The wrist watch.

[Wild Root]

Ok, what is the watch most here prefer? For the die hard purests of the 30's and 40's do you wear vintage time pieces? Or do you go with a battery powered modern look-alike?

I have seen a very strong 30's and 40's style revival in men's watches. However they are quite a bit larger in size then the originals. Today I guess men must feel that they have to strap on a school wall clock to their wrists to feel masculine.

I have a few nice wrist watches in my collection. I have to be careful to just have a few of these lovely guys seeing there is another whole world of collecting I could be consumed in!

I have one 1940 Bulova 15 jewel, a 1936 Bulova 14 Jewel and a 1933 Elgin 7 jewel. They keep very good time and if wound up right, could last almost two days long.

If you are one who wants to dress 100% vintage, a classic wrist or pocket watch is a must! Or, if you're just some one who loves good looking watches, they make great conversation pieces.

I'll post some photos of my watches soon, in the mean time, lets see some or hear about some of them.

Cheers,

Root.

 

[BellyTank]

My daily wrist wearers are-
-USAAF '42 Elgin A-11 Hack with the original canvas strap
-'40s Mido Multifort Stainless, Octagonal case

and of course they are both small cased.
B
T

 

[Biltmore Bob]

I'm really hard on watches. I love the old time peices, especially the square Hamiltons. I dont have any vintage watches right now But in the '70s I had a Elgin Pocket watch that was from the '30s.

The watch I wear is a modern Timex from their "Classic" collection. It looks exactly like the Timex my Dad wore his whole life. Simple gold tone case, white face, large black numbers and hands. No day or date window. Paid about 25 bucks for it a year ago. I wish it was a manual wind, but it is battery operated.

 

[Wild Root]

Well, this is starting to be a nice thread. I'll be posting photos tomorrow or the next.

Nothing wrong with modern "Classic" watches! Some have the right look and work very well. I for one hate batteries even though most last 2 to 5 years I don't like replacing them. But, on the other hand one should have a vintage watch cleaned ever so oft to keep it in tip top shape.

I found my 1936 Bulova in a thrift shop in Saskatoon SK. It was just sitting in a display case and I asked to see it. I wound it up, started to tick! Kept time and I asked how much, the reply, $5.00! I have never had it cleaned and it still works like it did when new! I have had that watch for over 2 1/2 years now. I don't wear it every day though seeing what I do right now for work would be murder on a watch of the vintage variety.

Some I see on ebay go cheap, others well, not so cheap.

All the best,

Root.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Id like to see some of these vintage watches. I don't wear a wristwatch, and haven't worn one since 1980. I used to carry a Westclox Scotty pocket watch that I picked up at a garage sale for $1.50, but have since stopped carrying it. Time just isn't important to me, and if I need to know the time, there's usually a clock around somewhere. I'm most interested in old railroad pocket watches. That's probably what I'd carry if I had one.

Brad

 

[Wild Root]

Rail road watches... A sure fire way to wear out a pocket!

Those things are on the big side. I love pocket watches and I own my Great, Great, Grandfather's pocket watch. He wasn't a Rail man, but he had taste in watches. It still works and I have been known to wear here and there. Nice to have something over 100 year’s old and still work. I'm sure 100 years from now no one will find this stuff that was made today worth any thing and even working for that matter!

Some say junk, I say something that has withstood the test of time!

Root.

 

[aliados]

Before 9/11 (and all those ) $*&+$%@#! metal detectors I have to pass through on a dialiy basis since then!) I used to carry either a circa 1925 white gold octagnal Wlatham, or a 1903 Elgin sterling silver hunting case, pocket watch, in my vest pocket. Now, alas, I rely on my cell phone . . .
Charlie

 

[Zach R.]

Speaking of watches, what do you guys think of this one? Its a 1953 Westclox Scotty.(I saw that you said you've had one before too, Brad)

 

[El Jefe]

I've been salivating over this bad boy for about 2 years...still haven't figured out a way to own it and remain married at the same time...
sweet

 

[The Wingnut]

I'm trying to build up my collection of vintage watches...right now, the watch I wear the most is my grandpa's Benrus which he bought prior to WWII, and wore through the war and his 20 years as a laser physicist at Lockheed. It's not much to look at, but it keeps excellent time.

Others in the collection include an Elgin A-11, a Hamilton Milton, and a repro Gruen Curvex. I've also got a '30s vintage Waltham railroad watch with a 4-4-2 engraved on the back.

 

[Wild Root]

Sweet watch Mate!

What are the numbers going counter clock wise on the outer part of the face? Can't say I have seen that before.

It has an early aviation appeal to it for sure!

Root.

 

[PADDY]

Well Root...

Those wee numbers are for the date! pretty ingenius aren't they I hadn't realised either until someone knowledgeable pointed it out to me. Quite a quaint way to show you which day it is (that red ended lever frames the date). Thanks for the kind remarks. Turning into a nice wee thread this. Funny how one thread just seems to grab folk and others never get off the ground. It's always a gamble, you never know what tickles people's fancy!!

 

[PADDY]

How do you like this vintage Luftwaffe pilots watch guys?

THIS is just beautiful to me. An original Hanhart watch, one of only a few contractors of watches to the German Luftwaffe. Hanhart have produced a modern limited edition of the 1939 version.

 

[Wild Root]

Very true! I have started lots that never whent any where. One I sarted about old radios, then a month later people started to hit it.

That's a cool way to show what day it is on your watch! Very cool.

Cheers,

Root.

 

[Biltmore Bob]

I know this thread is about wrist watches but...

seeing the Westclox Scotty reminded me of something. Growing up my dear sainted Grandmother McGrath would give each of us boys a Scotty every Xmas as a stocking stuffer. I think I had twelve of the things in a sock drawer. I don't know where they are now...alas.

 

[jamespowers]

Well I might as well add my everyday baby to this thread.
Made in 1941---probably before Pearl---This Waltham Premier has served me well for quite a few months now. I have been meaning to get it cleaned and have the crystal replaced but it just keeps running and I don't really want to let it go for the time it takes to do all that to it.

Not bad for an old wristwatch I guess.

Regards to all,

J

 

[matei]

I'm coming into this thread rather late, but my fave watch was a Poljot Aviator - it is a Russian version of a 3133 movement. Totally manual, bulky and dependable. Sadly, it was recently stolen.

It was surplanted by my current fave - a Tissot Le Locle 1853 automatic. Simple and elegant - without being complicated. I got this from my wife on our last anniversary.

 

[PADDY]

What about this Laco Luftwaffe watch...

Guy I know on a watch forum got this on Ebay for under 1000 euros and then sent it to Laco in Germany to get overhauled. Lovely Luftwaffe WWII aircrew watch!

 

[scotrace]

Great watches, Paddy

I've been coveting the reproduction Hanharts on the History Preservation Associates site. Nice to see the original. The other is amazing as well! Those Germans have all the cool toys.
The modern versions are ghastly expensive, at least for my pocketbook. I guess it's as the Germans say, "Ach! Too dear, too dear..."

 

[Wild Root]

Good Stuff!

Well, now for a photo of the watch that I made mention of that started this thread.

I tried to take a photo of it, but each one was blurred. It's hard to take a close up I guess of such a small item. I'll try and find a way to take a better photo but, in the mean time here is this one, I hope it's not too bad.

1933 Elgin.

Root.