1930s
pre-WWII to early WWII era German Luftwaffe pattern Fliegeruhr or pilot's
watch. This is the large 41mm case (excluding the crown) with the double
clamshell back and 15 jewel signed Helvetia movement.
Information
from the internet
When
Louis Brandt and his brother founded Louis Brandt and Fils in 1880, their firm
would go on to produce watches under, among other names, "Omega" and
"Helvetia." They founded a second watch firm, "La Generale"
in Bienne and in 1895 transferred quite a few of their "Brandt &
Fils" marks to the new company - Helvetia being chief among them. As late
as 1900, Omega advertisements also heralded the quality of their
"Helvetia" watches.
"La
Generale" - or "General Watch Company," produced timepieces for
more recognizable brand names than any other major watch firm. Makers for such
names as Eterna, Mido, Longines, Oris and Helvetia, they became known for their
attention to detail and ability to manufacture good timepieces in reliable
quantities - just the qualities needed by a burgeoning military. It was because
of this standard that the German military approached General Watch Company to
make wrist and pocket watches for the "Deutsches Heer" - the German
Army.
During
the mid to late '30s, Helvetia produced aviator's wristwatches that were
retailed in Germany, featuring high-grade 15 jewel "shock protected"
mechanisms. Such models were designed to be worn over the sleeve of a flying
suit and were fitted with a thick leather strap. These timepieces also were
used by administration because, like the Army, the Luftwaffe had timepieces
that were distributed to ground based personnel.
Apparently,
examples of this model were used in 1937 in the Reich Luftwaffe's flying school
in Oldenburg, similar to the Zeniths used in the flight school in
Brandenburg-Briest during the same period. Today, such models are quite sought
after by both horological collectors and military historians.
Read
more: http://wristwatchforums.proboards.com/thread/12068/helvetia-wwii-pilot-watch-functional#ixzz4upRX3eKS
1 comment:
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