENRUS WATCH COMPANY IS
NOT A MANUFACTURER OF WATCHES BUT ONLY IMPORTS CASES AND SELLS WATCH MOVEMENTS FROM
FOREIGN SOURCES, WE ARE ADVISED THAT BENRUS POSSESSES MANUFACTURING FACILITIES IN THE
UNITED STATES AND SWITZERLAND WHICH ARE UTILIZED IN THE PRODUCTION AND ASSEMBLY OF WATCHES
AND, THEREFORE, QUALIFIES AS A MANUFACTURER UNDER ASPR 12-603.1.
THE BENRUS PROPOSAL SHOWS THAT IT IMPORTS THE
MOVEMENT AND DIAL SETTING, DIAL STEM AND SPRING BARS, AND THAT THE CASE, CROWN,
ATTACHMENTS, PACKING MATERIAL AND JEWEL BEARINGS (TURTLE MOUNTAIN ORDNANCE PLANT) ARE ALL
DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED. ITS COST DATA INDICATES THAT THE COST OF THE DOMESTIC COMPONENTS IS
CONSIDERABLY IN EXCESS OF 50 PERCENT OF THE COST OF ALL COMPONENTS, AND THEREFORE THE ITEM
MUST BE CONSIDERED A DOMESTIC SOURCE AND PRODUCT UNDER ASPR 6-101 (D).
IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE FIND NO VALID
BASIS FOR YOUR PROTEST, AND IT IS THEREFORE DENIED
FREE A ONE YEAR GSW LIMITED
WARRANTY. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM. IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM 11 MONTHS FROM WHEN YOU
RECEIVE YOUR TIME PIECE WE STAND BEHIND IT!
CUFF WATCHES
AFTER THE FREE PDF BELOW
ARE SOME MORE OF MY PIECES
TAKE A LOOK IN OUR STORE
**************************************************
FIRST ARE FREE PDF
BY ROCK
OFFERED BY GSW
99% OF WATCHES IN THEM WERE
PURCHASED ON EBAY
THEN RESTORED
AND
SOLD AGAIN ON EBAY
1972 BULOVA CARAVELLE DIVE WATCH
VIETNAM WAR PROVEN SYNTHETIC SINGLE CASE
GENUINE DISABLED AMMO
CELEBRATING THE 82 AIRBORNE
WITH GENUINE 1913/14 OILED ESCAPE MAP OF FRANCE
HIDDEN UNDER PATCH
BIG RED ONE IN VIETNAM
ABSOLUTE WWI LANCET POCKET WATCH WRIST CONVERSION
FULL RESTORE CUSTOM STRAP
ANOTHER ONE OF MY PIECES
CENTER AIRBORNE USING JAWAN FOR WATCH
A CAMO VERSION AWESOME
TREATED TO LOOK AGED,
RESISTS WATER OR HEAT DAMAGE,
LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE CAMO FINISH
REMEMBER TO USE A WW2 KOREAN
WAR OR VIETNAM ERA WATCH
PRICE IS AVERAGE 150.00 MORE
WONDERFUL CUFF WWII ERA OFFER
HONOR MARINES
THE ABOVE WIDE CUFF DUAL STRAP
MILITARY CUFF IS AVAILABLE
THIS ONE CELEBRATED AIRBORNE
1O1ST WWII - VIETNAM
REMEMBER TO USE A WW2 KOREAN
WAR OR VIETNAM ERA WATCH
PRICE IS AVERAGE 150.00 MORE
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