I finally narrowed it down a little about my dads watch. Lot's of sites and about 300 pictures. I saw a bunch of watches that were close, but the unique thing about my watch is the military time band is on the inside of the numerals, not out near the edge. No little segments of seconds. It's a "time only" as opposed to a chronograph equipt'd. Probably the most basic 1930's-40's watch you can find. Military style.
I found out most of this on a hip website that covers all COOl stuff. Booze, food, whatever cool dudes should know. Gear Patrol.
Watches-You-Should-Know-Longines-Sei-Tre-Tacche-gear-patrol-lead-full.jpg
This isn't my exact watch but it's what they used in the article(I did find one closer but didn't think to dnload it).
-While Longines’s chronograph production in the 1940s was robust, the production of simpler three-hand watches was prolific. Using the technology it had honed in the development of its chronographs, Longines was able to produce reliable time-only watches that were shock-, dust- and water-resistant. These watches were characterized by small steel cases (30-32mm) with tapered lugs and simple stepped bezels. While some of these time-only watches were produced under contract for various militaries, many more were produced for the consumer market. Most utilized the venerable Longines calibre 12.68z, a robust, manual-wind movement with anti-shock protection, though some also utilized the 27M with its sub-seconds layout.-
These watches were so common they didn't get fancy names. I did see a Calatrava that looked a little similar but it was a sei(6) tacche(notch).
This has been fun. Oh, and thanks to Art and Merc for the links and information. Stuff like this might get me enticed to look into watches. I sure have seen some beauties in the last couple of days. My better sense knows I know .01% about watches. But a real RR280 would be cool, or one of those nice Elgins...
By the way, why can't Timex make one of those press button-glow in the dark indiglo watches that lasts more than a year? It's the perfect dark middle of the night camping watch.
Another question: If my watch was made in the 30's-40's then it must not have radium painted dials. By 1925 the effects were well known(from what I read). So it's some other kind of phosphorous?