Job Number 180091, Elgin Grade 557, A11 Model

Here's a look inside an A11 Elgin, grade 557, 15/0 size, 15 jewels, made about 1944, military wristwatch.

A11 is actually a specification. There are "A11" wristwatches from multiple manufacturers with different characteristics. Some of the best known A11 watches are Elgin grades. A-11 watches were also made by Bulova, and Waltham.

One difference in some military (A11) grades is the presence or absence of a sweep seconds hand. The sweep seconds hand is a hand turning from the center of the dial, as we are used to on modern wristwatches.

This grade 557 has a sweep seconds hand, as do most A11 watches.

Shown here is the extra exposed wheel on the back for the seconds hand, driven by the 4th wheel. The 4th wheel normally provides seconds (60 turns per minute) on an older style watch with an offset sub-seconds dial. That offset is not a style choice on an, for example, a typical pocketwatch, it is the physical location of the 4th wheel in the movement.

On this movement, that extra wheel drives a pinion in the center, attached to a shaft running through a hollow center wheel post though to the front where the long seconds hand rides. The movement is otherwise just like a movement with an offset seconds hand.

The extra seconds wheel has an odd number of arms, five. Removing it gives some watchmakers trouble an sometimes leads to a broken off post. Removing this friction-fit wheel requires a specially designed puller to pull it straight off.

Also notice the characteristic black exposed ratchet and main wheels.

There's the characteristic military description on the case back.

In spite of being widely used in the military, in the field, these are rather primitive wristwatches. They are fragile, lacking the features, not invented at the time, that make wristwatches practical as we thick of them today. For example, there are not shock protected jewel mountings, and very little protection from dust and moisture. In spite of their attractions, they make poor daily use watches for most people. A One good wrap on the edge of a table will break the balance staff.

Interesting, field repair of military watches did exist. It's hard to picture a watchmaker in a foxhole, but I guess it did happen. It's worth noting however that field repair consisted largely of replacing whole assemblies, or even the whole movement. It was practical, but not exactly "repair".

During WWII, the Elgin Watchmakers' College was essentially taken over by a military command and a curriculum suited to field repair of military watches was put in place.

See the album for this project here.

New Arrival

Here's a WWII era Elgin, military style, in for service.

Railroad Time Service Officials Meet

From The American Horologist magazine, June, 1945

Railroad Time Service Officials Meet

The annual meeting of outstanding General Time Inspection Supervisors was held in Denver, Colorado, May 23 and 24 to coordinate time inspection policies and perfect time service in the interest of the general public.

Each year these outstanding railroads have their General Time Supervisors meet in order to keep abreast of the time, which is as important, in fact, more important than the companies' rolling stock insofar as the public and the railroads are concerned, for in these men's hands rest the responsibility of our traveling population's lives. Timing is the worlds. most important issue for without perfect timing the wheels of progress, health, life and industry become congested, causing untold loss in everything. Our war is being brought to a speedy and successful conclusion through speedy transportation, which serves our industry, Army and Navy.

Timing is these men's business - a serious business. They and their companies have done, and are doing, a grand job.

The Supervisors are: Stanley A. Pope, Manager of Time Service, Southern Pacific R. R. Co., San Francisco, Calif.; S. A. Wilson, General Supervisor of Time Service, The Baltimore & Ohio R. R. Co., Baltimore, Md.; A. J. Strobel, General Watch Inspector of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R., Topeka, 

Alarm Clock Restrictions Revoked

From The American Horologist magazine, June, 1945

Alarm Clock Restrictions Revoked

Limitation Order L-275, issued April 14, 1944, to control production and distribution of spring-driven and electric alarm clocks, has been revoked to permit manufacturers to increase production whenever the large military contracts they now hold are reduced and materials and skilled labor become available.

Alarm clock manufacturers have been heavily engaged in production of timing devices and other critical military items throughout the war period. Military requirements for these items in connection with the war in the Pacific have not yet been determined, but indications are that they will remain at a high level, WPB said.

Since the industry uses the same types of supervisory personnel, skilled labor and machines for the manufacture of war goods as for alarm clock production, WPB said it foresaw no sharp increase in the number of alarm clocks available to civilians in the immediate future. The pre-war rate of production, estimated at 12,500,000 alarm clocks per year, may not be achieved until the war is over.

Production currently is at about one-third of the pre-war rate. Even though production may be increased after the revocation of L-275, manufacturers will be unable to satisfy completely the large backlog of demand that has developed as a result of low production during the last two years and previous non-production for about a year.

Under the order, manufacturers were permitted to produce and distribute alarm clocks only in accordance with specific authorizations assigned by WPB. Authorizations for production and distribution of alarm clocks in the second quarter of 1945, issued on Form WPB-2719, are cancelled with revocation of L-275. Alarm clocks, therefore, may be made and delivered irrespective of the restrictions specified in the authorizations.

Reduction In Tariffs Ruinous To American Industry

From The American Horologist magazine, June, 1945

Reduction In Tariffs Ruinous To American Industry

Warning against further reduction in tariffs protecting the American watchmaking industry from uncontrolled importation of cheaply made foreign watches, T. Albert Potter, president of the Elgin National Watch Company, told members of the House Ways and Means Committee at a recent hearing on H. R. 2652 that passage of the bill undoubtedly would force the industry to its knees.

In making a strong plea that the bill be killed in committee, Potter spoke both for manufacturers of jewelled and non-jewelled watches.

H. R. 2652 would reduce duties on imports of foreign-made watches to one-third of the 1930 tariff rate. By a reciprocal trade treaty concluded with Switzerland in 1936, the rate was reduced to two-thirds of the 1930 rate.

During the first three years of the treaty with Switzerland, importers of jewelled watches increased their share in the American market to 35 per cent above what it had been before the treaty went into effect, Potter pointed out. By 1938, they had 60 per cent of the market, holding these gains until 1942 when American watchmakers went out of production for civilians to concentrate 100 per cent on production for war needs.

"Since then, foreign watchmakers have had the whole market to themselves," Potter declared. "The situation facing American watchmakers is bleak. In 1943, nearly three times more foreign-made watches entered this country than in any pre-war year.

"For three years, our foreign competitors have been flooding the domestic market, while we have been at war. There will be no backlog of demand for our product in the postwar period, as a result. The American-made watch has lost its domestic market. Its channels of distribution have been taken over by importers of Swiss watches.

"The number of firms importing foreign-made watches has more than doubled in the last three years. All of them have had large wartime profits which have not been touched .by renegotiation. They have spent millions in advertising. In short, when American watchmakers get back into production for civilians, their position will be infinitely worse than it was when the war started.

"Reconversion will deepen this disadvantage. The Swiss have never been out of substantial civilian production, whereas American watchmakers have not had a chance to plan new products, let alone prepare for putting them into production. Furthermore, they have lost many skilled workers to the armed forces. Do you wonder that we say this is no time to be granting further tariff reductions?"

Importance of the American watchmaking industry, both in war and in peace, was cited by Potter as being perhaps the strongest argument for adequate protection from ,ruinous foreign competition.

When the isolation of Switzerland by the progress of the war enabled the Germans in 1940 to clamp down on export of precision timing instruments, it fell to the United States to meet the full need of the United Nations, since Switzerland and the United States are the only sources of supply, Potter explained.

"American watchmakers were not able to do their war job as fast as it should have been done, because they were too small at the outset," he continued. "Steady expansion of production facilities during the '30's, which otherwise could have been expected, was prevented by the effects of the 1936 reciprocal trade treaty with Switzerland. To that extent, the treaty did a disservice to the country.

"As it turned out, limited manufacturing facilities, which have had to meet as best they could the full I military demands of the United Nations at a time when no other source of supply was available, were saved by the struggle of American watchmakers during the last decade. We did not realize it then, but we are proud of it now."

A strong, competitive American watchmaking industry is the only thing that can protect the American public against monopoly practices. Potter stated. "The Swiss industry is completely government dominated, he observed. "Prices are established and export of machines controlled. At one time. even migration of workers was prohibited.

"The full effect of this monopolistic control has been felt by the American public in recent years. Prices of Swiss watches have skyrocketed, despite OP A control, and the public has been victimized through merchandising of nondescript brands.

"American watchmakers have well known trade names in this country. If Congress makes it possible for the clouds of importations that have been hanging over our heads to get too black, a part of the industry may have to transplant itself in order to survive. That, in my opinion, would be a military disaster."·

Platinum Still Restricted

From The American Horologist magazine, June, 1945

Platinum Still Restricted

Military needs for platinum for the war against Japan will prevent early restoration of platinum use in jewelry, the War Production Board said today.

To meet essential needs, it· has been necessary for the Government to purchase platinum and to release it to industry. Requirements must decline to a point where use in jewelry would not jeopardize war programs before the metal can be released for general use, WPB said.

Officials of WPB's Miscellaneous Minerals Division disclosed that throughout 1944 and in 1945 to date, it has had to exert strict controls to hold even essential uses to the level of available supplies.
Some jewelers still hold quantities of platinum, which they would like to use in jewelry, WPB reported.

Such use cannot be permitted until platinum is released to jewelers generally, division officials explained, inasmuch as persons holding idle platinum do so in spite of requests that they turn it in for use in the war effort.

Misunderstanding exists in some quarters because of the fact that the Government does not requisition the inventories of jewelers, and consequently some believe that platinum is not needed in the war effort. WPB emphasized that Government requisitioning has not been used because the assaying of many lots involving small quantities of metal is extremely difficult and it has had to rely upon voluntary cooperation from jewelers.

The use of platinum in jewelry was forbidden at the end of 1942 when military needs crowded out jewelry 

requirements. These military uses include electrical contact points in airplane magnetos, catalysts in chemical plants, general chemical equipment, electrodes in airplane spark plugs, radio and radar tubes, spinerettes for rayon and bushings for glass wool.

* * *

Recent and proposed defections of states from war TIME is serious and deplored by War Production Board of officials, who estimate that daylight saving TIME has saved nearly 5,000,000,000 kilowatt hours of electricity since 1942. Bills to revert to prewar TIME have been passed in Ohio and Michigan, are pending in some other states and are appearing in Congress as a national measure despite W. P. B. opposition. Chief attackers of earlier TIME come from rural areas, contending it hampers farm work.

* * * 

There was quite a shine to the shoes donated by Mrs. A. H. Ziegler to the United Nation's Clothing Drive.

Mrs. Ziegler lives at Ketchikan, Alaska. But the shine was gone from the shoes when Mrs. Ziegler reclaimed the two diamond rings and wristwatch "worth several thousand ;dollars" which she had hidden in the toe of one of the shoes for safekeepmg.

Import of Swiss Watches

From The American Horologist magazine, June, 1945

Import of Swiss Watches

The policy to be followed by the War Production Board in assigning specified types and sizes of imported watches and watch movements for delivery to the Army Exchange Service by watch importers was clarified by WPB. Beginning May 10, 1945, WPB will assign for delivery to AES 50 per cent of the following types of imported watches and watch movements received by each watch importer 

1. 10 ligne and larger men's waterproof watches with round movements (except watches in cases containing gold in any form).

2. 10 ligne and larger men's nonwaterproof watches with round movements (except watches in cases containing gold in any form).

3. 10 ligne and larger round movements.

Imported watches and movements assigned for delivery to AES are channeled by AES to Army post exchanges and Navy ships' service stores for resale to service men. The types and sizes specified are those considered best suited to military use.

The AES requirement for 1945, presented to the WPB Requirements Committee last year showed an increase of 100 percent over the previous year's requirement and represented about three times the number of watches required for resale in 1943. AES has indicated that the increasing requirement is a result of a combination of the greatly increased number of men now overseas and the constantly increasing need for replacements. In the light of recent developments, including the announcement of V-E Day, the AES watch requirement will be reviewed and consideration will be given to any decrease that can be affected in the requirement, WPB officials said.

Watch importers previously authorized to distribute sizes and types of watches or movements, other than those indicated above, to AES, may apply by letter to WPB for a release from such obligations.

Railroad Watches Released

From The American Horologist magazine, June, 1945

Railroad Watches Released

Revocation of Limitation Order L-175, controlling the distribution of railroad standard watches, new and used, was announced today by the War Production Board. Production of this type of watch was not controlled by the order and therefore will not be affected by the revocation.

For almost three years, the period of the operation of the order, the only civilians authorized to obtain such watches were railroad time service employes whose needs were certified by railroad superintendents.

The demands of the Army, Navy, United States Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration were so urgent in 1943 that an appeal was then made to the public to turn in idle watches of this type.

Railroad standard watches are pocket models (size 16), springdriven, contain from 19 to 23 jewels, and are manufactured only by the Elgin, Hamilton, and Waltham companies. The order revoked today, which restricted the sale and transfer of these watches, went into effect August 7, 1942. 

Stem Dies and Crown Taps

From The American Horologist magazine, June, 1945

Stem Dies and Crown Taps
By Ronald L. Ives

Some years before the present war started, crown taps and "Swiss" screw plates became scarce, and (with some exceptions). of poor quality. Since the war began, these items are practicaly unobtainable. Crowns still need tapping, and probably more new stems are being made today than ever before.
Published screw tables indicate that the following stem tap sizes are "standard":

Diameter, Inches     Threads per inch
.091                         60
.077                         72
.061                         80
.048                         110

These sizes, unfortunately, are only approximate, and do not take into account the plague of "bastard" threads used on "gyp" watches.

Search for suitable threading tools that are obtainable shows that there is no good substitute for the .048/110 tap and plate thread.

A standard machinist's tap of 0-80 size has a nominal diameter of .0600 inches, with 80 threads to the inch. An 0-80 bottoming tap can be used in place of a .061 crown tap with about 95 percent success. 

The 0-80 die can be used to thread a stem for this tap, or if a round split die, such as a Greenfield type 382 is used, it can be opened sightly, by use of the adjusting screw, so that threads cut with it will make a fit of any tightness desired in a pretapped crown.

If the thread is started with the front portion of the die, which is relieved, and finished with the rear portion (by reversing the die in the holder) a very clean thread can be cut. 

For the .077/72 crown tap a 1-72 machinist's tap can be used, this tap having a nominal diameter of .0730 inches. This substitution will work 9.bout 80 percent of the time without further work. The 1-72 round split die can be used as suggested for the 0-80.

There is no standard machinist's die having a 60 thread count. Both the 2-56 and the 2-64 tap have a diameter close to .0860 inches, which is .005" smaller than the .091 nominal diameter of the 60 TPI crown tap. Both of these sizes will work satisfactorily in stem and crown assemblies, although the 2-64 size, with its greater root diameter, is probably to be preferred. Both of these sizes, it should. be realized, even though they are standard in machine and instrument practice, are "bastards" so far as the average watchmaker is concerned, and their use, even though mechanically sound and justifiable, should be reserved for emergencies. 

Life of Watch 3 Months In Southwest Pacific

From The American Horologist magazine, June, 1945

Life of Watch 3 Months In Southwest Pacific

The necessity of channeling 2,600,000 wrist watches, with movements 8 3/4 ligne or larger, to Army post exchanges and ships' service stores in 1945 for resale to service men, and possible methods of assuring that importers can meet this requirement were discussed at the recent meeting of the American Watch Importers Industry Advisory Committee, the War Production Board reported today.

This quantity of imported watches - almost double the number required last year and about three times the number needed in 1943 - is intended almost exclusively for overseas distribution, for use in connection with combat operations, military representatives said. More watches are needed this year, they explained, not only because more men have been sent overseas, but also because increased distribution of watches results in a correspondingly larger requirement for replacements.

The average life of watches used under battlefront conditions is extremely short, military representatives emphasized. They said that a watch lasts only about three months in the Southwest Pacific, and somewhat longer on the European front.

Currently, under Order L-323, WPB assigns for distribution to the Army Exchange Service for Army and Navy resale 50 per cent of all imported, men's wrist watches with movements 8 3/4 ligne or larger and 50 per cent of all uncased movements in the same size range.

Committee members estimated that importation of watches and movements in 1945 would total between 5,250,000 and 5,500,000 units. Of these about half are expected by the committee to be men's watches. Since only 50 per cent of those suitable for military purposes, or less than 1,350,000, would be channeled to the Army Exchange Service under present WPB policy, military requirements could not be met, committee members said.

The difficulty of meeting total 1945 military requirements for imported watches was emphasized by committee members. Since watches normally cannot be delivered from abroad until about a year after they have been ordered, they explained, orders for increased quantities that might be placed now could not be delivered under 1946. Committee members pointed out that transportation difficulties and the scarcity of raw materials are additional complicating factors in the commerce between Switzerland and the United States.

The possibility of placing military orders for imported watches on a firm basis, by means of long-term contracts, similar to those placed for most other types of war goods, was discussed. Committee members said that orders from individual post exchanges and ships' service stores, since'they provide no guarantee of purchase, offer importers no protection against possible cancellation of orders following the defeat of Germany.

Military representatives emphasized that requirements for watches are expected to remain high until both Germany and Japan are defeated. They said, furthermore, that while it might be possible to place procurement of imported watches on a contract basis, importers then would be required to meet definite delivery. dates. Committee members said that the uncertainty of delivery of watches to importers would prevent them from meeting such contractual obligations.

Committee members mentioned that the supply of repair and replacement parts for civilian's imported watches is improving. They pointed out, however, that repair service is limited by the decreased supply of manpower. 

Material Supply

From The American Horologist magazine, July, 1944

Material Supply

Members of the Jeweled Watch Manufacturers Industry Advisory Committee have estimated that the supply of repair parts for civilian jeweled watches will be about the same in 1944 as it was in 1943, the War Production Board reported today.

WPB has declared a blanket MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operating Supplies) rating invalid for clock and watch repair materials, including mainsprings, and does not contemplate assigning any preference ratings for such materials on Form WPB-541, WPB representatives told committee members. This section was effected by amendment of Priority Regulation 3 on June 23. 1944, they said, and is expected to result in more widespread distribution of clock and watch repair materials.

The continuing: need for increased quantities of railroad watches for use by railroad time service employes was emphasized by a representative of the Office of Defense Transportation. Unless the labor shortage in the industry increases in severity, deliveries of railroad watches are expected to be stepped up in the latter part of 1944, industry members said.

The time required to make railroad watches, they explained, averages about nine months. Increased demands therefore cannot be met quickly.

The problem of maintaining production of watches for the armed forces was also discussed. lAC members emphasized the importance of receiving orders at least six to nine months in advance of the date on which delivery is expected. The many operations required in the production of a jeweled watch are performed over a period of six to twelve months, they explained. Each operation requires a special skill, and workers cannot be shifted from one department to another. This means that at least a skeleton force must be maintained in each department. Unless orders are scheduled long in advance, workers in all departments cannot be kept busy at all times, and they may leave for other jobs. If the staff of any department is depleted, operations in that department as well as all succeeding operations, are delayed, and delivery of future orders is jeopardized, committee members said. 

New Transcontinental Speed Record Set By Two Army Planes, Timed Exclusively By Longines

From The American Horologist magazine, July, 1944

New Transcontinental Speed Record Set By Two Army Planes, Timed Exclusively By Longines

Colonel Clair Peterson, the personal Pilot of Lt. General "Hap" Arnold, piloted a P-51 North American Mustang fighter plane, fully equipped as if ready to go into battle with the Packard Rolls Royce 1520 h.p. Merlin Motor, arrived at LaGuardia Field 6 hours, 31 minutes and 30 seconds, after leaving Los Angeles, California, on May 12, 1944.

The official time as taken from a Longines stop watch which passed timing tests according to the rules and regulations of the Federation Aeronautique 'Internationale according to the Neuchatel Observatory Bulletin was 3:32 p. m. Eastern War Time, and exactly seven minutes later Lt. Colonel Jack Carter arrived in the same type plane, after making a non-stop flight.

Colonel Peterson spent six minutes and 25 seconds refueling in Kansas City and by having a lighter weight carrying plane actually made the record seven minutes faster than Lt.

Colonel Carter, who lost five minutes circling over the Los Angeles airport to check his retracted landing gear.

It took almost seven years to beat the record established by Howard Hughes in 1937, when he flew from Burbank, California, to Newark in 7 hours and 28 minutes, averaging 327.1 miles an hour. The epochal flight of Howard Hughes was also officially timed in 1937 with Longines watches, which are the only watches available in this country with the proper Certificate of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale Bulletin, issued by the Neuchatell Swiss Observatory.

John P. V. Heinmuller, President of the Longines- Wittnauer Watch Co., Inc., is also Chief Timer for the National Aeronautical Association. He was assisted in officially timing this flight by Fred Wilkinson, who acted as Timer for the National Aeronautical Association.

Following the last war Mr. Heinmuller helped organize the Timing Contest Board of the National Aeronautical Association, in harmony with chronometric specifications of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale and became Chief Timer of this organization, the position he still holds today. Among the outstanding flights he timed with Longines watches were those of every major wor1cl record established in the last fifteen years. Mr. Heinmuller's new book "Man's Fight to Fly" with the chronological history of aviation has just been published by Funk and Wagnalls. It is heralded as the most outstanding aviation book published thus far. These one motored fast pursuit planes called "MustangP-51" will no doubt in the near future fly directly to Europe. The plane has a wing span of 37 feet and a four blade propeller. It can travel 30,000 feet high at which approximate altitude the Transcontinental flight was made.

That's My Invasion

From The American Horologist magazine, July, 1944

It's your invasion too, buy more bonds today

Alarm Clocks

From The American Horologist magazine, July, 1944

Alarm Clocks

The clock making industry, which has been almost entirely out of civilian production during the war period, will be represented by six men, whose appointment to the Clock Manufacturers' Industry Advisory Committee to the Office of Price Administration was announced today by the agency.

OPA said that the clock manufacturers have been doing an outstanding war production job, turning most of their facilities to making' precision instruments and other war materials for the Army and Navy. Only nonwar production was small quantities of "war" alarm clocks. 

Jungle Work Shop

From The American Horologist magazine, July, 1944

Jungle Work Shop

From the Southwest Pacific jungles We received information from Sgt. Howard C. Maxwell regarding his jungle work shop. Sgt. Maxwell was not a watchmaker when entering the service but his mechanical tendencies and the love for the art and science of HOROLOGY, and his determination to become a watchmaker upon his return to the States regardless of the cost of same, without a doubt will prove him to be a man worthy of the calling.

Through Mr. R. J. Gunder of the Hamilton Watch Company, the Sgt. has received tools, books and ideas. The lathe described herein was made by hand from battlefield junk with only crude hand tools. He has also made a staking tool, tweezers, and loupe; the loupe was made from the lens taken out of a jap gunsight during the battle of Munda airport. Screwdrivers, oilers, pliers, etc. have been made. He also made a clock from Munda battle junk completely by hand and with no help, former experience, or having ever seen a book on watchmaking. Not till it was finished and sent to his wife for a Christmas gift, did the first book on the subject arrive.

You will note on his watch bench, a loupe and tweezers donated by Mr. Gunder and also double loupe. The balance truing plier's were sent by Mr. Beehler.

The Sergeant states that he has tried to learn watch work out there and so far has successfully returned to service 680 watches belonging to'service men of all branches of service from private to general.

We think that the Sergeant is doing a wonderful job and look forward to his safe return to the States So as to enter our Professian. 

The Price of Time Went Up

From The American Horologist magazine, July, 1944

The Price of Time Went Up
By I. H. Kohr

The following warning was issued to prospective WATCH buyers, by the OP A on June 19th.

Take your TIME when you buy a WATCH to be sure that you are getting what you pay for and that the price is right.

There is an ugly story of crookery and price gouging in Swiss WATCH sales in this country.

There are two main kinds of chiseling according to the OP A. Sales -at prices above OP A ceiling and deliberate fraud in quality. WATCHES of the cheapest kind have been dressed in special cases and faces to sell at fantastic prices.

Cheats have included not only flyby-night salesmen and little retailers, but also some of the big department stores.

Example: A group of stores opened up in a New York section. They refused to sell their Swiss WATCHES to any but service people, The storekeepers figured that the service people soon would be leaving New York, would be gone before discovering they had been rooked.

In a given city the same kind of WATCH may sell at five different prices, ranging from the right price to five times the right price.

This has been especially true in areas located near army camps.

According to OPA officials Retailers, large and small, generally sell at ceiling prices when they have been able to buy at ceiling prices.

But where a commodity is very scarce, even some of the largest department stores have bought at over ceiling prices and sold at over ceiling.

Until Pearl Harbor, two kinds of WATCHES hit the American market.

Those made in this country, and those with movements made in Switzerland.

After Pearl Harbor, the government banned manufacture of WATCH movements in this country for civilian use. The precision work which had gone into making them was needed for war.

After this ban on American movements, retailers from all over the country deluged importers with demands for Swiss movements. All at once the distribution problem became vastly complicated.

Seeing a juky chance to make money, jobbers buy from importers and sell to retailers. This simplifies the distribution job for the importers but affected the price. Now three groups, importers, jobbers and retailers had to make a profit on the WATCH you bought. Sometimes as many as three groups of jobbers would figure in a sale of a Swiss WATCH. A jobber bought from an importer and sold to another jobber who sold to another jobber who sold to a retailer.

Thus there were five groups making a profit off the WATCH where before there were only two.

This meant prices were knocked around, knocked upward, in the process as retailers scrambled to buy from the jobbers and customers scrambled to buy from the retailers.

The price of TIME went up.

Occupational Deferment Notice

From The American Horologist magazine, July, 1944

Occupational Deferment Notice

Men 26 through 29 must be "necessary to and regularly engaged in" an activity in war production or in support of the National health, safety, or interest. "Watchmakers are actively engaged in support of the national safety and interest". Registrants 30 through 37 need only be regularly engaged in these activities. The case of each registrant must be determined individually. Employers of men 26 through 29 may file form 42-A with the local board, or 42-B for men 30 or over."

This determines settlement of all men allegedly on the critical list justification must be shown and qualification is necessary. In other words, the tin-snip watchmaker will have to show justification. Every Laboratory Technician must do the same to qualify under occupational deferment. . 

Watch Mainsprings

From The American Horologist magazine, July, 1944

Watch Mainsprings

Editors Note: (Following letter may help you to understand some of your problems.) Lynn R. Edminster, Chairman Committee for Reciprocity information 
Tariff Commission Building Washington, D. C.

Greetings:
In establishing a group of facts relating the subject of discussion to our proposal of objectives, We recite the results of surveys.

Our subject of discussion, Watch Mainsprings.

The history of watch mainspring manufacture has been of special interest to the designer, builder, and repairer of time pieces. It is the source of power harnessed to deliver action to the balance of the mechanism used in the measurement of time. Producing the first springs for this purpose was a hand operation-then came mechanical processes increasing production of springs: without relative improvement in the spring's ability. Further progress was wade in rolling mills improving grade of steel for mainsprings. This new steel spring provided a more dependable power plant for time pieces, yet much was desired to more completely fulfill requirements of the mainspring.

About 1910 Swedish steel mills became interested in producing a superior grade of steel especially adaptable to mainspring manufacture.

Switzerland had become the world's greatest producer of watches and of mainsprings, had already started using the Swedish steel. They had produced mainsprings in amazing quantities so cheaply, no other section of the world attempted the manufacture of springs.

In the knowledge and practice of our Horological technicians there was yet much improvement to be made in mainsprings. Swedish-American Horological genius was at work on the problem and after several years experiment the most satisfactory improvement and development was obained - the only scientific advance in mainspring manufacture in sixty years.

The factory using this process is in America-started in a small way, gradually grew as they were able to train workmen in this new industry -and are today the only source of supply for both-Swiss type and American mainspring. 75% of their production goes into war projects time fuses in bombs and cannon projectiles-mainsprings for another of America's newest industries, chonometers, tachometers, Army and Navy watches, and aeroplane clocks. The remaining 25% goes to repair of civilian watches. They have expanded their facilities -and production four times in those years. In 1943 they produced five million hairsprings.

That is only one fourth of the mainsprings needed to repair civilian watches annually. America is using ninety million serviceable watches. Sixty million are offered for repair annually and twenty million of that amount are requiring mainsprings.

Shipment of Swiss mainsprings' to this country began to decline in 1940, tapering off to zero in 1944. The stocks of Swiss mainsprings in America are practically exhausted. We have only this one source for mainsprings, the Watch Motor Mainspring Company, who are now' importing Swedish strip steel at $100.00 a pound to produce mainsprings based on 1942 cost of manufacture. They are in a position to expand facilities :end equipment sufficient to produce twenty million springs annually. They hesitate to do so.

Switzerland has accumulated ten million mainsprings and can produce several times that amount annually, which they are ready to pour into the American market at the resumption of commercial shipping the moment their borders are freed of the Nazi. If these shipments come in, our mainspring factory (producing a spring par excellent to any spring produced in the world) will pass out of existence. The price factor is executioner. Springs are produced and) shipped to this country at a ridiculous price in comparison to cost of manufacture by American labor in our American factory. We stand to loose the greatest scientific advance in spring construction since spring:s were first made. Some recognition should be given to the possibility of Swiss springs being dumped on American market before our American factory can divert to civilian channels any larger part of their production.

Let us take another view of why this American factory should be given consideration. Steps were taken on a national scale to prevent a breakdown of rubber-borne transportation because we were shut off from raw rubber sources. Our nation has been cut off from source of mainspring supply for our time pieces. We are in a perilous position. We could have a breakdown of our time mechanism.
America is on a time table production schedule. Rail and air-borne transportation are vulnerable. They operate on time piece control.

The mainsprings manufactured in America are in action on all fronts, while the Swiss, supply only our enemies. They do not sell us now, but will throw an avalanche of their products on the American market at first opportunity.

We have& awareness that your acquaintance with this situation-will cause immediate remedial action of such sound, satisfactory nature that the Watch Motor Mainspring Company may be justified in proceeding to more adequately meet the demands of the American market.

If informal conference with the Committee would be acceptable we will indeed look forward with pleasure to the meeting.

We present these proposals as evidence in amelioration.

R. W. Applegate, Special Representative, United Horological Association of America, Washington, D. C.
Sigfrid Strommer, Vice President, Watch Motor Mainspring Company, New York. 

June 22, 1944

Land of the Free...

From The American Horologist magazine, July, 1944

Land of the Free...

U.S. Radium Applies Wartime Experience To Improve Radium Dials

From The American Horologist magazine, January, 1946

U.S. Radium Applies Wartime Experience To Improve Radium Dials

As America's first producer of radium luminous watch and clock dials, the U. S. Radium Corporation has pioneered in introducing new standards of visibility by night and styling by day.

During World War II, radium luminous materials became a 'must' in the illumination of aircraft flight instrument dials, fire control apparatus, communications equipment and many other vital military devices.

The tremendous expansion in the demand for these materials brought with it attendant problems-among them, controlled brightness levels, response of materials to ultra-violet activation, special color ranges, adaptability for outdoor use and weathering, long life and high accuracy control.

To solve these problems, the research facilities of U. S. Radium Corporation were greatly expanded, and as a result new techniques, new and better materials are available for use at lower cost than ever before.

Today, all these advances contribute to the possibilities for wider use of radium luminous dials on clocks and watches. Radium dials are available with greatly increased useful life. New color possibilities, achieved with materials such as the Vivid Green recently introduced by U. S. Radium, make it possible to have a luminous watch dial with all the style-appeal by day that other materials afford.

U. S. Radium Corporation's service often begins with the design of the dial itself. Efficient use of radium luminous materials require that dial finish and design be considered as a co-ordinate part of the job if proper styling, low costs and long-lived readability are to be achieved. Specialists of this company will not only advise on the selection of materials, lettering and other factors important in procuring the best possible luminous dial for the type and price range of the time-piece on which it is to be used, but to supply such dials complete ready for assembly.