Vintage Gruen: 1940's » Something interesting

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Something interesting [message #495]

Mon, 03 June 2013 04:26

JackW
Messages: 2012
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver

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Model name : unknown
Type : unknown
Period/date : WWII era ~1944
Gender : Men's

Case Maker : Unknown, potentially Gabus Freres
Case Material : Stainless steel bezel and case back (marked Guildite)
Case Serial : 75238
Case Style no : unknown

Caliber : 420ss
Movement Maker : Gruen
Movement Serial: 868746

Bracelet : na

Other info :

I'm not sure what to make of this beyond wishful thinking on my part: Potentially a pilots watch. It is similar in style to ones from Longines and others that I have seen on eBay which are purported to be 'pilot's watches'.

Anyway, like Tony C's Pan Am, this one has an all-stainless (marked Guildite) case with the same type of snap back. It also has solid lugs that are not an afterthought. The case with the lugs was machined out of a single piece and you can trace tool marks. Monty aka "MonKee" gave this to me in exchange for some work on some of his watches. I've not seen another like it. Contains a 420ss movement. Dial was refinished but it was a match to the dial as it came; also a redial so there is some question on originality. Now photos....
index.php?t=getfile&id=232&private=0

Also the seconds hand is highly doubtful as original. I've never seen another Gruen sweep second like it. Could be off a Gotham or other.

Sorry about picture size... feeling lazy to resize the at the moment.

Attachment: 24hr_plt_bck2.JPG
(Size: 128.56KB, Downloaded 1178 times)
Attachment: 24hr_plt_frnt2.JPG
(Size: 110.91KB, Downloaded 1164 times)
Attachment: 24hr_plt_side.JPG
(Size: 95.24KB, Downloaded 1152 times)
Attachment: DSC_0110.JPG
(Size: 124.71KB, Downloaded 1151 times)

All I know is based on hard work & writing by others. I can only aspire to augment this body of knowledge. If I am wrong it is because of my own failings. -me

"If I have seen farther it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." - Newton

[Updated on: Mon, 03 June 2013 18:05]

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