Bus engraved case back. Late 20's Early 30's

August 23, 2014, 00:13

Paul D. Trombley

In keeping with my enjoyment of the trolley and interurban watches... I thought this engraved bus would be quite fun to have.

It holds a circa 1930 Illinois model 167 in great condition.

Dave Abbe mentioned in an earlier post that he felt the base metal case is appropriate for this era movement... I'm just curious if the engraved bus also fits this time frame.

Thanks a mil,..

August 23, 2014, 00:46

David Abbe

A 1920's Reo or one of the GM precursors. One is still at the RVM Hall of fame.

August 23, 2014, 08:27

Harry Ewasiuk

Very nice detailed engraving! Thank you, Paul.

August 23, 2014, 09:26

Michael Weiford

My guess is 1930's yellow coach.

August 23, 2014, 09:40

Douglas D. Weaver

David - since the headlights in the fenders were a trait of Pierce Arrow cars, I googled "Pierce Arrow Bus" and found that same photo identified as a 1928 Pierce Arrow.

August 23, 2014, 11:36

Lorne Wasylishen

Not something I would normally search google images for but since my Father was a bus driver it was good fun looking at all of these old buses/coaches, thanks Paul.

Closest I found:

August 23, 2014, 20:45

Paul D. Trombley

New York to Los Angeles... that must have been one heck of a ride.

I'd imagine these guys needed rugged/quality time pieces as well.

August 23, 2014, 23:00

Harry J. Hyaduck Sr.

Great watch case I love it and I don't care that much for those style cases. And I love all the old B&W photos. Thanks guys.

August 24, 2014, 07:55

Serge Barlas

Hi Paul,

Thanks for posting this. I have see many engraved cases but I have never seen one engraved with a bus. Was this a special presentation or service award case? Very cool!

August 24, 2014, 12:14

Lindell V. Riddle

Paul is right, this case-back design would have been targeted for sale to a bus driver, we also find specific cases with trolly cars and various interurban transportation vehicles depicted on the back.

To identification, the front of that bus on Paul's case is a Pierce Arrow, their distinctive styling is unmistakable. The Pierce Arrow company was located in Buffalo, New York and built upscale automobiles, trucks, commercial vehicles and chassis for custom bodies. Looking closely at the case, notice there are no side-mounted spares, that is something that was beginning to be phased out on commercial vehicles during the late 1920s which would indicate that around the early 1930s as being the most likely time when the drawing for this case was made. For this type of bus, Pierce Arrow would have built the front area and chassis but a coach builder would have produced the bus body, that along with the fact of "artist's license" meaning that artists may deviate from reality and simplify a rendering is why you may not find an identical picture.

That picture Dave Abbe posted above in this topic is actually of a 1928 Pierce Arrow House Car, today we would call it a Recreational Vehicle. Being from 1928 it has the side mounted spares and spoke wheels. Paul's case design is clearly somewhat later, far sleeker looking with no side mounts and it also has the newer style of disc wheels.

Look closely, here is a Pierce Arrow Bus fairly similar to Paul's case...

August 24, 2014, 17:56

Paul D. Trombley

I'm old enough to have read The Grapes of Wrath in high school and blessed to have grown up with grandparents and family friends that lived through those years lumber jacking and share cropping.

Thank you for all the photos and reflections.