WWI U.S. Army Surplus Watches Sold to the General Public
104 years ago today! On February 22, 1919 the Elgin "Star Dial" Trench Watches were made available to the general public. A major campaign to sell these military surplus Elgin watches was published in Literary Digest magazine, a big magazine at the time. A week later, they were advertised in the Saturday Evening Post and several others including newspapers around the country. In early 1918 the U.S. Army adopted these watches but they had become obsolete due to Charles Depollier inventing the "world's first waterproof wrist watch", the Waltham Depollier "Field & Marine" Waterproof Watch, that featured a screw down crown. But, they kept the Elgins they already had and some of these watches actually served in WWII as well. Major General Squier, Chief Signal Officer and Brigadier General Saltzman gave the order that these watches be disposed of back to Elgin or sold at auction. This order can be read in paragraph #3 of the U.S. Army memo dated December 30, 1918. When made available to the general public they were given proper names for allied military leaders: the Pershing, the Foch and the Kitchener.
Recipient of the 2023 NAWCC Roberts-Taylor Award for Excellence in the Field of Horological Research. Multiple Title Watch Book Author, Vintage American Military Watch Dealer, Watchmaker.
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I really like these posts. This is research that is more than a little Google search.
I really like these posts. This is research that is more than a little Google search.
Glad you like my post! You are 100% correct! One would not be able to figure all of this out simply by using Google. This is YEARS of searching U.S. Army records in the National Archives.
Thank you for posting this. It’s a virtual museum exhibit.
Thank you for posting this. It’s a virtual museum exhibit.
Thanks for taking the time to read it! Glad you liked it.
Outstanding post! The Elgin is a real looker…all the way down to the little star markers.
That is some macho shit ✊
Thank you for this and for collating all the pictures and photographs. My vintage knowledge is minimal, so posts like this are great to read 🍻
Thank you for this and for collating all the pictures and photographs. My vintage knowledge is minimal, so posts like this are great to read 🍻
My pleasure!
Thanks for the deep dive on these watches. I enjoyed that!
Thanks for the deep dive on these watches. I enjoyed that!
Thank you! I think General Saltzman's interdepartmental letter really ties the story together nicely.
It's hard to think that this all took place over 100 years ago!
Very cool post, thanks!
How would you rate the build quality of these watches, I mean from this time period? I was under the impression that they would compare poorly to current standards. Not a knock on them, only a reflection of improving tech.
Glad you like my post! You are 100% correct! One would not be able to figure all of this out simply by using Google. This is YEARS of searching U.S. Army records in the National Archives.
There are earlier ads to be found in this series Stan, so it looks like the campaign to sell to the public started 18 days earlier than the 22nd. February.
February 4th, 11th and 18th as seen here:
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/search/pages/results/?date1=1918&rows=20&searchType=basic&state=&date2=1919&proxtext=Elgin+strap&y=11&x=7&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1&sort=relevance
The campaign certainly tried to promote to men from all walks of life, with ads dedicated to Doctors, Students, Business men, Travelling men, Outdoors men and Motorists!
How would you rate the build quality of these watches, I mean from this time period? I was under the impression that they would compare poorly to current standards. Not a knock on them, only a reflection of improving tech.
The movements on these watches were pretty good, but the cases were not waterproof. Some of the models shown were semi-hermetic cases (threaded) so they were better then the "friction fit" cases that simply snapped together. Easiest point of water access would be the crown tube. The trenches were pretty much the worst environment imaginable for a watch, then you have to consider the hand to hand combat factor. These watches had a rough life. Many are still around today but after very extensive restoration.
There are earlier ads to be found in this series Stan, so it looks like the campaign to sell to the public started 18 days earlier than the 22nd. February.
February 4th, 11th and 18th as seen here:
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/search/pages/results/?date1=1918&rows=20&searchType=basic&state=&date2=1919&proxtext=Elgin+strap&y=11&x=7&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1&sort=relevance
There are many more of these averts with different imagery and motifs. I can post many more if you wish.
There are many more of these averts with different imagery and motifs. I can post many more if you wish.
Me too Stan, got about fifteen I think, three more from Atlanta newspapers before February 22nd.
I know you've seen these two, posting them for others who might not have seen them yet. The 1st one is from the News & Observer, February 25, 1919. 2nd one is from the Wilmington Morning Star, March 4, 1919. The 3rd is from the Indianapolis News, March 11, 1919.
A couple of the white star dial versions from late 1918.
These are all beautiful watches and I love the old ad copy!
Are you in any way affiliated with the watch releases from Watch Angels?