Happy 4th and great story Tony. From the prototype/first mass produced American watch, Warren Manufacturing Company (Waltham) SN-18, in the early 1850s, on through the 1876 Expo and past WW-II with the watch that was perhaps the ultimate realization of the American System of Manufacturing, the Hamilton 992B, which was produced into the 1970s, American watches had a great 120 year run. I'd say this was way more a success story than a failure. The 992B was probably as close to an interchangeable parts, mass produced watch as any watch of its quality ever. Maybe the greatest thing about this history is that there were so many Hamilton 992Bs made that a watch collector can still find a nice well running example for well under 500 bucks and parts are still readily available. Cheers.
It must be remembered that the US watch industry reoriented for the requirements of fighting WW2, making not just watches but other precision instruments for an allied force that saw 80 million people don the uniform.
Swiss watchmaking continued during 1939-1945 and afterwards enjoyed a fixed cheap exchange rate of the SFr from 1946 to 1973 which was favorable for exports.
Soon, low-priced Swiss watches (remember Switzerland made the whole range) flooded into the US market.
Meanwhile yes the Cold War and the high technology revolution provided ample venues for ambitious people and/or capital. It’s a feature not a bug that the US as a whole let others make watches and other simple goods, so that firms like Intel Xerox TI and Apple could be born.
Sadly, there is a darker side to American entrepreneurial spirit…a very short attention span and a disposable culture. We get bored easily as a and move on to the “next best thing,” often leaving environmental and human tragedies behind. We don’t retrain workers when an industry dies…we just leave them to fend for themselves. Same thing with our air, land and water…
Thanks for the history lesson Tony. Keep up the great work! BTW - that new Berneron bracelet also reminds me of an old bracelet that NSA made for the Zenith Keyhole models of the late 1960s. Their’s had polished & brushed links as well. Enjoy the 4th.
NSA bracelets again! Even the clasp is a mirror image. But does it have a spring inside for the perfect fit? Bracelets used to be comfortable but somewhere along the way we decided a curved metal slab was superior.
Happy 4th and great story Tony. From the prototype/first mass produced American watch, Warren Manufacturing Company (Waltham) SN-18, in the early 1850s, on through the 1876 Expo and past WW-II with the watch that was perhaps the ultimate realization of the American System of Manufacturing, the Hamilton 992B, which was produced into the 1970s, American watches had a great 120 year run. I'd say this was way more a success story than a failure. The 992B was probably as close to an interchangeable parts, mass produced watch as any watch of its quality ever. Maybe the greatest thing about this history is that there were so many Hamilton 992Bs made that a watch collector can still find a nice well running example for well under 500 bucks and parts are still readily available. Cheers.
It must be remembered that the US watch industry reoriented for the requirements of fighting WW2, making not just watches but other precision instruments for an allied force that saw 80 million people don the uniform.
Swiss watchmaking continued during 1939-1945 and afterwards enjoyed a fixed cheap exchange rate of the SFr from 1946 to 1973 which was favorable for exports.
Soon, low-priced Swiss watches (remember Switzerland made the whole range) flooded into the US market.
Meanwhile yes the Cold War and the high technology revolution provided ample venues for ambitious people and/or capital. It’s a feature not a bug that the US as a whole let others make watches and other simple goods, so that firms like Intel Xerox TI and Apple could be born.
I’m borrowing a friend’s Khaki 250 LE and going to do a write up on it as a bit of an Epilogue on WWII-1970s watchmaking in America!
Happy 4th of July Tony, and thanks for the history lesson!
Great read, Tony! Happy 4th! Which of the American holy Trinity watches is your favorite?⌚I'm a Hammy guy.
I don’t really delve into golden era pocket and railroad watches or art deco shaped wristwatches but love a vintage Hamilton field watch!
That was a great read Tony! Happy 4th everyone.
Sadly, there is a darker side to American entrepreneurial spirit…a very short attention span and a disposable culture. We get bored easily as a and move on to the “next best thing,” often leaving environmental and human tragedies behind. We don’t retrain workers when an industry dies…we just leave them to fend for themselves. Same thing with our air, land and water…
Thanks for the history lesson Tony. Keep up the great work! BTW - that new Berneron bracelet also reminds me of an old bracelet that NSA made for the Zenith Keyhole models of the late 1960s. Their’s had polished & brushed links as well. Enjoy the 4th.
Good stuff Tony. Happy 4th!
thanks nabil - hope you had a good canada day! 🇨🇦 🇺🇸
Nice way to spend part of the July 4 holiday, reading Unpolished! Thanks for the 250th BD subscriber gift Tony. Happy 4th to you!
NSA bracelets again! Even the clasp is a mirror image. But does it have a spring inside for the perfect fit? Bracelets used to be comfortable but somewhere along the way we decided a curved metal slab was superior.