world war I nerd Posted September 25, 2016 Share #1 Posted September 25, 2016 I'm currently writing a personal project on WW I Wrist & Pocket Watches titled "Trench Time". Basically it relates how the wrist watch replaced the pocket watch in the trenches of WW I. I'm hoping that forum members might be able to help me out by providing high resolution photos of the WW I era (1900 to 1919) wrist and pocket watches in their collections or high resolution scans of period images showing wrist and pocket watches in use or being worn by American soldiers. Whether, American, British, French or German, images of ALL WW I era wrist and pocket watch styles are welcome. Though the focus of the topic is on WW I, early examples that date to the late 1800's through to the turn of the century are also welcome. What I desperately need are images of the U.S. Army, Signal Corps wrist and pocket watches that were issued between 1914 and 1918. I'm also seeking information (and images) on the following known U.S. Army, Signal Corps Wrist Watch Specifications: General Specification No. (Unknown), adopted on November 3, 1914 General Specification No. 579-D, adopted on October 24,1916 General Specification No. (Unknown), adopted in 1917 In addition I am also seeking images, information and the specifications on the pocket watches that were issued by the U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers between 1900 and 1919. Feel free to post information and photos here or contact me via the forum's message system. Thanks to all for looking and hopefully helping ... Brian, aka World War I Nerd PS, the following photos will give you all an idea of the sort of images I am looking for ... Three American Doughboys wearing wrist watches ... photos courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted September 25, 2016 Author Share #2 Posted September 25, 2016 Enlargements of the above Doughboy wrist watches ... photos courtesy of the John Adam Graf collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted September 25, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted September 25, 2016 Examples of three commercially made WW I era wrist watches & a Corps of Engineers pocket watch ... wrist watch photos courtesy of Advance Guard Militaria.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted September 25, 2016 Author Share #4 Posted September 25, 2016 Sorry, I forgot to attach the photo ... here it is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted September 25, 2016 Author Share #5 Posted September 25, 2016 Period watch and watch accessories advertisements like this one dated April 1918 are also helpful. Thanks again for looking ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMariner Posted September 25, 2016 Share #6 Posted September 25, 2016 I will try to find my example, it came from a relative who served in the great war and who wore it through the entire war! The history of ww1 bring on the change from pocket watches to wrist watches has always interested to me! If i can find my example i will send you images via pm! Thanks again for sharing your project with us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted September 25, 2016 Author Share #7 Posted September 25, 2016 Mariner, thank you. I look forward to seeing your watch! The story of the rise of the wrist watch is actually quite interesting. It all started around 1550 with something called a "clock watch" that was several inches in diameter and worn either attached to the clothing or suspended around the neck. Clock watches only had an hour hand because they were notoriously inaccurate. Most being off by several hours per day! Over time, clock watches were gradually reduced in size and slimmed down. Technical innovations made the clock watch more accurate and a minute hand was added around 1680. The transformation form clock watch to pocket watch came about after the wearing of a waistcoat became popular in 1775. Bracelet watches became a popular accessory for women in the late 17th or early 18th century. Men, thinking that bracelet watches were too effeminate and too small to keep accurate time steadfastly refused to wear the wrist born time piece until the early 1900's. Photos verify that some British soldiers began to wear what was known as a "wristlet" (a pocket watch mounted on a leather strap) as early as 1885. Despite their use by a handful of military men, an officer or gentleman in civilian attire wouldn't be caught dead wearing a wristlet on the streets of London! In the first decade of the 20th century, some America, men were overheard saying that they'd sooner wear a skirt in public than a bracelet watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scmcgeorge Posted September 26, 2016 Share #8 Posted September 26, 2016 Brian: Decades ago I did an article on wristwatches in WW1 in the Company of Military Historians journal - Military Collector and Historian ... at one time it was available on the web - I think in a horological society journal. I quoted a poem by Edgar Guest entitled "The Wristwatch Man", which gave insight on popularization of the wristwatch during WW1. Steve McG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_rambow Posted September 26, 2016 Share #9 Posted September 26, 2016 Here's mine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted September 26, 2016 Share #10 Posted September 26, 2016 Have you run across this thread yet? http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/87248-wwi-wrist-watches/?hl=lallack&do=findComment&comment=641060 I posted a wristwatch worn by a member of the 113th Engineers. If you could use it, and need better photos, let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted September 27, 2016 Author Share #11 Posted September 27, 2016 Todd, what a beautiful Signal Corps watch. I.m pretty sure that they weren't dated , but I'm going to ask anyway ... Is it dated or marked with anything else other than the words "Signals Corps" on the dial and "U.S." followed by a serial number on the back of the case? Erick, thanks for adding the link to the older WW I watch topic ... Erick & Todd, look for an email from me regarding your watches. These three young American soldiers, armed with mess kits, "eatin' irons" & canteen cups are all wearing wrist watches ... photo courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted September 27, 2016 Author Share #12 Posted September 27, 2016 Closer views of the above wrist watches ... photos courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrwocco Posted September 27, 2016 Share #13 Posted September 27, 2016 Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted September 27, 2016 Author Share #14 Posted September 27, 2016 Steve, I still have photocopies of the article you wrote on the chain-mail shoulder pad issued to Hotchkiss machine gun crews. Thanks for the tip about Edgar Allen Poe ... I'll try and track that down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrwocco Posted September 27, 2016 Share #15 Posted September 27, 2016 Another one. Note sling used as belt on Doughboy (top right) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrwocco Posted September 27, 2016 Share #16 Posted September 27, 2016 Doughboy kneeling to the left of French girl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted September 27, 2016 Author Share #17 Posted September 27, 2016 Mrwoco, nice photos, thank you. That's also the first time I've ever seen a rifle sling used as a waist belt! The majority of wrist watches worn by the men and boys of the AEF were commercially made watches that were purchased by the individual soldiers. This is why you see so many different watch styles and different types of wrist straps. So far, my research (which is still ongoing) indicates that all regulation wrist watches issued during WW I were more or less identical to the one posted by Dr_Rambow. However, Army watches were supplied by a number of different manufactures. So far, Zenith and Waltham are the only two makers that I can definitely say made Army wrist watches between 1917 and 1918. Others may include Elgin and Hamilton. I'm still looking, but I've yet to locate any solid proof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrwocco Posted September 27, 2016 Share #18 Posted September 27, 2016 And sort of clear photos of watches being worn. Note 2nd photo shows Mosin rifles in use stateside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scmcgeorge Posted September 27, 2016 Share #19 Posted September 27, 2016 Dear All: I believe the face marked signal corps watches were all contract purchased by the AEF in France. Tissot is another of the makers. Steve McG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted September 27, 2016 Author Share #20 Posted September 27, 2016 Steve thanks for that clarification. Your absolutely correct, as the AEF contracted directly with several Swiss watch making firms for the delivery of several thousand pocket and wrist watches. Waltham wrist watches was one of the brands that were definitely issued stateside by the Signal Corps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Colt Posted September 27, 2016 Share #21 Posted September 27, 2016 Awesome stuff! A topic not talked about very much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted September 29, 2016 Author Share #22 Posted September 29, 2016 Possible WW I era, U.S. Army issued wrist watch markings ... Left: The Swiss firm of Zenith is one of the watch makers that was known to have supplied the AEF with wrist watches overseas. Therefore the Signal Corps marked Zenith watch shown earlier in the post may have been purchased and issued by the AEF overseas, as opposed to being purchased and issued by the U.S. Army in the United States ... photo courtesy of the Dr_Rambow collection Center: This Tissot watch is also Signal Corps marked, but in a different style (straight line vs an arc). This particular style matches the way that stateside issued U.S. Army, Signal Corps pocket watches were marked. Because of this, it's possible that this marking style was how all U.S. Army pocket & wrist watches made and issued in the United States were marked. This however, is pure speculation based only on a few photos and and a scant amount of actual information ... so naturally this theory still needs to be proven. Right: Research seems to indicate that all WW I era regulation watches, whether issued by the AEF or by the U.S. Army were marked on the reverse in a similar manner to the engraving seen on the back of this Depollier waterproof, "field & marine" watch that was cropped from a 1919 dated advertisement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted September 29, 2016 Author Share #23 Posted September 29, 2016 I forgot to mention that I recently discovered that in addition to the Signal Corps & Corps of Engineers, the Ordnance Department also issued pocket watches during WW I, and presumably earlier. This leads to the question: did the Ordnance Department also issue a wrist watch to be used by artillery officers & NCOs? I've also read that watches with a sweep second hand were used by medical personnel, but I've found nothing to indicate that pocket or wrist watches were issued by the Medical Department. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atb Posted October 3, 2016 Share #24 Posted October 3, 2016 A post card image I recently found of a stateside soldier wearing a wrist watch, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfields Posted October 3, 2016 Share #25 Posted October 3, 2016 Here is my grandfathers Elgin wristwatch that was presented to him by his fraternity brothers at the University of Illinois when he enlisted early in 1918. I figure the guys purchased it locally in Champaign. ...and it still works! Thanks for looking! Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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