'Special Watches' from 1934 Catalogue

CVivash

Hello all,

I know some members have an interest in early waterproof and shockproof watches so I thought I would post these pages on ‘Special Watches’ from the 1934 ‘Wilderness Catalogue’ I have just acquired.

This catalogue was produced periodically by Robert Pringle & Sons who were a wholesale supplier of silver, electroplate and other ‘fancy goods’.

There are other pages with more standard watches including Cyma, Tavannes, Waltham, Eterna, Ena and Aster as well as Helvetia of course if anyone is interested.

There are also over 200 pages of things such as propelling pencils, cigarette cases, lighters, dressing sets, candlesticks, tankards, clocks, you name it if anyone has wider interests let me know.

Thanks. Carl.

aap

Those anonymous watches on the lower half are really nice; esp. the black dial one! Thanks for sharing!

allwoundup

@CVivash you must have been reading my mind....I planned to start a thread on Taubert "waterproof" cases this morning. In the mid-1920s, Taubert et Fils purchased Borgel, an early pioneer in waterproof cases. In the early 1930s, Taubert introduced an octagonal stainless steel "waterproof" case having a decagonal screw down back and a specially treated cork winding stem seal. These cases were used by watch manufacturers like IWC, Longines, Vacheron & Constantin, and others. This design evolved over the years and was used by watch manufacturers such as Mido and Gruen through at least the early 1960s. Attached are photos of three of my watches showing the evolution of the Taubert "waterproof" case: an Empire from circa 1934; a Mido Multifort circa 1941; and, a Gruen 23 Precision Power-Date circa 1961.

Vitezi

@Bill Sohne @CVivash - I am intrigued by the Helvetia calendar watch with a date window, circa 1934, in a tank model no less!

I always thought the date-window calendar (with internal date disks) didn't develop until the 1950s. I can't even think of any tanks that had date windows (not counting jump-hour models). Any insight into the movement on this watch?

3nicewatches

Very cool post, thank you. Although, you have to laugh at them using the term "unbreakable watches" - back then truth in advertising was probably not what it is now!

CVivash

You think that is good have a look at these adverts from G & M Lane. These watches are the waterproof unbreakable watches at the top of the page but rebranded from Helvetia to Aero or Aeroplane. G & M Lane had a whole range of these adverts.

They were also rebranded and used by Huber in Germany as Nautica and by Abercrombie and Fitch as their Shipmate

CVivash

For those of you interested this is a picture of the spring mounting for the movement as illustrated at the top of the first page above.

This is the watch section of the index. Ladies are 7 to 16 and men's wrist are 24 to 31 so more or less anything else is pocket watches. If you want to see anything let me know.

CVivash

You think that is good have a look at these adverts from G & M Lane. These watches are the waterproof unbreakable watches at the top of the page but rebranded from Helvetia to Aero or Aeroplane. G & M Lane had a whole range of these adverts.

They were also rebranded and used by Huber in Germany as Nautica and by Abercrombie and Fitch as their Shipmate

Radiumpassion

Great stuff! The watch band pages would be cool to see😀

aap

Nice, interesting cases!

CVivash

Hello all,

I know some members have an interest in early waterproof and shockproof watches so I thought I would post these pages on ‘Special Watches’ from the 1934 ‘Wilderness Catalogue’ I have just acquired.

Thanks. Carl.