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Mysteries in the life of a watch

michael22
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gostang9 gostang9
Very true, she doesn’t need watches, much like she doesn’t ‘need’ anything more than she already has. My hope for her to find a passion for watches is purely selfish in my part. I struggle to find common interests with her, and this seems like a decent intersection as she’s into a fashion all her own (she wears formal outfits to school at 13 years old when none of her other friends do, and she had a ‘vintage’ themed 13th birthday party). As a father of an only child who happens to be a daughter, I like the idea of finding something she and I can share. (Side note: we both started taking guitar lessons last summer, so that is one thing we have..). 😀
Having one thing in common with a teenage daughter is good going, IMO.
 
Syrte
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michael22 michael22
I D watch case co.. Can't locate info for ID Watch Case Co, Inc - Suggestions ...

The patina of the case reminds me of nickel silver patination. It is essentially brass, with a percentage of nickel added.
Great info !! 👍
Thank you !
The link which you posted has very interesting info about the case maker ID Watch Case Co:
"Information in Roy Ehrhardt's "Trademarks" book indicates that the I. D. Watch Case Co., Inc. was located at 121 Varick St. in New York City. He lists the company dates as being from c1930 to 1942." (info user RRwatch).
And the user Mikrolisk indicated that the logo inside the case is a registered mark from 1936, according to "the Kurtis Meyers book "U.S. Horological Trademark Index"

And that movement table from @bubba48 is very cool too.
I wonder whether Bulova watches were ever cased in non Bulova cases.
 
michael22
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A lot of USA market watches were. Wittnauer & Elgin frequently used Star watch case co., for instance.
 
Larry S
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Cool watch and always interesting discussions. Regarding smaller watches .. I’m quite comfortable now with 34-36mm watches. In fact they are more comfortable to wear.
 
Syrte
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michael22 michael22
A lot of USA market watches were. Wittnauer & Elgin frequently used Star watch case co., for instance.
So this case could be original to the watch?
 
Fritz
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Syrte Syrte
Great info !! 👍
Thank you !
The link which you posted has very interesting info about the case maker ID Watch Case Co:
"Information in Roy Ehrhardt's "Trademarks" book indicates that the I. D. Watch Case Co., Inc. was located at 121 Varick St. in New York City. He lists the company dates as being from c1930 to 1942." (info user RRwatch).
And the user Mikrolisk indicated that the logo inside the case is a registered mark from 1936, according to "the Kurtis Meyers book "U.S. Horological Trademark Index"

And that movement table from @bubba48 is very cool too.
I wonder whether Bulova watches were ever cased in non Bulova cases.


A17A military Bulovas were cased in Star brand cases, as were a lot of the American military stuff from 1940ish through to the early 60s.
P1010039.JPG P1010040.JPG
 
Deafboy
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Meet the Military Cousin: Bulova Mil-Std-3818A
302610-b19b9e781c02aaf6473bc14587a3e997.jpg
 
strick9
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Syrte Syrte
This was the ugly duckling in an auction lot of two. It’s small but I actually find it quite pretty.
I like the patina on the dial and the darkened metal of the case. At first it looked like steel to me as it looks solid but the color and the « stainless steel back » marking suggest otherwise. Any idea what metal it might be?

And how did that case come to have like knife gouges on the sides of the lugs?
Did people use watches to sharpen their knives in the old days?

If I were a seller I’d say it must be military! (but it’s not).

Wondering what you all think.
Thanks and best regards
In a good home now where it will be preserved
 
Syrte
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michael22 michael22
Highly likely, IMO.
Thanks much !!

Fritz Fritz
A17A military Bulovas were cased in Star brand cases, as were a lot of the American military stuff from 1940ish through to the early 60s.
P1010039.JPG P1010040.JPG
Damn I should know that, had completely forgotten, thanks for reminding me.
Really like those parkerized cases.

strick9 strick9
In a good home now where it will be preserved

Kind words, thank you. I will definitely take good care of it after all those interesting findings.
Edited:
 
Fritz
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michael22 michael22
A lot of USA market watches were. Wittnauer & Elgin frequently used Star watch case co., for instance.

I’ve got two very nice 50s Omegas in American cases, one is a Star I think, it helped keep the luxury taxes down by importing movements and using local cases.
 
Syrte
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Canuck Canuck
In the one picture of the movement, the edge of the case back around the opening for the movement looks to me like a brass case, chrome or nickel plated..... I have a Watertite model in my stash, somewhere. If I can find it, I’ll post a picture.
Thanks for all the good info - I think there is a lot of human crud on that picture so it may be we get a better view once it gets cleaned.
It would be great to see yours if you get your hands on it.
 
jaguar11
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Looks great!! How those marks were done we will never know. Thoughts to conjure with indeed.... Wear in good health.
 
Syrte
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michael22 michael22
Re: Information please
Have to repost here - credit to Vintage watch forums and they're quoting Omega Forums (thanks to Michael for the find):
http://vintagewatchforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=3571#p25871

#2 Post by Bazzab » Mon Sep 09, 2013 12:43 pm

Norm
I found the following on the ID Case Co
I.D. Case Co. - New York City. -
Cased generic Swiss movements. Active in the middle
third of the 20th century.
http://www.trademarkia.com/id-72223126.html

From Omega Forums, by @Hijak
https://omegaforums.net/threads/a-l...watch-case-made-by-queens-watch-case-co.6681/
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... "

http://www.qchron.com/qboro/i_have_...b7c-809a-cf85b560519c.html?mode=image&photo=0

4feca94a4017c.image.jpg
 
Larry S
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Ah nostalgia for a time when we actually made things in this country.
 
77deluxe
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Larry S Larry S
Ah nostalgia for a time when we actually made things in this country.


And when a smart watch just had a slide rule.
 
Syrte
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This watch is getting more and more interesting.
Some pals from MWR including a Bulova collector have been surmising the case might be silver. According to « Bobbee » (also on WUS), Bulova in those years used some silver cases because of steel shortages due to the war.
Furthermore @michael e on that other forum posted a similar looking silver case from the same case maker.

And last but not least, Bobbee » turned up fabulous advertisements which in and of themselves make the watch so exciting. One of the ambassadors for the model was none other than Johnny Weissmuler (aka Tarzan) - I’m reposting here with Bobbee’s permission.
This watch is now definitely getting serviced so it can be worn.
 
A6C44B45-A54D-4360-8CD9-5F700FC557FE.png 36BF7251-1133-40E1-A5C2-C2D02AD46CD7.jpeg 2647C44F-DE61-4EDE-A175-746640BE23BD.jpeg C90C70BC-9F70-49F0-911F-CD699E045B6E.jpeg
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