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Watch ID in 1966 NASA photo

  1. SpeedyPhill Founder Of Aussie Cricket Blog Mark Waugh Universe Jan 23, 2018

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    We have seen Omega Speedmaster chronographs, Accutron Astronaut hummers, Rolex GMT and Glycine Airman wrist watches on astronauts...
    Can anyone ID this small wrist watch used & flown on Gemini VIII ?
    ::confused2::
    .
    Gemini9.jpg
     
  2. Caliber561 Jan 23, 2018

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    It looks like it may be a cushion case...
    Are there any other photos of this?
     
  3. mr_yossarian Jan 23, 2018

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    wow..whatever it was, it was for sure not approved.
     
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  4. SpeedyPhill Founder Of Aussie Cricket Blog Mark Waugh Universe Jan 23, 2018

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    Neil Armstrong wore an Omega Speedmaster chronograph on the left wrist and this " thing " on the right wrist...
    It can be seen in pre-launch and Gemini VIII recovery photos, but believe me ( MoonwatchUniverse :D ) this is the best resolution blow-up
    ...
     
  5. rcs914 Jan 23, 2018

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    Looks like it has a bezel and a 4 o'clock crown. I wonder if it could be a Squale? I haven't found a dial that would match that yet though.
     
  6. robinsta Jan 23, 2018

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    According to Neil Armstrong & Dave Scott's Life Magazine April 8, 1966 article:
    link: https://books.google.com/books?id=9VUEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA87&pg=PA87#v=onepage&q&f=true

    I had always assumed it was a Wittnaur All-Proof since Jimmy Mattern had a relationship with that watch, but that doesn't look quite the same and I'd never been able to find clear photos of it on his wrist. I could tell there was something there but couldn't make out the model.
    link: https://www.timepiecechronicle.com/...an-jimmie-mattern-and-his-wittnauer-all-proof

    104-KSC-66C-1867-orig.jpg 104-KSC-66C-1879-orig.jpg 104-KSC-66C-1875-orig.jpg
     
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  7. robinsta Jan 23, 2018

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    Hey @SpeedyPhill are you sure that's from Gemini 8? The photo file is labeled Gemini 9.
     
  8. SpeedyPhill Founder Of Aussie Cricket Blog Mark Waugh Universe Jan 23, 2018

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    :rolleyes: Armstrong & Scott = Gemini VIII ( March 1966 )
     
  9. SpeedyPhill Founder Of Aussie Cricket Blog Mark Waugh Universe Jan 23, 2018

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    For sure a James "Jimmie" Mattern (1905-1988) aviator wrist watch ...
    Could be this... Longines-Wittnauer Weems ... what a huge crown...
    :thumbsdown:
    .
    Armstrong_Mattern_Longines.jpg
     
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  10. rcs914 Jan 23, 2018

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    explains the evident crown at 4 o'clock as well, but I would think we could see that giant onion crown. I think what is definitely not supported from the pictures is that it was the All-Proof.
     
    Edited Jan 23, 2018
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  11. robinsta Jan 23, 2018

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    Side bar @SpeedyPhill Who wore a Glycine Airman and do you have a picture of it?
     
  12. SpeedyPhill Founder Of Aussie Cricket Blog Mark Waugh Universe Jan 24, 2018

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    In fact the crown is visible... so question answered... :thumbsup:

    @robinsta
    Astronaut Charles "Pete" Conrad on Gemini V (August 1965) and 99% probably the same Glycine Airman on Gemini XI (September 1966)
    Navy recovery images of both missions are the best as clear color images are availble...
    Some already on --> https://moonwatchuniverse.tumblr.com/archive
     
  13. Caliber561 Jan 24, 2018

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    What I can tell is that the watch seems to have a dark dial with whitish numerals, possibly lumed. The hands are darker than the dial, possibly blued or black, and there doesn't seem to be any lume on them. (And it's definitely smaller than the speedy)
     
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  14. SpeedyPhill Founder Of Aussie Cricket Blog Mark Waugh Universe Jan 24, 2018

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    @Caliber561
    We're trying to find its current " whereabouts " ... somewhere in an Aviation museum ?

    @robinsta
    Here's a color blow up of Conrad's Glycine Airman wrist watch on a Gemini XI recovery photo on the deck of US Navy USS Guam
    :thumbsup:
    .
    GlycineAirman_Gemini11.jpg

    . Edit:
    And on Gemini V recovery photo on the deck of US Navy USS Lake Champlain... same Glycine Airman
    .
    1965_Gem05_Omega_GlycineAirman.jpg
     
    Edited Jan 24, 2018
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  15. robinsta Jan 24, 2018

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    It looks like Jimmie Mattern's papers were donated to UT-Dallas in 1989. It does mention that some of his papers and "other items are in the custody of The Frontiers of Flight Museum located in Dallas, Texas."
    link to collection guide: http://www.utdallas.edu/library/specialcollections/hac/general/Mattern.pdf

    Also, I found a mention of the watches Mattern wore on his flight here in the AAHS Journal, volume 42 Fall 1997 page 211:
    link: https://dmairfield.com/airplanes/NC869E/1997_Mattern_Autobiography.pdf
     
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  16. robinsta Feb 26, 2018

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    I managed to put my hands on the rest of Jimmie Mattern's biography from the AAHS Journal, Volume 43, pages 20-37. I think it makes the case for the watch definitely being a Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle. Here's an quote from page 35:

    It explains the two tone dial, thick bezel, and multiple crowns. I wonder who has the watch?
     
  17. SpeedyPhill Founder Of Aussie Cricket Blog Mark Waugh Universe Sep 4, 2020

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