All The Presidents Men

[GLADIATOR]

(Repeated thread from a while back)

Much discussion on who manufactured the first wrist watches?  Who has been in continued manufacture of timepieces for longest?  and when exactly (well to the year) did men in USA actually start to wear a wristwatch.

Every day my research brings me closer to the answers on these questions especially for Europe, but it was always felt that USA lagged Europe in men acceptance to the wristwatch by some 10 yrs to probably around 1920.

I was therefore surprised to find the following Japanese article in NAWCC archives.

Of course I could not read the Japanese but I could see a group of Americans and 'Lo and Behold' one was wearing a wristwatch and the date?  1898!  Yes 1898, was this possible?

My first studying then drew me to the conclusion (incorrectly) that the gentleman wearing this timepiece was none other than your 25th President of the USA Theodore Roosevelt (1858 -1919)

Using Wikipedia, I found that prior to his Presidency in 1901, Roosevelt was an officer in the navy under Mkinley.  In 1897, Theodore Roosevelt and a group of volunteers dearly named 'Rough Riders' went to fight in Cuba in support of Cuba for independence against Spain.

and here we see a picture of Theodore Roosevelt with his 'rough riders' and sure enough one is wearing a 'wristlet' to convert a pocket watch to a wristwatch, exactly the same as we know the British Officers were wearing in South Africa - Boer War (1899-1902).

We can clearly see Theodore Roosevelt in the centre surrounded by his friends (Rough Riders)

The full article kindly translated by Sosaku Suzuki a student of wristwatches at the School of Horology.  Thanks to Sosaku san, I can learn that after becoming President in 1901, he NEVER wore a wrist watch, he always commented that:

Quote

"wristwatch is for cowboy, hunter, or soldier.  But not for a politician or President"

Unquote

So there you have it, nothing changes in politics is is as always 'Do as I say, not as I do'

Here is my  'wristlet' from around 1898:

and The article - sorry in Japanese, but Showing Roosevelt and his 'Rough Riders' - insert is watch on wrist.

And as President Roosevelt 1901:

So there we go.  Seems Theodore Roosevelt and his 'com padres' already adopted wristwatch in USA prior to 1900.

Acknowledgement:

Sosaku Suzuki - (Sosakusan) - Translation and fellow horologist

NAWCC- “Images are the property of the National Watch & Clock Museum, Library & Archives and may not be reproduced without permission.” --

Wikiedia

[CHIP]

That's neat!

The concept of a wrist watch appears so simple those days and yet it took so long for the pocket watch to evolve into what we have today.

Do you know who invented the watch case as we know it today? I am not talking about the U Loop like you have on the Elgin Stan posted, but the case as it is today. Lugs, pins etc.

[GLADIATOR]

What I can say
1840 Mass market Pocket watches achieved their peak
1930 Wrist watches equaled (50M pcs) pocket watches.
1931 Wristwatches overtook pocket watches (50.2m versus 49.8m)

1927 The date as generally accepted that Wilsdorf (Rolex)started the transition from pocket to wrist.

Who invented the case? OUTSTANDING question. Maybe NO one - it evolved from wristlet to soldered SOLID lugs on a pocket watch, to soldered lugs on a Lepine case to as it is to-day.  I have EVERY variation

Another post!!

[CHIP]

Jan 29, 2013 14:52:16 GMT -6 GLADIATOR said:

What I can say
1840 Mass market Pocket watches achieved their peak
1930 Wrist watches equaled (50M pcs) pocket watches.
1931 Wristwatches overtook pocket watches (50.2m versus 49.8m)

1927 The date as generally accepted that Wilsdorf (Rolex)started the transition from pocket to wrist.

Who invented the case? OUTSTANDING question. Maybe NO one - it evolved from wristlet to soldered SOLID lugs on a pocket watch, to soldered lugs on a Lepine case to as it is to-day.  I have EVERY variation

Another post!!

Looking forward to it!

[literustyfan]

I always look forward to your SUPERB threads Adam ! ! !

I do recall a patent for spring bars back in 1916 (I think).

I'll have to check my files on that date though.

Spring bars really began to gain popularity in mid - late 1918.

Several American case manufacturers started cranking them out towards the end of WWI.

[GLADIATOR]

Thanks Stan - Appreciated
Yes I have that patent, I think by Depollier if you want it
Regards