Hello everyone,

i thought i'd use my first time posting here (well, other than a reply below and present my latest buy - an Elgin Canteen.










Finally here is a photo of a UDT member wearing a Canteen dive watch - the photo isn't as clear as the original, but i still believe you can make out the watch. The UDT diver is enjoying a smoke and a bit of Brandy after a dive - my kinda' Navy ... LOL.



Best Regards from N.M.

billy

Great watch Billy! For our viewers, does UDT stand for Underwater Demolition Team?

BTW, the wife and I will be traveling near Gallup this weekend. We will be heading South out of Holbrook, AZ and visiting our retirement home in Show Low.

Thanks, so much !! I really appreciate your help w/ the photos

The Elgin Canteen was issued in the early 1950s, and was the watch used by divers during the Korean War. The only diver that was issued prior to the Elgin (to U.S. divers) was the Hamilton Canteen.

I believe there were a number of divers just prior to the Vietnam War, and just as this war beginning to start the U.S. started to issue the Benrus Type I. Below is one i bought last year - this is a "Sterile Issue" - bearing nothing but a serial # on the back...



hope this photo show

If anyone is interested i started a small webpage w/ more info on the Benrus Type I / II dive watches - including a shot of the movement and a few different variations. Along w/ this page is a page about Olongapo Bracelets - a cottage industry bracelet made near Subic Bay during the Vienam war (below is an example)



Follow the link if anyone is interested:

http://www.freewebs.com/billyschorr/

Thank you again for the help w/ the photos - i belive i was having trouble because i was using a "Tag" and not the URL

Best Regards from N.M.

billy

Hi John,

yes UDT stands for Underwater Demolition Team(s).

Hope you have a wonderful trip - the weather here has been the best in the five years we've lived here. Very mild, light winds, and occasional showers (something we love to see out here - so different from back east where i and my family are from ... lol).

Thanks, again, and Best Regards from N.M.

billy

Welcome to 185, William or Billy whichever you prefer to be called.
I liked your pictures of the wristwatches, very neat with the waterproof stem.
Great photograpy also.
Enjoy the site , there is alot to look at.

Nice canteen photos, William.
Thanks,
Brian C.

Thanks for the info on U.S. dive watches. The images of your watch are excellent and the picture of the diver is especially valuable.

The Olongapo Bracelets and the connection with the Vietnam war is also highly interesting. These might also come under the general heading of “trench art.” At some point I’d like to see a good long discussion of military watch bands, watch bracelets - govt. issued, trench art and private purchase. So far this is a rather neglected area.

Unfortunately, the link to your web-cite is “under construction,” but I will definitely be back to check again!

Best regards,
Greg

Hi Greg,

the opening page says things are "under construction" , but if you use the "tabs" to the upper right side of the screen - Benrus Type I/II and the Olongapo Bracelet tabs = they will then take you to that page. BTW, if you get any errors (like photos showing as little red Xs) please post here about it = my computer is on its last legs, and i'm not sure if it is my computer or if it is the webpage ??

TIA and Best Regards from N.M.

Billy

Aha! Now I see them. What a great collection. It would be easy to overlook a treasure like one of these Benrus dive watches if you did not know what you were looking at.

Thanks again,

Greg