Posted 8 years ago
TeeGeeCee
(1 item)
I'm trying to figure out the story on this watch. I bought it as a teen at a flea market in New Jersey over 30 years ago, and have just sort of had it ever since.
I started researching it recently and I have yet to see anything like this one, so I can't even decide if it's real or a (very old) fake. This is the info I can glean on it:
FRONT:
"Mickey Mouse Ingersoll (c)1933 w.e.d. prod" at the 3 o'clock position. "Ingersoll" in the classic font at the 6 o'clock. "made in U.S.A." very small below the 6. The arms are the classic hour/minute hand enameled style.
Here's where it gets weird. All the pocket watches I've seen have a second hand dial at the bottom, with 3 smaller mickeys in that space. Mine has nothing like that. Instead, Mickey is printed, large, on a clear plastic disc that sits in front of the hands, and this disc rotates as the second hand. The Mickey is the classic "balloon pants", with yellow shoes.
BACK:
Smooth, indicating manufacture in Great Britain.
Interior:
The movement says "Smiths" and "No Jewels" and "Unadjusted" in the upper right area, and "MADE IN GT (or GI?) BRITAIN) in the lower area. I don't see any sort of serial # anywhere.
And that's what I know. SO what's the deal with this thing? Some weird one off? A knock off? A rare item? Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks in advance for any help.
Very interesting, Smiths made a number of "knock off" Mickey Mouse watches over the years. I have contacted a friend who is up on Smiths timepieces and will let you know what he has to say, my guess is it's a fabricated piece.
Thanks vonsboy - appreciate it!
Does it run? And if it does, does the body move with the hands? Below the numeral 6 it says made in the USA on the dial which means an American dial has been put with an English movement. The Mickey is exactly like the one used on American clocks.
As I continue to look at it, the Mickey is very bright and at sharp contrast to the watch face beneath it which is suspicious as a later addition.
One more impression. The Mickey looks like it might be a decal of some sort affixed to the underside of the crystal?
Have heard back from my friend in Great Britain who confirms its an American dial with. British Smiths movement which is compatible. The movement is a 1970's sweep movement, Smiths bought out Ingersoll in 1968. The sweeps movement would have allowed the decal to turn as a second hand. Hope this is helpful.
1970's artist creation(fantasy piece). Probably made by Collector/Creator Albert Horen. very cool piece
Thanks for the follow up! The mickey does indeed spin - it's on a sheet of clear round plastic, but the watch itself isn't running right now. I'm trying to decide if it's worth spending the money to get it repaired & cleaned up.
I'll do some digging on Albert Horen.
There was a really great write up about him, but I can't seem to find the link, I'll try and get it to you