papazulu
25
Correction to your misinformation!
A nice article, but...
you wrote;
The AEF order for Vacheron & Constantin was signed in May of 1918 for 5,000 pieces to be delivered in lots of at least 100 per month and 150-200 whenever possible. By the time deliveries concluded in 1920, a total of 3,289 Vacheron & Constantin timepieces had been received by the Corps. The great majority of these watches were single-button chronographs in sturdy silver cases, while a few time-only watches are also known. The general pattern for the Vacheron & Constantin U.S. Army Corps of Engineers watches was as follows:
Sorry to correct you but this is the first of many mistakes!
The order (to V & C) was for 2000 watches and nor as commonly cited 5000.
Regards
The Watch That Went to War
Vacheron Constantin: The Watch That Went to War U.S. Army Corps of Enginers Description Case: four-body bassine case of polished 0.900 silver, hinged inner cuvette engraved ‘VACHERON & CONSTANTIN GENÈVE’, back engraved ‘CORPS OF ENGINEERS U.S.A. No. 2407’...
Time-only Version
Sorry for the wrong photo of a time-only 15 jewel Corps of Engineers watch. Here is the real thing from an unkown website. Note the field modification of 24hr time scale stamped onto dial....
Will have to read it again, Tic Talk, BUT
It is a very interesting post. It reminds me the Lecoultre Torpedo Boat Chronometer. Thanks a lot, your post, and the watch are both keepers! Best, Nicolas
Thank you for the detailed history, Dean....
I've always been a bit fascinated by these watches which show up at auction a couple of times a year, though I've never gotten the nerve to acquire one because they are too distant from my collecting priorities. You mentioned that the movements were both ...
Movement Finish
Hi Bill. We know this order by the Corps of Engineers taxed V&C's abilities to deliver the required numbers, and in fact they did not succeed! I'd speculate that they began with movements assembled from parts in stock, then moved to regular production...
Great watch and article, but
keep the dial and hands sealed at all times. The Radium decomposes into a fine powder, which will become air bourne in the slightest air current. It can then be breathed in, where it becomes trapped in one's lungs and causes trouble! Would love to see dia...
Wonderful story & beautiful watch!
Thanks very much for the history lesson. I have several deck chronometers, but I think the nicest of the group is my V&C, this one from the British Hydrographic Service. Typical silver case, straightforward dial and blue hands, and with the expected fabul...
OMG thats gorgeous!
Wonderful piece! I've admired it before...the hands are brilliant blue. Do you think that is the result of conventional bluing? Also, it looks like the dial is champleve enamel...yes? The wood case is British-made, was that typical for the Hydrographic Se...
Another movement picture...
The quality invested in these timepieces was amazing, considering the time and purpose for which they were constructed. Much like the Rolls Royce armored cars in use during the period....
Very nice indeed....
and certainly beyond what one would expect in a tool watch such as this.
Correction to your misinformation!
A nice article, but... you wrote; The AEF order for Vacheron & Constantin was signed in May of 1918 for 5,000 pieces to be delivered in lots of at least 100 per month and 150-200 whenever possible. By the time deliveries concluded in 1920, a total of 3,28...
Thanks for this additional information!
However, one letter doesn't capture the entire contract with V&C...the total figure of 5,000 ordered and 3,289 watches delivered was provided by Vacheron Constantin themselves. What you have is the order for the time-only, non-chronograph silver-cased C o...
My apologies
I´m sorry if I came over in a rude fashion, It certainly wasn´t intended. You are right of course, it was the order for the "half chronographs" ... Best Regards
other caseback numbers
...and I have the No. 12569 in my collection, which is a Zenith! Also 1094 V & C, 10159 V & C, 9665 Ulysse Nardin, Best Regards