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River McK
·Greeting OF members! I recently joined and posted about my watch in the "Show us your Longineses" thread. It was recommended that I start a separate thread to increase visibility. I've copied and pasted much of the text from the previous thread, with some helpful edits thanks to members of this forum. Excited to learn more about this piece through a little show and tell...
Below is the 13ZN I recently inherited from my grandmother who passed three years ago. From the Longines Archive, it has an invoice date of 22 September 1938 from their Cuban agent "Cuervo Y Sobrinos".
The story of this watch is still under investigation within my family, but so far this is what we've pieced together. The watch belonged to my grandfather, Walter L. Glass, jr. who was a B-17 captain in the 483rd Bomb Group (815 Squadron). It is believed the watch was purchased by his father in Cuba as a high school graduation gift to him. Walter Sr. was an avid outdoors-man, enjoying hunting and fishing. It is surmised that while down in Cuba on a fishing trip, he procured this piece for Jr.
I do not know if my grandfather ever wore the watch during his time in the European theater, but if he did, this watch would have seen some serious action...from his first mission on 7 October 1944 (which was almost his last) to the Berlin Mission (longest escorted bomber mission of WWII). He passed away when I was one, so I never got to know him or hear of these stories firsthand. Aside from the photos given to me by my mother, and the stories of him as told by family members, his watch is all that I have by which to remember him.
The watch still works, which for almost 82 years old is incredible. The only things I've noticed that might be problematic is the oxidation on the case where the snapback cover mates, and the mono-pusher button has lost some of its "springy-ness" in its return function when pressed. I have the archive record from Longines, and the serial number on the movement matches that on the inside of the cover. It has been confirmed on the OF that due to the monopusher button, it does not have the innovative flyback feature. In my lengthy google image searches and across other watch forums, I have not seen a similar looking watch. Could this be a significantly unique and valuable piece? Not that I intend to sell it any time soon, it would be nice to know if I should insure it.
On a side note, for all those WWII enthusiasts out there, the last image is of my grandfather (left in picture) shortly after returning from his first combat mission. I've added another picture of a write up that details his first mission and the heroics performed by him and his co-pilot to get their wounded back to base safely.
Thanks for enduring the long post 😀 I'm excited to hear what others may know and think based on the images below.
Thanks!
Below is the 13ZN I recently inherited from my grandmother who passed three years ago. From the Longines Archive, it has an invoice date of 22 September 1938 from their Cuban agent "Cuervo Y Sobrinos".
The story of this watch is still under investigation within my family, but so far this is what we've pieced together. The watch belonged to my grandfather, Walter L. Glass, jr. who was a B-17 captain in the 483rd Bomb Group (815 Squadron). It is believed the watch was purchased by his father in Cuba as a high school graduation gift to him. Walter Sr. was an avid outdoors-man, enjoying hunting and fishing. It is surmised that while down in Cuba on a fishing trip, he procured this piece for Jr.
I do not know if my grandfather ever wore the watch during his time in the European theater, but if he did, this watch would have seen some serious action...from his first mission on 7 October 1944 (which was almost his last) to the Berlin Mission (longest escorted bomber mission of WWII). He passed away when I was one, so I never got to know him or hear of these stories firsthand. Aside from the photos given to me by my mother, and the stories of him as told by family members, his watch is all that I have by which to remember him.
The watch still works, which for almost 82 years old is incredible. The only things I've noticed that might be problematic is the oxidation on the case where the snapback cover mates, and the mono-pusher button has lost some of its "springy-ness" in its return function when pressed. I have the archive record from Longines, and the serial number on the movement matches that on the inside of the cover. It has been confirmed on the OF that due to the monopusher button, it does not have the innovative flyback feature. In my lengthy google image searches and across other watch forums, I have not seen a similar looking watch. Could this be a significantly unique and valuable piece? Not that I intend to sell it any time soon, it would be nice to know if I should insure it.
On a side note, for all those WWII enthusiasts out there, the last image is of my grandfather (left in picture) shortly after returning from his first combat mission. I've added another picture of a write up that details his first mission and the heroics performed by him and his co-pilot to get their wounded back to base safely.
Thanks for enduring the long post 😀 I'm excited to hear what others may know and think based on the images below.
Thanks!
