Record Watch Company Serial Numbers
SIMILAR ZODIAC SEA WOLF CASE BACK GOLD FILLED GSW JEWELRY NEXT TO A SEIKO 6105 8000 READY TO WEARRESTORED & OVERHAULEDALL FEATURES WORKINGEXCELLENT CONDITIONVINTAGEVIETNAM ERA1969PX/R&RGMA24 HOURWATER RESISTANTALL STEEL AND GOLD FILLEDHACKING AUTOMATICDIRECTLY FROM VIETNAMWITH70/7217 JEWELHACK SETSHOCK PROTECTEDMANUAL WIND&AUTOMATICZODIAC MOVEMENT WITHBLACKTOP LINECONTRAST STITCHEDOVER STITCHEDDOUBLE NATURAL GRAINLEATHER HIDEHD CHRONOGRAPHWRIST STRAP 33×42mmW/OCROWN AND. THE QUESTIONS THAT FACE BOTH BUYER AND SELLER OF VINTAGE WWII GERMAN MILITARY WATCHES IS THEIR AUTHENTICATION. I MUST SAY, IF YOU INVEST IN A WATCH THAT IS BLACK DIALED, HAS OLD DEAD RADIUM ILLUMINATED NUMBERS AND HANDS, A SUB SECONDS REGISTER ABOVE THE 6 POSITION, HAS A STEEL OR CHROME CASE WITH WIRED LUGS AND A SCREW OR SNAP BACK AND HAS A CAPITAL D serial number CAPITOL H ENGRAVED/STAMPED ON THE CASE BACK YOU CAN BE SURE 90% THAT IT IS GERMAN WWII, THE 10% WOULD BE HOW THE BACK IS STAMPED AND WHERE THE WATCH MAY COME FROM. COUNTERFEITS EXIST FROM THE PLACE MOST GENUINE WATCHES WERE LOST, EASTERN EUROPE.NOW, THE FACT IS, MANY WATCHES NEVER HAD THE D serial H ON THE BACK. ALSO MANY HAD SPRING BARS INSTEAD OF SOLDERED WIRE LUGS.
The online compay records include tower clock records for E. Howard and Seth Thomas as well as serial number searches for Waltham and Hamilton. Howard Company Records The NAWCC Library & Research Center partnered with the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History Archives Center to digitize and make available the clock.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE WERE ALSO SWEEP SECOND HAND MODELS. SO, RATHER THAN DOING WHAT SOME HAVE DONE, I DO NO DISMISS A WATCH AS BEING NON-GERMAN MILITARY BECAUSE IT DOES NOT MEASURE TO THE ABOVE STANDARDS. IN FACT, A SUPER NICE GERMAN WWII WATCH WAS PURCHASED FROM ESTATE WITH ORIGINAL “WAR BOOTY” APPROVAL CERTIFICATE ALLOWING THE PFC TO TAKE IT AND A HAND GUN TO THE US.A FREE PDF IS AVAILABLE.
I HAVE AN ORIGINAL SIGNED HARD BACK FIRST EDITIONIRON COFFINS. A BOOK WRITTEN BY CAPTAIN H.A. THE TOP GERMAN SUB OFFICER WHO SURVIVED THE WAR. IN IT, THE BOOK DETAILS HIS RISE TO TOP OFFICER FROM 1939 TO 1945. AMONG TONS OF FACTS OF WAR, SUB WAR-FARE, AND HIS LIFE FROM BEGINNING TO POW TO ESCAPE TO COMING TO THE USA IN 1965. ONE OF THE TRULEY FIRST HAND RELIABLE ACCOUNTS OF GERMAN NAVEL SUBMARINE WARE. HE ALSO INFORMS HIS READERS OF THE USE OF WATCHES AND TIMERS AND HOW THEY HAD PHOSPHOROUS INSTEAD OF RADIUM AND CHARGED THEM UTILIZING FLUORESCENT LIGHT STATIONS.
UN MARKED RADIUMLUFTWAFFE FAKEHELOISA D-H RADIUMPHENIX NOTE BRAND STYLE OF LETTERSPROPERTY MARKSHALL MARKSSERIALSGERMAN LONG RADIUMPOCKET CONVERSIONMost were issued with sub-seconds dial, but the sweep second was also invested in, especially for Pilot Watches, Sub Watches, Artillery and Intelligence And Towards The Last Two Years.D serial HDienstuhr HeerService Watch Army (Heer).Depending on supplier, year, type and branch of service, watches could have a code stamped on case back, and/or the dial would be signed such as: D serial H, D.i. OWNERSHIP/PROPERTY/SERVICE codes for the German Army Wehrmacht were placed on all imported watches. A watch made for the German Army by a German company did not have to have the codes BUT ROCK RESTORED A STOWA BELOW POCKET WATCH CONVERSION AND IT HAD THE D serial H ON THE CASE BACK.German Service CodesNavy (KM, M or Anchor) Luftwaffe ‘FI’ (Flight) ‘RLM’ (Reich Air Ministry)Branch CodesDH: Dienstuhr Heer D: Dienstuhr Luftwaffe DRGM: Deutsches Reich GebrauchsmusterRLM: Reichsluftfahrtministerium KM: Kriegsmarine DU: Dienstuhr (Verwaltung). B-UHR FLIEGER AVIATOR:THE B-UHR FLIEGER AVIATOR IS RARE SO BE READY TO DISCOVER MANY REMAKES AND COUNTERFEITSJOHs HARTMANN BERLINABOVE IS A RLM100 SEC TIMERBY MINERVASUPPLIED BYJOS HARTMANNWWII 48mm MINERVA JOHs HARTMANN BERLIN.AGAIN, THE FACT IS NOT ALL GERMAN WATCHES WERESTAMPED/CODED. PRIOR TO 1939 AND AFTER 1943In the 1930’s, Germany was re-arming “under the table” due to the fact they were still under the WWI terms of the armistice.
During this time, Germany was secretly developing the Luftwaffe and its crews. They were secretly developing the PANZA and it’s forces; subs and their crews. During this time, everything military was procured without any hype, note or code.
The DH code did not exist. And, towards the last years of the war, when times got hard, especially on the Eastern Front. 1937 German Army “Mimo” WatchSTEEL CASED GERMAN MIMOGirard-PerregauxWITH MIMO/GPFIRST AS 1130WehrmachtswerkNOTE-A 1938 ORDER WAS FOR7 JEWEL MODELS.WAS GERMAN WATCH PROCUREMENT LIKE THAT OF THE USA?The USA built a design on paper, then added all the scientific and mechanical specifics and aspects, then had companies sign a contract for that one, usually identified with specs, version; for instance the A-11 hacking pilots watch.The German way was to contract with a supplier and the supplier contracted with manufacturer. The supplier chose the brands and models that met the German Military requirements. That is why we find over 50 companies/models with and without the property/branch codes. There was no specific “main design” written in stone, rather there were requirements. No mod, number or specific brand, just the basics:NOTE THE RARE SWEEPS SECONDS ON THIS ALPINA POCKET WATCHGERMAN ARMY/WEHRMACHTSteel or Chrome Case, Screw Down Case Back –early and late had Snap Back, many with Black Dials, brands purchased included illuminated and non-illuminated dials and hands, fixed wire lugs standard were also supplied and.Sub Second Register.
Unlike the USA Military Watches with no “main movement”; with each model having a movement designed by each separate manufacturer, in the beginning, an individual Swiss movement was chosen for the first large Wehrmacht production orders. The German Military chose a solid, common movement manufactured by A Shield. The Swiss AS 1130. The AS 1130 would take on the name: Wehrmachtswerk or “German Army Movement”. This was/is an excellent movement used for commercial watches before, during, and after WWII. And due to the German Army, it can still be found in a host of different brands. A Phenix, Helios and Mimo are all separate private brands, yet we can discover all three with their own individual cases, dials and hands but each with the same AS 1130 movement.
While German military watches can be discovered with the same movement, they are also found with different movements. In fact, while you can find 5 different brands with the AS 1130, you can also find three similar Phenix black dialed sub registered watches, all manufactured in the same year, but all three having different movements. WWII meant supplies were limited. Though many watches were produced, the lack of steel and other metals meant left over on the shelf movements were used and many steel cases were replaced with chrome plated brass.AS 1130 15 JEWELSFeatures manual wind sub second power reserve 38hMany WWII German Issued Watches contained the AS1130 movement. Due to its early exclusive use by the German Army the 1130 became known as the “Wehrmachtswerk”.
Wehrmachtswerk translates as “Wehrmacht movement” German Army Movement.AS 1130 Features manual wind sub second. Data 13”’, Dm= 29mm H= 3.8mm, 15/18/17/21 jewels, f = 18000 A/h, power reserve 38h. Wehrmachtswerk (army movement) option: Reed’s regulator, various bridge shapes, sometimes separate escape wheel cock, differently beveled bridge and plate edges, later samples with ring balance and/or movable stud carrier,Fixed Lugs or Spring BarsSome writers act as if SPRING BARS are a modern feature. Well, believe it or not, spring bars date from the first watch made for the wrist. In fact, the fixed lug, whether a set of lugs with a wire soldered between them, or, a wire formed into a lug and soldered on a case like that which is found on a trench watch or conversion, were used because the wrist watch was new – especially during and following WWI. By WWII the spring bar was already a fact; a conclusion, and on most wrist watches. Why were there wire lugs on some military and not others?
Manufacturers could fix a wire or sell with holes. During the war years it was often simpler to weld a wire. The German Military liked the fact that the wire could not come loose. So, we find the fixed lugs on some but not all WWII watches. Is this a factor to consider when buying a vintage watch? Absolutely not.
And, if the wires are broke they can be repaired.AT THE END OF THE WAR WATCH SUPPLIERS HAD AGREEMENTS WITH THE ALLIED FORCES TO DESTROY WATCHES THAT WERE RECOVERED, WHETHER GERMAN OR BRITISH. THOUSANDS OF WATCHES WERE COLLECTED AND THEN DESTROYED. IN ONE CASE, A WWII VET TOLD ME THE STORY OF THE 10,000 OMEGA WATCHES.
HE LITERALLY WATCHED AS 10,000 WWII OMEGA POCKETS WERE PILED ON A RUN WAY AND WATCHED AS A STEAM ROLLER WENT TO WORK FOR AN HOUR FLATTENING THEM ALL.POCKET WATCHES. THIS ROCK RESTORED ZENITH GERMAN “DH” MILITARY POCKET WATCH IS THEBEST OF THE BEST AND THEY WERE PURCHASED BY GERMANY AT THEIRWWII HEIGHT. NOTE TOOL INDENTS TO UNSCREW. THESE ARE “WATER PROOF”THEY HAVE THE MILITARY INTERNAL CASE. THE MOVEMENTS ARE JEWELED.DI serial HWE DISCOVERED THE BELOW EXPLANATION FOR THE DI H PROPERTY MARKS: In 1942 the Italian coalition reorganized under Rommel were referred to as the Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee; a name which was soon to be again modified, to the Heeresgruppe Afrika. A watch was issued with the “I” PROPERTY MARK mark:BUT WE FIND,AND BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE FACT, THAT THE GERMAN MILITARY MARKINGS EXPLANATION THAT THE DI-H IS A PROPERTY MARK FOR THE ARMY INTELLIGENCE AND IT DENOTES A SWEEP SECONDS WATCH.NEW WINDOW. The top pics of wrist watches shows the radium dial on left and the phosphorous dial on right.FACT IS, WHILE THERE WERE GERMAN WWII MILITARY WATCHES ILLUMINATED WITH RADIUM, ALL WATCHES AND TIMERS ISSUED FOR SUBMARINES WERE ILLUMINATED WITH A PHOSPHOROUS COMPOUND AND MOST HAD THE DIAL ILLUMINATED WITH BLACK NUMERALS.RARE IS THE GERMAN WWII PHOSPHORUS DIALED WATCH AND/OR TIMER, MOST WENT DOWN WITH NEARLY ALL THE GERMAN SUBS.THE PHOSPHORUS COMPOUND USED BY THE GERMANS WAS 5 TIMES BETTER THAN MOST COMPOUNDS IN USE TODAY.
WHILE THERE WERE WATCHES WITH RAISED PHOSPHORUS NUMBERS, THE FACT IS THE DIALS THEMSELVES WOULD BE ILLUMINATED AND OFFICERS AND SAILORS WOULD CHARGE THE PHOSPHORUS ILLUMINATED DIALS BY USING A PERMANENT FLUORESCENT CHARGING STATION.“AT MIDNIGHT GERLOFF RELIEVED ME FROM WATCH. I FELL THROUGH THE HATCH AND LOWERED MYSELF INTO THE BLACK HULL. THE CONNING TOWER WAS ILLUMINATED ONLY BY THE FEEBLE SHIMMER FROM THE PHOSPHORESCENT FACE OF THE COMPASS.”“THE SUDDEN SILENCE HURT OUR EARS. EVERYTHING SEEMED AMPLIFIED INTO POUNDING BLOWS: THE BEADS OF MOISTURE,DRIPPING ON THE DECK PLATES, THE DROPS SPLASHING IN THE BILGE, THE COUGHING OF HARD- BREATHING MEN, THE TICKING OF WATCHES.”MOST OF THESE AREFROM ROCKS COLLECTION.OVER 400 ALBUMS.
The l ast blog I mentioned corre sponding with Mr. Donald Berger, formally of Massillon, Ohio, and now living in Philadelphia, PA.
My acquaintance with Mr. Berger began when he contacted me about his grandfather's watch.The photograph (above) shows the Cigar Makers' Union. Donald Berger's grandfather, George Herrmann Berger is seated on the left side. Of his four siblings and mother, who migrated to America from Amsterdam in 1882, only George remained in Massillon. It is believed he began work at the Sailer Cigar Factory when he was 15-years-old.
His wife, Eva Louis Masson, came to America from Franche-Comte (eastern France). By the time Donald was growing up the cigar business was nearly finished, but his grandfather kept a shed on the side of the house where he rolled his own cigars. Berger said he had no recollections about his grandfather's watch, he did say he has tried to keep it running.Without seeing the watch, my watch collectors were able to tell a little more about the watch based on the works serial number. Berger and I were able to learn the year his watch was made.What we learned about Mr. Berger's watch are the same characteristics you can learn about your own watch.Thanks to Robert 'Bob' Arnold of Flint, Michigan, if you own a Dueber-Hampden watch you can learn a lot with just the serial number.Bob has spent more than 20 years collecting, cataloguing, and looking at Dueber-Hampdens. Arnold, a retired engineer working for the automobile industry, has put close to 11,000 serial numbers into the book, Hampden Watch Co. The book contains an extensive list of serial numbers that will help identify the model of your watch, setting, style, construction, and description.It is rumored that when Dueber-Hampden Watch Works closed its doors and shipped the remainder of its plant to Moscow, that paperwork containing the serial numbers of the Dueber-Hampden watches was taken south to Waynesburg, Ohio and burnt.It is interesting to note the fact that Cunard shipping authorities were able to identify a body of a passenger washed ashore on the coast of Ireland in October 1915.
This passenger was aboard the Lusitania when it had been torpedoed on May 7, 1915. The passenger had been wearing a Dueber-Hampden watch bearing the serial number 3,039,347. By looking at the serial number on the watch, the authorities were able to contact the Dueber-Hampden Watch Works and trace the number back to the owner. (Repository)By identifying the deceased shows that there were accurate records and that those records did exist.I have seen records for most other U.S. Watch company detailing watches and serial numbers.
Record Watch Company
If the numbers for the Dueber-Hampden Watch Works were destroyed, all collectors certainly owe a debt of gratitude to Bob Arnold for his meticulous record keeping and sharing of serial numbers in his book.According to the Hernick and Arnold Hampden Watch Co. Book, there are some four million Hampden watches that are now more than 80 years old. Before this book, Dueber-Hampden watches were from the 'Forgotten Watch Company.' ( Hernick, vii ).Arnold's book is easy to understand and will help any collector, professional or beginner, to understand more about the Dueber-Hampden watch.The items to look for when identifying your watch, are size, jewel count, style, model, and grade.Watch size tells the watch diameter. When measuring your watch you need to measure the pillar plate, also called dial, or front plate. This plate is what the dial is fasten to, and this dial will cover all of the pillar plate.
Pocket Watch Serial Number Lookup
You will want to measure the diameter of this plate. These measurements are from Hampden Watch Co.(1).