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Hijak
·Learning as one will on this forum, many solid gold Omega watches sold in the US during the fifties and sixties, had their cases made by others here in the states. This was done, as I understand it, because the importing of precious metals into the US was very expensive. This started me wondering about the beautiful gold cased Omega I purchased from a fellow forum member not long ago.
One of the main reasons I could not resist this watch was the incredible lines on the case. Well since a picture is worth a thousand words I'll show what I mean...
This case was manufactured by Queens Watch Case Co. as you can see here...
I started to wonder who this company was, where were they located, are they still in business and so fourth. So I decided to do a little research and found out some interesting things about the Queens Watch Case Co. I found out that the company was founded by Isidor Dinstman (1886-1967) who operated it with his sons Harvey S. Dinstman, Joseph Dinstman and Hyman Dinstman. This family were also principles in the following companies; Diel Watch Case Co., Leeds Watch Case Co., I.D. Watch Case Co., I.D. Precision Components Co. and J.B. Watch Case Co. Another interesting fact I learned was that the Queens Watch Case Co. along with the I'D. and Leeds Watch Case Companies all operated out of 137-11, 90th Ave. in Jamaica, Queens during the fifties and sixties. In the mid to late 1960s the Company moved to Alabama and the I.D. Companies lasted roughly until 1987. Here is an interesting article from a local NYC newspaper...
From the Queens Chronicle, July 2012:
One of the unofficial landmarks you pass as you travel on the Van Wyck Expressway in Jamaica is the former ID Precision Watch Case and Precision Components Co. building.
The structure looked more like a New York World’s Fair pavilion, with its art deco porthole windows, glass block window walls and curved arch flowing lines, than the home of a manufacturing plant for watch cases and gear mechanisms.
The building was so large it had two mailing addresses, and ID Precision employed thousands and rented out space to other watch companies. Its claim to fame in the 1950s was its four-foot neon clock made by the Modern Clock Advertising Co., installed as a public service to help keep passing travelers from missing their flights at Idlewild Airport, now JFK. Thousands of commuters relied on it too.
In 1965 the company incorporated in Alabama and started moving operations south, renting the building out to all kinds of light manufacturing companies. But eventually it fell into disrepair and vandalism. In 1989 the building was rescued by The Grand Ayatollah Al-Khoei, who transformed it into The Imam Al-Khoei Islamic Center for charitable and educational functions. It also contains a mosque.
On New Years Day 2012 a frustrated unemployed truck driver allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at the building — reportedly because he wasn’t allowed to use the bathroom. He was quickly arrested and charged with a hate crime.
The necessary repairs were made, and members continue to worship here and do good works in the community.
I remember as a kid going to and from what is now JFK Airport in the late sixties and early seventies and seeing this cool building. Even as a child I knew something incredible happened inside that building...Who knew that one day I would posses one of their incredible cases encapsulating an Omega watch!
One of the main reasons I could not resist this watch was the incredible lines on the case. Well since a picture is worth a thousand words I'll show what I mean...
This case was manufactured by Queens Watch Case Co. as you can see here...
I started to wonder who this company was, where were they located, are they still in business and so fourth. So I decided to do a little research and found out some interesting things about the Queens Watch Case Co. I found out that the company was founded by Isidor Dinstman (1886-1967) who operated it with his sons Harvey S. Dinstman, Joseph Dinstman and Hyman Dinstman. This family were also principles in the following companies; Diel Watch Case Co., Leeds Watch Case Co., I.D. Watch Case Co., I.D. Precision Components Co. and J.B. Watch Case Co. Another interesting fact I learned was that the Queens Watch Case Co. along with the I'D. and Leeds Watch Case Companies all operated out of 137-11, 90th Ave. in Jamaica, Queens during the fifties and sixties. In the mid to late 1960s the Company moved to Alabama and the I.D. Companies lasted roughly until 1987. Here is an interesting article from a local NYC newspaper...
From the Queens Chronicle, July 2012:
One of the unofficial landmarks you pass as you travel on the Van Wyck Expressway in Jamaica is the former ID Precision Watch Case and Precision Components Co. building.
The structure looked more like a New York World’s Fair pavilion, with its art deco porthole windows, glass block window walls and curved arch flowing lines, than the home of a manufacturing plant for watch cases and gear mechanisms.
The building was so large it had two mailing addresses, and ID Precision employed thousands and rented out space to other watch companies. Its claim to fame in the 1950s was its four-foot neon clock made by the Modern Clock Advertising Co., installed as a public service to help keep passing travelers from missing their flights at Idlewild Airport, now JFK. Thousands of commuters relied on it too.
In 1965 the company incorporated in Alabama and started moving operations south, renting the building out to all kinds of light manufacturing companies. But eventually it fell into disrepair and vandalism. In 1989 the building was rescued by The Grand Ayatollah Al-Khoei, who transformed it into The Imam Al-Khoei Islamic Center for charitable and educational functions. It also contains a mosque.
On New Years Day 2012 a frustrated unemployed truck driver allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at the building — reportedly because he wasn’t allowed to use the bathroom. He was quickly arrested and charged with a hate crime.
The necessary repairs were made, and members continue to worship here and do good works in the community.
I remember as a kid going to and from what is now JFK Airport in the late sixties and early seventies and seeing this cool building. Even as a child I knew something incredible happened inside that building...Who knew that one day I would posses one of their incredible cases encapsulating an Omega watch!
