219 Military Watch

February 26, 2007, 21:36

Jeffrey Tibbs

219 Military Watch

Just came across this South Bend 219 in a US Shipping Board case. I had heard of this, but never seen one until this week. Pic of the dial and case back. Overall the watch is in decent shape, needs a COA, but with a little TLC, will be a nice addition. Any guess as to how many of these 16 size watches were made for the military?

Thanks Jeff

February 26, 2007, 21:37

Jeffrey Tibbs

Pic of the 219 movement # 840745 in the swing out case

February 26, 2007, 21:43

Clyde Roper

Very neat. Thanks for sharing it.

February 28, 2007, 04:40

Frank Kusumoto

Very nice! The year seems to match up. I wonder why the dial was "Roman", it seems like a standard RR style dial would have been more likely, but it of course it may be switched. Who knows? Still, the case and the movement all seem proper and noteworthy indeed.

Frank Kusumoto

February 28, 2007, 10:35

Lindell V. Riddle

Another great find Jeff.

Remember, the 18s grade 315 predominately had Roman dials...

CLICK FOR: 315 Military Watch Questions and Information

There are so many things we may never know for sure.

July 31, 2009, 18:06

Tom Brown

I got one of these today, it looks just like Jeff posted back in 2007. The one I picked up was 345 numbers earlier. The case was 240 earlier.

Does anyone know how these were used by the Shipping Board? Were they used on ships like other watches such as the Hamilton's from WWII.

Any idea how many of these were purchased by the Government?

July 31, 2009, 18:07

Tom Brown

The case back markings

July 31, 2009, 18:08

Tom Brown

Clean looking movement, I haven't touched it yet.

July 31, 2009, 18:11

Tom Brown

Case number.

I would be interested to hear any comments.

The only other posts I could find about this type of watch were one about an 18s South Bend, which also mentioned a couple being auctioned off at Jones & Horan.

https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/f...021048812#8021048812

July 31, 2009, 20:11

Lindell V. Riddle

Tom,

Both the 16-size 219 and 18-size 315 are equipped with the same style dial, to me that that is a tip-off to authenticity. Yours and Jeffs with the close movement and case numbers help authenticate each other very nicely. We are looking at World War I items which are some ninety years old... it is amazing to find in-tact survivors. The name "Shipping Board" was later "Bureau of Ships" the Navy name for their management control of proprietary items. That may not be the best terminology, someone else may define it better.

As to numbers produced, we will never know because the South-Bend records were destroyed in the early 1930s as explained in HISTORY OF SOUTH-BEND WATCHES by yours-truly.

Thanks a million for sharing your watch!

Lindell

July 31, 2009, 20:30

Tom Brown

Thanks Lindell.

I also thought with the dials, serial number of movement & case numbers it helped show the two were more than likely originals. Even all three hands look the same to my untrained eye.

I don't know much about South Bends other than I drool over the photos of yours & other members.

Tom

July 31, 2009, 23:06

Jerry King

Tom, here's a link to a brief definition and description of the forming of the U.S. Shipping Board

Here is a link that has more detail on the U.S. Shipping Board Detail

That is a nice watch Tom,....Great find and thanks for showing it....

Regards,
Jerry

August 01, 2009, 00:33

Ernie Loga

I have two South Bend 219's. One has an arabic dial on movement #1058140, year 1923 Run 35. The other we know the dial has been changed because it has a Studebaker dial on it. Niether of them are in Military cases.

I wonder if all 219's should have Roman Numeral dials?

My 315 has a Roman Numeral dial as Lindell suggested.

August 01, 2009, 00:34

Tom Brown

Thanks Jerry, I will check out the links.

Found this neat looking poster that was used in the 1st years of the Board.

Tom