Mickey Mouse watch purchased between 1948-1950

This is the oldest advert for the MM watch, I found it whilst doing research on Bulova.
It dates to June 10th. 1933, and the Mickey Mouse wristwatch didn't get production approval until May 27, 1933, two week earlier. Then they were sold at the World's Fair as a second to the World's fair pocket watches. These sold much better and reports from the fair, states at one time they sold over 5,000 in one day.








This one comes from just four days after the first, and shows not only the price, but a clearer image. This cleared up some arguments in MM collector circles about numeral position of the earliest model.

One similar to yours in on the bay for over $5 Cs. It's in better condition, shape is similar and logo is similar although placed differently. Seller claims 1948.

Looks right, here is a 1948 advert in a N.Y. paper.
The ad is for gold plate model, as stated, "not to be confused with chrome".

A related Disney connected product by the US Time company.
My personal ZORRO watch I got when I was a small child.
Like George Washington's axe the head has been replaced and the handle replaced but its the same axe.
In this case I found a complete non running watch and put the movement from my battered one in it. The crystals are put in at the factory in some manner that makes them impossible to replace even if you could find one.


In a flash of heresy I cleaned the movement with lighter fluid and canned air, then used a sewing needle to deposit a tiny drop of oil in all the right places without disassembling anything. best I could get the adjustment is around two-three minutes +/- per day .
Don't wear it of course it has a child sized Speidel expansion band much like mine had originally only a different style. Still have my band somewhere but its not repairable.

I had kept the box for decades but it finally disintegrated. I remember it had a tiny flat brim Zorro cavalier hat and the watch fitted around it like a hatband. There's a Zorro neckerchief as well but not sure if it came with the watch.

PS
I found there's actually a Spanish "Zorro" brand watch out there. wish I'd saved an image of it.

Pics of you in hat and neckerchief required, or disbelief imminent... 😉

The hat was not a real hat it was part of the box, the watch band fit around it like a hatband.
I don't have any photos of me with the Zorro watch as a child but somewhere around here I have a photo of me in a full Hopalong Cassidy cowboy outfit with gunbelt , chaps, hat, boots and vest with conchos. I was not much bigger than a house cat at that age.
I also have a photo of Fess Parker dressed as Daniel Boone holding me on his shoulder. I was wearing my Daniel Boone costume and he picked me out of the crowd at a county fair to have our picture taken. That was quiet a day. I also got to ride a pony, a camel and a elephant that day.
My photo collection is not easy to get to right now. When I can I'll try to find these.

Great memories, right P? 😀

Thinking on it, old Robert Ingersoll started out early with the picture watches.
This dollar watch advert from around 1899 is a real belter!








Here is an actual example of the watch, that dial looks good for a painted paper one too.

The patina is pretty nice through it in part obscures the image.
I have a feeling that if the watch were carried daily in a vest pocket the natural wear pattern would result in those areas that should remain dark to stay that way while the details lightened and brightened up to make the picture sharp and clear.

Not bad for a hundred plus year old cheap watch though! 😀

The engraving of USS Olympia on the back makes it quite historical. The Olympia has been docked as a museum on the Philadelphia water front for many many years. She was used against Spanish forces at Manila Bay. There are brass footprints where Admiral Dewey stood when he ordered, "You may fire when you are ready Gridley." (from old memory, not google so I might not be exact)