Polerouter "59"

Jonatan · Nov 10, 2018

I have had some more time to look at the watch and noticed that it had a case reference number and a serial number.
The case ref. is 20361-1 and the serial number is 1 991 xxx which dates it to between 1957-1959, which leads me to believe that the "59" number is most probably related to year of production.
All three have the cal. 215-07 microtor.

Moahunter · Nov 11, 2018

Jonatan
I have had some more time to look at the watch and noticed that it had a case reference number and a serial number.
The case ref. is 20361-1 and the serial number is 1 991 xxx which dates it to between 1957-1959, which leads me to believe that the "59" number is most probably related to year of production.
All three have the cal. 215-07 microtor.

While I agree that the serial number would seem to indicate 1959 as the year of production why would this appear on the dial? Why not 57 or 58 be on the dials of watches with earlier production dates?
There has to be some other explanation.

Tony C. · Nov 11, 2018

M Moahunter
While I agree that the serial number would seem to indicate 1959 as the year of production why would this appear on the dial? Why not 57 or 58 be on the dials of watches with earlier production dates?
There has to be some other explanation.

Not necessarily. Watch manufacturers, like automobile manufacturers, feel pressure to offer "new" models each year. And there are times when the technological advancements may be small, so the changes are largely superficial. UG may well (and understandably) have wanted to continue with the Polerouter model line, while at the same time creating new variations.

Jonatan · Nov 11, 2018

M Moahunter
While I agree that the serial number would seem to indicate 1959 as the year of production why would this appear on the dial? Why not 57 or 58 be on the dials of watches with earlier production dates?
There has to be some other explanation.

Perhaps this model was only made in 1959. The serial number gives you an approximate year of production and we have no way of knowing if this model was made in 57 or 58.

CafeRacer · Nov 18, 2018

A small addition, in case it is useful...
The HON mark on the movement indicates that these were USA market examples (USA import code for UG).
The 07 in 215-07 indicates a low jewel movement (17 as opposed to the usual 28 jewels).
I assume this was also indicative of a USA import, as at the time there was an extra tax imposed on watches with jewelling higher than 17.
I have also only seen these "big U" of "59" examples appear from North American sources - whether it be eBay or private collectors.
So, it might well be that these are USA-only models (but this is just guesswork).

Jonatan · Nov 18, 2018

CafeRacer
A small addition, in case it is useful...
The HON mark on the movement indicates that these were USA market examples (USA import code for UG).
The 07 in 215-07 indicates a low jewel movement (17 as opposed to the usual 28 jewels).
I assume this was also indicative of a USA import, as at the time there was an extra tax imposed on watches with jewelling higher than 17.
I have also only seen these "big U" of "59" examples appear from North American sources - whether it be eBay or private collectors.
So, it might well be that these are USA-only models (but this is just guesswork).

Great observations, it never clicked in my mind. Makes a lot of sense that these watches might have been USA-only. I'm still frustrated about missing the one last week. My bid didn't go through because it was the USA only.

Carlton-Browne · Feb 15, 2020

This one might belong in here, if only to capture it: a Vanguard 1107 with, perhaps unsurprisingly, a cal. 1107 inside.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UNIVERSA...491583?hash=item3d9d8124ff:g:kooAAOSw3EteR-yF

CafeRacer · Apr 1, 2021

Jonatan
Any chance anyones knows that Vanguard means or stands for?
The name Vanguard had been seen on Waltham pocket watches and Frank Muller watches.

Ressurecting an old thread... but VANGUARD seems to refer to the Vanguard rockets that NASA launched from 1957-1959.
You can see a photo and a drawing of a Vanguard rocket in a couple of old spanish-language advertisements below:

Mazoue · Mar 17, 2024

The 59 on the dial commemorates the introduction of the jet plane by Scandinavian Airlines in 1959.

Image taken from a US catalogue immediately below and a photo of this reference with the same GF brick bracelet from the Polerouter book below that.

Tony C. · Mar 17, 2024

Mazoue
The 59 on the dial commemorates the introduction of the jet plane by Scandinavian Airlines in 1959.

Interesting. Seems a bit odd that no one from UG would have recalled that. What is the evidence to support your claim?

Mazoue · Mar 17, 2024

Scandinavian Airlines research suggested that there were many ties between the airline and the Polerouter.

There is a very strong correlation between Polerouter model names and the highlights described in the annual accounts of Scandinavian Airlines System from the previous year. To such an extent, that I wonder whether they were the starting point for the UG marketing team.

In addition to this Jet model likely being named after the introduction of the jet plane by SAS in 1959:

- The NS in Polerouter NS, introduced in 1965, is likely an abbreviation of 'Non-Stop' since SAS announced their intention to fly the Polar route without ground stops for the first time in their 1964/65 annual report

- The Polerouter Super is likely named after the 'Super' aircraft described by SAS in their accounts. Super denotes that the body of the standard production model had been extended to increase passenger capacity. Below an illustration of the Super DC-9 from the 1965/66 accounts.

Polerouter "59"

Jonatan

Moahunter

Tony C.

Jonatan

CafeRacer

Jonatan

Carlton-Browne

CafeRacer

Mazoue

Tony C.

Mazoue

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