Vintage military Watches Your Father Might Have Worn: a tribute to service

[@SillyPutty3700]

My son gave me a post 1950 example of the Elgin you have at 5:09 for Christmas this year. The dial and hands look identical to your example but the crown seems taller and it seems to show little use wear so I suspect it has been replaced. When I put the movement serial number into a watch database it said war years. One of the things I found is that some of these movements were evidently re-cased into parkerized SS cases after the war and reissued in the 50s. My watch says Ord Corps on the back so I am sure the case is no older than 1950 but from what I can tell the serial number on these Elgin watches don't accurately define a year of manufacture.

[@adventureswithtime]

What do you mean by "parkerized SS cases"? Did you see the video about the watch I actually purchased?

[@Jamie-rj5cp]

Where do you get your research it’s amazing

[@adventureswithtime]

Lots of places. Articles on the internet, blogs, KZbin videos, etc.

[@neilpiper9889]

I have a 32mm black dial Glycine with small seconds at 6 on a very old and tattered bund strap gifted to me by my friend who passed last year. It runs perfectly fine with marks of its age which I like. The bund strap makes it looks fine on my seven and a quarter inch wrist. A nice one of these may cost up to $400 on ebay especially with the German military markings on the caseback.

[@adventureswithtime]

Sounds like it's a watch you will keep forever.

[@neilpiper9889]

@@adventureswithtime of course

[@pierce_fierce]

Thanks for the watch adventure as always Bob. It’s always great to hear about other’s journeys.

[@adventureswithtime]

That's why I do this. I share my experiences as a new collector in hopes it will help others; and that they will share their experiences and insights with me.

[@Samuel-ge7im]

Great video Bob

[@adventureswithtime]

Thanks for your continued support.

[@kristopherjones2586]

Wonderful

[@adventureswithtime]

Thank you

[@oldnotwise71]

Good luck with your search, I hope that you find something that reminds you of your Dads service.

[@adventureswithtime]

I keep looking everyday. No rush.

[@airborneranger-ret]

Working on the "Dirty Dozen" ;)

[@adventureswithtime]

How hard is it to accomplish that these days? I’ve never searched for all of them. Good luck. Let me know how you progress

[@duybear4023]

I bought my World War I era trench watch from LRF Antique Watches. He restores them to running condition and writes books about them. He even fixed mine after I accidentally broke it. I don't know if anyone specializes in restoring, servicing, or publishing on WWII watches but I'd recommend that over an unserviced piece from Ebay.

[@adventureswithtime]

Thanks for the reference. I'll look into LRF.

[@solidus1995]

My big boy pants have been on since day one. It's expensive but there are trust worthy options from time to time. Just research the movements and dont buy if the seller isnt showing you every detail of the watch especially the movement and case back. So far I've got a vintage watch from every war. I've got an elgin trench watch, plastic benrus and a bulova korean war model 3818A. I also have a GSAR from Afghanistan but this is obviously modern. The last piece for me should be a ww2 era watch which is possibly the most important vintage purchase I will make. I've been watching a few beautiful Minerva options as I've chosen to go german for my ww2 option.

[@adventureswithtime]

That's a nice approach you have to get a watch from each war.

[@elefantrising]

You need to do a state of your collection.

[@adventureswithtime]

I do my SOTC videos in December. So not too long to wait.

[@Daud76]

I bid and won an auction of a vintage Mascot watch. But I cannot find any information on it and according to the seller, it stops and starts. I hope to get engine working again. Plus case needs a good nickel electro plating. But the dial looks clean as well as the hands. But back to my question, can anyone please tell me more about Mascot?

[@adventureswithtime]

I've not heard of a Mascot watch. Is that a brand?

[@Daud76]

@@adventureswithtime Yes it is. But I cannot find out much information about it online apart from being made in the 1950s for the medical core of the army (I think British) during the Korean war.

[@j.j.h.atemycereal]

My wife wears her late father’s A11. We had it professionally cleaned but it still ticks.

[@adventureswithtime]

That is great. Something to be treasured

[@mtcp122]

As someone who owns two of these ORD watches, be sure to get it serviced upon receiving it to ensure it's authentic and accurate to the description. Ebay is excellent to purchase these on as they have amazing buyer protection. As per getting something with a little more wrist presence, consider a bund strap for it. It artificially increases the size. Check out Steveostraps. His claim to fame is that he made the watch straps used in the movie Fury, film about an American tank crew in the second world war. If you want something even more authentic you can purchase new old stock bands, which I have done, from watchdoc.com. I personally have one of them on a custom strap made by someone else and the other is sitting on SteveO's "green canvas pull through" strap. Just be sure to read through his website as some straps come with markings and other such things on them.

[@adventureswithtime]

Thanks. I am thinking about a bund strap. May I ask what venue you purchased your ORD watches? I've been checking eBay. I see there is a seller in SF who lists several WWII watches every week. I find it strange how he has so many of them. Do you know anything about him? Feel free to email me. Thanks again.

[@mtcp122]

@@adventureswithtime I just sent you an email now!

[@wosaq1542]

I think your watches look really cool on you, don't follow these foolish trends of oversized watches, avarage human arms are not so big to wear an "elegant watch" on 38-40mm come on everyone looks like ben 10 nowadays that's ridiculous haha

[@adventureswithtime]

Trends change …. Watches get larger, shirts get shorter, cars go from boxie to streamlined.

[@wosaq1542]

@@adventureswithtime yes but that isn't necessarily better new watches are big for pretentious intentions sometimes they are not even readable because their owners don't even know how to read the time, back in the day have a purpose and one of them being comfortable, if you don't wear your vintage pieces you're going to regret it later buddy enjoy them looks good on you!⏰⏲️⌚