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Gold Unicorn (C.O.S.D.) that fed the UK and Armies of WW1 and WW2

w154
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Yes I agree… I personally couldn’t be more satisfied that the COSD was a dive watch as opposed to the old paratrooper idea. And yes I’m sure there can’t have been many converted into the gold cases. Perhaps 20-50, certainly any more than that seems implausible.
 
Lépine
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Right and Ziggy who was the first to write substantially about these COSD ( and who is responsible for the whole Paratrooper theory ) said back before 2001 that he had only seen three of them. So by 2000 they were already unicorn status. Considering that the IWM information wasn't available to Ziggy, I think he did okay in his pioneering research.
 
Lépine
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If you see a gold COSD now... make sure the mid case actually fits without any tricks and make sure the case back has the exact same hallmarks. The 13322 came in many sizes so beware of new gold COSD if they ever start making them.
 
w154
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Lépine Seiji
If you see a gold COSD now... make sure the mid case actually fits without any tricks and make sure the case back has the exact same hallmarks. The 13322 came in many sizes so beware of new gold COSD if they ever start making them.
With only 2-3 known of these it’s a bit too early to discount cases with other marks as being “wrong“, plus an appropriate movement/dial/handset would be worth more to finish off a tuna can case anyway.
 
Lépine
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Yes agree, I am not implying that there were no others. I just wanted to point out that back in 2000, there would have been little incentive to transplant the Dennison COSD into Tuna COSD cases since the COSD was not anywhere as desirable as it is today. It was possible to negotiate deals to get complete Tuna COSD for $2-2.5K USD. I got my MoD version for $1,400 missing a crown (which took 10 years to find that part).
 
size11s
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Lépine Seiji
If you see a gold COSD now... make sure the mid case actually fits without any tricks and make sure the case back has the exact same hallmarks. The 13322 came in many sizes so beware of new gold COSD if they ever start making them.
If I may this isn't quite correct. The Dennison 13322 case only came in only one size. It was supplied to several watch brands with differing internal flanges to accommodate different ligne movements but the outer case size remained the same.
 
Lépine
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size11s size11s
If I may this isn't quite correct. The Dennison 13322 case only came in only one size. It was supplied to several watch brands with differing internal flanges to accommodate different ligne movements but the outer case size remained the same.
Thank you for that correction. Yes, I had read posts (maybe yours) on MWR that went into details about this fact. I did not write the dimensions information completely. I do appreciate the accurate correction and look forwards to anything else you feel like contributing to the discussion.
 
Lépine
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This speech given by PM Neville Chamberlain gives good historical context the food problems
England was facing during the war with Germany. The sections on the demands for shipping and
the reduction of imported food is the most applicable.

s-l1600.jpg s-l1600 (1).jpg s-l1600 (2).jpg
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Syrte
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Congats, I really like it and must admit I’d be officiially envious if I weren’t saving for a house project. I nearly bid on it when it first came on auction a couple years ago, but got discouraged when someone triggered a discussion about the upcoming auction on another forum.

The history especially as it relates to women’s unit makes it especially appealing.

PS just to be clear, the watch didn’t feed anyone — those women were the ones that did. 😉
 
Lépine
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Yes, that is true.

For Both Wars:
But, William Lawson was not just an administrator, he was a teacher as well and trained personally hundreds of WLA on how to use the tractor, use artificial fertilizer, crop rotation, raise chickens, beef, pork, milk production, and reported directly to the Lt. Col M. Burrel British Army at one time. He published frequently articles and books on agriculture. Lawson was only in charge of Sussex area counties. Nation wide, there were about 60,000 - 80,000 WLA. So literally he was helping manage/educate thousands of WLA.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-was-the-womens-land-army
2022-04-08_15-11-26.jpg 2022-04-08_16-17-57.jpg 2hhtcxy.jpg a66mh5.jpg b576j5.jpg kp394b.jpg War notice.jpg Burrells is Lawson boss 1949 retires.jpg
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Lépine
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Farming was very serious business during the War years.

It is also noted that it was literally a crime to not optimize a farm and use it EXACTLY as directed by the War Agricultural Executive Committee. WAEC told the farmers what to plant and when. Not surprisingly this is no different than how factories were ordered to meet quotas for planes, tanks, and ships. Farms were just food factories.

There are many notices of public trials and taking over farms that were not used properly. William Lawson had to personally press charges (he was noted as a shy and gentle person so I am sure he did not enjoy fining farmers).
Crime not farming good land 2.jpg Crime not farming good land.jpg
 
Lépine
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This is where he lived when he was newly appointed.
28 North Street, Chichester, West Sussex, England.
His salary was in 1914 - £350 British Pound Sterling.
View attachment 1398731
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Lépine
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2023-09-16_14-00-48.jpg



x1395924-3ef05caf8b3157ffce33484fb315c803.jpg.pagespeed.ic.W1s8zkroBT.webp
 
w154
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DirtyDozen12 DirtyDozen12
Here is another one for sale on eBay now. Located in Stockport, UK. Serial number: 6'944'157. Price: GBP 7'995.00 OBO.

Source: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/365443623324?_skw=longines+military&itmmeta=01JNVFNHPGN19JTR2A89HRNDG7&hash=item551623299c:g:7lwAAOSw9YVnyaak&itmprp=enc:AQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1eK2VnQW803kemcQ2wv9NxT4o5elCR5pqi/TcQPChXzadc+t7l57bOxJHzFHi8CzOjmfHkW9dJUhcRTJ2vPoCNSH7i7+CwWoGBMICYeag27AECOijhyEyy8uCxvizbdNgJ/WYrEtIK23885s89r3QuO3460nGIyN1kXKIpvm8X0+Xd+y8ksOhgq/FWZxSYmTj4aHFqWznOP5nmRhGpe+tyuZ8uei44p6jUkKkIwIDfnVB4fqEfN1ymxb0VDK8csxfAMi8Kwv5Bp71G6i87dclzyixkmnQ2Ea7DScSx7jor+dg==|tkp:Bk9SR7Kb1u-uZQ
1741458065386.webp 1741458130834.webp 1741458154059.webp 1741458193507.webp 1741458241148.webp 1741458270655.webp

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...0060/lot-82ea3ecb-0706-4c98-9590-b27600db4bee

As I’ve got a spare tuna-can I registered to bid on the auction, but it just seemed such a hotch potch that I pretty much only valued it for the dial and the rest as unrelated spares. Sold for under £2k all in.

Movement is out of range, the H&M hands are wrong, and that made me wonder if even the sweep was an Antoine one. If the case is really “correct” for a 1946 recase I suppose that’s nice, but it wasn’t of much interest to me. I wasn’t even the underbidder. The eBay asking price is ridiculous in my opinion.
 
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DirtyDozen12
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w154 w154
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...0060/lot-82ea3ecb-0706-4c98-9590-b27600db4bee

As I’ve got a spare tuna-can I registered to bid on the auction, but it just seemed such a hotch potch that I pretty much only valued it for the dial and the rest as unrelated spares. Sold for under £2k all in.

Movement is out of range, the H&M hands are wrong, and that made me wonder if even the sweep was an Antoine one. If the case is really “correct” for a 1946 recase I suppose that’s nice, but it wasn’t of much interest to me. I wasn’t even the underbidder. The eBay asking price is ridiculous in my opinion.
Thanks for sharing this additional info! GBP 8K seems ridiculous to me, as well.
 
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