1956 Glycine Airman

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1956 Glycine Airman with Felsa 692N movement.
Working hack. Last serviced in Nov 2016 by James Sadelik. New crystal installed by James in Sep 2022, when he also checked the watch and passed it for timing. A full service will be due but isn't required immediately.

Watch was purchased from OF member. I was missing an Airman for my space themed collection and he kindly sold me his. Shortly afterwards, I tripped over a Glycine Airman with box and some service papers from the estate of a Vietnam Air Force pilot, which is why this 1956 Airman is now for sale. It'd be nice to keep both but I am working on being disciplined.

This 1956 is an early Airman. The dial does not include
"Automatic" on the lower dial, it has a red date wheel and silver border on the date window. The "12" and "24" are arrow markers instead of baton and are marked "30" and "60". There is no cross-hatched crown on this early one, which is correct. The case-back on the 1956 is a screwdown one, whereas later editions used an EPSA compressor style. The seconds hand is a lollipop. The bezels are pretty much the same except the early one has dots under the even numbers. This watch appears correct.

The lume on the hour hand was originally missing and replaced by previous owner. A picture is attached of the pre-lume.

The case is 36mm and wears large due to the long lugs. Watch is attached to a new, unworn B&R strap.

Price is $1975 USD shipping paid to Canada and USA (reduced). Shipping elsewhere to be discussed. You can return the watch if you believe it was not correctly described, in which case I ask that you notify me of your intent within 24 hours of receipt. It doesn't need to be shipped within 24 hours. Watch is located on in Pacific NW, USA.

Thanks to the forum mods for making this sales platform available for use and to the members for your constructive criticism.

If you made it this far you deserve some pictures 馃榾



As found with missing lume:

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Stunning original example! There used to be loads of them around the USA Clark AFB in Angeles City Philippines about two decades ago. All gone now as collectors snapped them up. Military watch collector pals of ours predict the supply of original examples like this one are going to dry up fairly soon just like the Benrus type 1 sterile. Luckily we have one already in our stash that will never be for sale!
 
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Wrist shot (different strap than what comes with the watch now)

^
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These 1950s Airman models have a distinctive dial design that you鈥檙e not often going to find in this kind of condition. If you鈥檙e at all interested in this model, this should be a fairly easy decision.
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Glycine Airman pilot watch as worn by NASA astronaut Charles "Pete" Conrad on Gemini V (1965) and Gemini XI (1966) !
(Photos: NASA)
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Bump for an early uncommon Airman with the Felsa 692 movement.
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Back with a reduction to $2175 USD.

I don't need three Airman.
 
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Never forget... During Gemini XI, Sept 1966, Conrad's Glycine Airman became the first Automatic watch to be directly exposed to outer space !
 
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In case anyone wanted to ask if I still had the watch, yes, I do. 馃榾