Watches from each decade - Share your watches Part 3: The 30s
Starting with a global depression and ending with the start of a depressing war the 30s is a historically interesting decade. Two major events that formed the generation living in it. In my country we were not directly involved in WWII but of course indirectly.
The depression hit my family and formed my father very much. Always careful with money and saving for worse days to come. In many aspects he looked at life as a battle where you had to fight every day. Even in later years when he objectively should have felt safe with pension in his hand and some money on the side he was frugal on personal spending. The only luxuary he thought was OK was eating out. My guess a memory from when his mother, my grandmother, couldn’t feed her children and my father and his brother basically was auctioned to lowest bidder. There must be thousands and more similar stories.
But back to watches. As we are getting closer to today the chances are that we have more members sitting with watches from the 30s in their collection. From the period one of my favourites, the Reverso was born.
The war and the period of armament before that gave us models like pilotwatches. It was also a period of new patents. Rolex invented and patented the worlds first self-winding mechanism with a perpetual rotor. I know that @SimplyVintageWatches can fill in when it comes to patents.
If they are out there please share them with us here on the forum.
I collect new as well as vintage. I have a weak spot for 50s and 60s Omegas. Besides from those I consider myself allround.
From 1930 on we are in the wristwatch era. Incabloc shock protection is invented in 1934 and adopted by West End. Citizen is founded in 1930. Also, that year Soviet watch production began using old Hampden equipment and technicians.
And I don't own any. Who does?
1939 Ingersoll Mickey Mouse -- it's seen better days.
From 1930 on we are in the wristwatch era. Incabloc shock protection is invented in 1934 and adopted by West End. Citizen is founded in 1930. Also, that year Soviet watch production began using old Hampden equipment and technicians.
And I don't own any. Who does?
No Incabloc, or Incabloc from the 30s?
1939 Ingersoll Mickey Mouse -- it's seen better days.
Maybe seen better days but still good looking, thank you for sharing.
No Incabloc, or Incabloc from the 30s?
You won't see any shock protection until the mid-1930's. It is only widely adopted in certain markets in the late 1940's. India had widespread shock protection before the United States but had many fewer watches.
You won't see any shock protection until the mid-1930's. It is only widely adopted in certain markets in the late 1940's. India had widespread shock protection before the United States but had many fewer watches.
It was your statement ”And I don't own any. Who does?” that triggered my question.
It was your statement ”And I don't own any. Who does?” that triggered my question.
I own plenty of Incabloc. I don't own anything older than 1941.
This is my Dorex from the 30s it's pretty rough on the Case but it runs smooth like Butter
1939
This is my Dorex from the 30s it's pretty rough on the Case but it runs smooth like Butter
Beautiful salmon dial👍
1939
Nice pairing with the strap.
My own best guess is that my great uncles watch is a 1934 OP.
Automatic rotor, screw crown.. and still keeps good time!
My own best guess is that my great uncles watch is a 1934 OP.
Automatic rotor, screw crown.. and still keeps good time!
Picture of this beauty?
Picture of this beauty?
What the huh 🤔?
Pix disappeared, fack 🤬. This is happening to me a lot lately.
I’ll try again!
What the huh 🤔?
Pix disappeared, fack 🤬. This is happening to me a lot lately.
I’ll try again!
Ooh, nice! The whole combo looks great. The tone of the gold, the patina of the dial and the honey colored bracelet. What size is that, 30?
Ooh, nice! The whole combo looks great. The tone of the gold, the patina of the dial and the honey colored bracelet. What size is that, 30?
Just grabbed my calipers and I’ve got some nice, odd, 1930s numbers :
33.5 width
37 lug to lug
and 13mm thick (huge dome crystal)
Sorry guys - somehow I missed this posting - just saw the 1940s posting and figured I'd better go back and catch up with the 1930s first before posting the 1940s. I have a fair amount for the 1940s, but much less for the 1930s.
Here is the limited 1930s watches in the collection:
Starting with a couple of pilot chronographs from UG - these are from ca 1938 - I purchased these when my father passed away in 2020 as he was born in 1938 and had worked for TWA for over 45 years - something to keep close and remember him by.
Universal Geneve Pilot Chronograph 1938 - Universal Geneve Caliber 281 (17 Jewels)
Universal Geneve Compur Chronograph 1938 - Universal Geneve Caliber 283 (17 Jewels)
Berthoud Geneve (Universal Geneve) Mono Pusher Chronograph 1930 - Universal Geneve Caliber 297 (sorry didn't have a wrist shot for this one in the database - will need to fix that)
Doxa Aviator Luftwaffe Pilots WW II (1930s) - this is a beast at 54mm and holds a repurposed Doxa pocket watch movement from WWI.
Elgin Moisture-proof Sport Watch (1934) - manual 1934 Elgin 15 jewels Grade 519 Size 8/0s at the other side of the size spectrum at a dainty 28mm.
Time now to watch some football and I'll be back later with the submissions for the 1940s.
Sorry guys - somehow I missed this posting - just saw the 1940s posting and figured I'd better go back and catch up with the 1930s first before posting the 1940s. I have a fair amount for the 1940s, but much less for the 1930s.
Here is the limited 1930s watches in the collection:
Starting with a couple of pilot chronographs from UG - these are from ca 1938 - I purchased these when my father passed away in 2020 as he was born in 1938 and had worked for TWA for over 45 years - something to keep close and remember him by.
Universal Geneve Pilot Chronograph 1938 - Universal Geneve Caliber 281 (17 Jewels)
Universal Geneve Compur Chronograph 1938 - Universal Geneve Caliber 283 (17 Jewels)
Berthoud Geneve (Universal Geneve) Mono Pusher Chronograph 1930 - Universal Geneve Caliber 297 (sorry didn't have a wrist shot for this one in the database - will need to fix that)
Doxa Aviator Luftwaffe Pilots WW II (1930s) - this is a beast at 54mm and holds a repurposed Doxa pocket watch movement from WWI.
Elgin Moisture-proof Sport Watch (1934) - manual 1934 Elgin 15 jewels Grade 519 Size 8/0s at the other side of the size spectrum at a dainty 28mm.
Time now to watch some football and I'll be back later with the submissions for the 1940s.
Better late th…… You are much welcome! Normally I drawn to simple dials but the UG Pilot Chronograph is just amazing.
Better late th…… You are much welcome! Normally I drawn to simple dials but the UG Pilot Chronograph is just amazing.
Thanks - some more cool stuff coming. Since the football games are really boring today...I'm ready to get to the 1940s now...
Beautiful cushion case!