In the category of a "unique watch" with a unique "complication":

The complication was COVID, which caused @Tubber and I to spend an entire year completing a transaction that began on March 18th, 2020. It's not that 2020 caused us to merely pause the effort along the way, but instead that @Tubber couldn't even reach the watch due to practical complications raised by COVID. That, and several other twists and turns presented by COVID, made this year long transaction one worth remembering.

The unique watch finally arrived today: this early (1956) Glycine Airman with the rare "12 on top" or "noon day" orientation of the 24 hour dial.



Here it is next to my later (late 60’s) Airman with the far more typical 24 on top:



In the photo above, note that both watches are set to the same time on the dials (US CST) and also on the 2nd zone bezels (AUS EDT).

And here is the necessary pin-hacking mechanism photo, except here showing both the 12 and 24 on top versions of scene:




Cheers!

 

Now that you don’t need that common 24 variant, I am happy to relieve you of it.

Great story with a happy ending- perhaps signs that life may get back online someday.

 

This pair has the advantage that if my significant other never sees them in the same place at the same time...

On the other hand, if they’re ever seen same place/time...

 

One on each arm- 4 time zones- seems like something @Mad Dog would do

 

What is a pin-hacking mechanism?

 

This is Glycine’s innovation: the pin stops the seconds hand, which “hacks” the movement allowing you to sync the time.

 

Adding to @Scarecrow Boat ’s note: while by ‘55 a few other companies had mechanisms for hacking the second hand, they were generally under patent and exclusive to those other companies. Glycine found its own, unique, way to hack (though it means the second hand must return to the pin before stopping)

 

Interesting. Learn something new every day. Thanks guys.

 

What?

Why would you say that?

 

Spiffy. As an aficionado of 24-hour dials, I'm hardly in a position to comment, but I'd likely pull a muscle in my brain with a noon-on-top variant.

 

In many ways 12 on tops are the superior design: the hour hand mimics the sun’s apparent path through the sky -> hand straight up, so is the sun, etc.

But the market suggests otherwise (silly market)

 

I never thought of it that way. That's a pretty elegant design in that sense, and I wonder if the first clockmakers thought of hour hands in that way. It would be interesting to research how a day came to be understood in our culture as two 12-hour periods in the first place.

For me, I tend to visualize the 24-up design as presenting the true beginning of a day at the top of the dial, so when the hour hand is pointing down at "noon" we get the signal that we're halfway through things. That doesn't make a whole lot of sense, really, especially when my days are broken up into three four-to-five hour blocks of work.

Anyway, having a pair of Airmen with opposite dials is a collection achievement that strikes me as extremely cool. Enjoy.

 

Congrats on your acquisition, especially from Tubber. Nice to pass on something that will be appreciated. Good on both of you.

This model is fun because it is so rare. There are a lot of beautiful watches but it's extra special to know you can't just drop some cash on ebay or elsewhere if you want one. Jim at Nevada said he hadn't seen one in five years of servicing countless airman. Glad you have it now and appreciate it. It's a special watch.

 

he’s about to have two in quick succession!

 

So question...

did they use different movements? The day change is affected at a different time... or is it just hand orientation?

 

The 1956 had the same Felsa movement as the 24 hr airman. You just set the time accordingly.

The 12 on top was sold in US military base exchanges around the world. The Glycine heritage department has no evidence why they had the 12 on top. It is a Special, which means 17 jewels for the US market.

It was a popular watch for pilots, as you likely know. My speculation is that Conrad wore a 12 on top because that is what he would have been able to buy as an American.

 

But the date change happens at different places on the dial.

 

From the point of view of one railway line at least...https://omegaforums.net/posts/1752591/permalink

 

True, the date change does flop. Not sure how the movement is adjusted to do this. According to Jim at Nevada and Emre at Glycine heritage, it's the same movement. They didn't mess with the hack, which is still at the top. Maybe flipping the date mechanism wasn't too difficult?

It is curious why they put 12 on top because it took a bit more thinking than simply flipping the dial. Must have been something they thought Americans or specifically American military wanted or would find useful.

Maybe they just figured Americans were ass-backwards from the rest of the world and would appreciate it.

 

I didn't realize the Glycine 12 on top was exclusive to the U.S. only (though mine happens to be a U.S. 'special')?

A number of manufacturers offering 24hr dials offered both 24 and 12 on top variants, regardless of U.S. issue. I think there were/are people who simply prefer the presentation of 24hr time in this orientation.