US Navy Longines Deck watch some collectors call these torpedo watches

[River Rat 1]

Just bought this off eBay the other day. Some collector's ether call these a deck watch or torpedo watch. First time I saw one of these I was new to collecting military timepieces at a mall NAWCC show I saw the Hamilton version with both boxes these are different than the WW2 ones these are the WW1 ones and rarely show up for sell they wanted a 1000 for it did not know they were worth about 3000-4000 at the time this was 20 or more years ago I passed that was a lot of money when I had no knowledge on these at the time. Think Hamilton. Longines. Elgin made these for the US Navy. You see the Longines ones more often there like 3-4 for sell on eBay for a crazy price. Saw this one 4-5 months ago he wanted 2500 was not going to pay that for the condition it was in. So seen it go down to 1400 with make offer, so I made an offer I think it was worth do to it needs a watch service badly. We made a deal. From the movement serial number, it was made around 1912 and early one. When I get it when I have time, I will drop it off at my watchmaker. In Whittney book military timepieces book he worked for the Navy repairing these called it a torpedo watch. Wonder it was used targeting torpedoes. Still a cool part of naval history.

[River Rat 1]

Whitney in his book on US Military timepieces called these Torpedo boat watches. The Navy did trails on them in 1908 and paid 75-150 each for them. Wished that was the price I paid.

[hink441]

Wow, that is really interesting!! I learned something today. Really beautiful time piece!!

 

Chris

[River Rat 1]

Some info I found out one this. The wooden case was made for them for use in WW2 the WW1 wooden boxes were different. These were used in WW1 and WW2 and maybe used on smaller craft like a PT Boat for navigation.

[River Rat 1]

Well received the other day. Took a few photos of it and dropped it off at the watchmaker today. And some info out of one of my books on US Military timepieces.

[River Rat 1]

Here is what a US Navy Torpedo boat of WW1 looks like. And an ad of a Elgin version of a Torpedo watch of WW1. Just bought the ad off eBay as a reference of these type of watches. This Torpedo boat was larger than the WW2 ones and this on had a larger size crew of 29 men.

[River Rat 1]

Has anyone contacted the US Naval Museum in Washinton DC on any of the stuff in their collection. I sent an email today to them today and called them also on the phone. The guy who has a little knowledge maybe on this watch was not there today. There in the process of building a new US Navy Museum outside the gate of the navy base in Washington DC to everyone can see it. I asked if they got the stuff from the Mare Island Museum since the civil war era building was condemned, they got claim to it. They will need a bigger building with that stuff and what they have in Washington. Since they are cutting money for museums, I hope they don't through a wench for this new US Navy Museum me being Navy retired I like our US Navy history to be protected. I don't mind my tax dollars going for a new building that will show our great Naval history from the beginning of our country to now and the new history of our Navy in the future. Hope I get new info from them about my watch.

[jerry_k]

Nice one! 

 

Wish to find a WW2 NAVY Bu.Aero version made by Hamilton or Elgin...

 

[River Rat 1]

I got one of those Hamiltons, but someone removed the case back marking. And I have one of those Elgin timers that one I got for 20 bucks at the Alameda antique fair many years ago because it did not work. I put a few drops of oil on the movement, and she worked. They used two different balance wheels on those Elgin timers' regular size and one some call the jitter bug due to its small size you look at the movement and you don't look hard enough you think it's missing. You know that Hamilton was attached to a navigation device got a photo somewhere that had a diagram with it attached to it for navigation used by the army air corps. Wonder if the Navy used it the same way.

[jerry_k]

Yes, excatly ;) I need it to my Navy A-12 Sextant.

 

 

 

 

[jerry_k]

Sextant in use but a different model than A-12. The stop watch/chronograph is visible, attached to the bracket.  

[River Rat 1]

My Pair

 

[River Rat 1]

A shot of the movement.

[j. t. thompson]

Those are some beautiful timepieces.

Thought you might be interested in the following linked article, "Navigation With A Watch," from the book "Navigation Wrinkles for Combat Motor Boats," written by Geo. W. Rappleyea and published by Higgins Industries, copyright 1943:

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015077087818&seq=97 

[jerry_k]

13 hours ago, River Rat 1 said:

A shot of the movement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Epic examples! Can you post a pics of the back? 

 

Thanks for sharing,

Jerry

 

[River Rat 1]

The issue marks were removed from the case back one reason I got it cheap years ago. When someone in the military takes something without permission, they sometimes remove the issue marks thinking they won't get caught. On one of my WW2 deck clocks someone tried to remove the US Navy mark on dial there deep engraved so he sort of ruined the dial a little. The Elgin timer does have some odd issue marks most of the time their blank no marks but this one has a serial number and USA under the serial number on the case back I can take a photo of that if you want.

[Allen0820]

Beautiful military timepiece.  Green with envy! I just sold a great MK1 deck clock which a previous owner had defaced the engraved serial number with black paint or lacquer.  I contacted Chelsea who is still in business and sure they can overhaul or service the clock but not the dials.😒

[River Rat 1]

If the engraving still their white model paint will fill the engraved US Navy, then use a paper towel to wipe the excess it won't wipe the white paint that's in the engraving and let dry. And Florida has a lot of clockmakers a local guy could service it cheaper. There one watchmaker who lives in Florida who use to work for Chelsea who a lot of Chelsea collectors use since he is cheaper never used him before did ask for a quote once from him.

[River Rat 1]

Here is a US Navy Torpedo Boat watch that was on the Antique Road Show of a Brand you would never think would be one a surprise and a rare one I never heard of till now.

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=Antique+road+show+US+Navy++Patek+Philippe+torpedo+boat+watch&mid=46DCF155EA1E29E00C9546DCF155EA1E29E00C95&FORM=VIRE

[River Rat 1]

Well got it back from service. Was lucky on these I took a chance on a nonrunner. The watchmaker found a snapped detent screw without that you can't wind the watch. And we tried everywhere to find that part I even contacted Longines for a 100-year-old it was a lost cause. So, my watchmaker was able the broken screw and a detent screw he had that was a close match and rethreaded the screw to fit and it worked. Got it at a fair price compared to other on eBay but was a gamble I could of lost.

[River Rat 1]

A WW2 and WW1 deck watch together.

[River Rat 1]

When the watchmaker timed it, it had 2 second's error not bad for a 100-year-old deck watch it could still do the job for navigation. It does better than some deck chronometer with fusee movement and a gimbled box. And a little better than my WW2 Hamilton model 22 above,