Anyone know of any good articles or sources as to Field Watch history?
Good evening you beautiful people. I'm after some help, as I've searched for hours on Google, tried every possible word combination, looked in both my military history books and my watch history books, and even paid a visit to my local library and couldn't find a dicky bird.
I'm after information regarding fied watches. Vietnam War era field watches, to be specific. I'm having a little trouble dating a piece I picked up yesterday. Perhaps I should just show you
This bad boy, an Ingersoll Sea Lion. As you can see, very Field watch, and my prior research has placed this between 1965 and 1975. Pin Pallet movement and fixed springbars. Now, I'm in England, and don't tend to see ingersoll very much, so I don't really know much about the brand. I'm interested to learn who the devil this was actually made for. Whether this was one of the MIL-W-46374 watches issued to troops, or whether this was a civilian product. One would assume just looking at it that it was an Army Watch, but it is my understanding that that Spec demanded a 15J hacking movement, whereas this is a pinpallet movement that chooses whether to Hack or not on a case by case basis. I also can't find any references to Ingersoll being contracted to produce them. So surely it was a civilian model. Which then begs another question, was it a successful model? Vietnam wasnt very popular, and those protesting the war made statements by wearing combat jackets, camo prints, etc. It really was the birth of a fashion trend that's still around today.
That's a very long winded way of saying, if any of you have come across any articles regarding field watches in the mid to late 20th century, or if any of you know anything about this model, I'd be much obliged if you'd chuck it into the comments. Nice one, cheers
Far have I travelled and much have I seen Goodison, Anfield are places I've been Maine Road, Old Trafford still echo to the sound Of the boys in red from the City Ground
Is this the same one?
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-ingersoll-sealion-3304-unisex-502312944
Is this the same one?
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-ingersoll-sealion-3304-unisex-502312944
That's the one. It's a bit funny how that one was described as having a sticking movement and a dent on its lug and so does mine in the very same place. Small world eh?
The main official US military field watch of the Vietnam war was the Benrus DTU2 A/P issued between 1962 & 1969. This was replaced by a Hamilton made to a similar specification. I've added a link to an article below.
https://www.gearpatrol.com/watches/a487283/joys-of-the-cheap-american-military-watch/