It's always time for
character watches...Watches with Character.
Vintage Bamm Bamm Rubble, Banana Splits Drooper, Banana Splits
Fleegle, Boo Boo, Dasterdly, Fred Flintstones, Funky Phantom, Hair Bear, Hong Kong Phooey, Huckleberry
Hound, Josie & the Pussy Cats, Muttley, Pebbles Flintstone, Peter Puck, Quick Draw McGraw, Scooby Doo, Top Cat, Yakky Doodle Duck, Yogi Bear character watches.
Hanna-Barbera Productions,
Inc. was founded in 1957 by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. They dominated
the animation industry for over 30 years creating a wide variety of popular animated
characters and cartoon series. Sold to Taft Broadcasting in the mid-sixties and
then to Turner Broadcasting in the nineties and eventually absorbed by Warner
Brothers Animation. Many of their character watches were produced in the 1970s
with large, thick MOD wrist bands and are rare finds today.
Huckleberry "Huck"
Hound was a cartoon character that spoke with a thick southern drawl, relaxed,
and well-intentioned. Debuting in 1957, he would usually perform different jobs
that didn’t work out well at the start, but all ended well with him coming out
on top.
In
the 60's, Bradley produced this Huckleberry Hound dressed as a circus showman with a whip and a hat on a white background with red numbers, black minute marks and blue hands to tell the time.
Swiss made with the standard Bradley movement at the time. Marked H.B. P.
Yogi Bear was a cartoon
character whose show debut in 1958. Yogi was Hanna-Barbera's first major
character. Yogi hung around fictional Jellystone Park with his friend Boo
Boo. Together they would try to steal picnic baskets from campers causing
trouble for Park Ranger Smith.
In
1963, Bradley produced his Yogi Bear where Yogi is smartly dressed with a green hat
and tie and carrying his bindle while walking in the park on a white background with blue numbers, black minute marks and black hands to tell the time. Swiss made with the
same standard Bradley movement at the time. Marked H.B. P. Box was simple and rare
today.
Quick Draw McGraw was the third
cartoon created by Hanna-Barbera making its debut in 1959. A good but
sometimes dim horse with a deep cowboy voice who spoofed the popular
westerns of the time.
In the 1960s, Bradley produced this rare Quick Draw McGraw watch. Quick Draw is shown in his red cowboy hat and light blue bandana with his gun belt and music coming from his mouth on a white background with blue numbers, black minute marks and black hands to tell the time. Swiss made with the
same standard Bradley movement at the time (see Yogi and Huckleberry Hound).
Yakky Doodle, "Are you
my mama?" was a cartoon yellow duckling with green wings who lives with
his best friend/protector Chopper the bulldog. Yakky was always running into
danger. He first aired back in 1961.
Here is a 1960's or '70s rare
Yakky Doodle Duck, a standard Swiss made
electronically timed movement by unknown maker. Most likely an unlicensed watch. Smiling Yakky appears happy as a moving ticking worm or caterpillar moves back and forth to tick off the
seconds on a white background with black numbers, black minute marks and his green wings to tell the time.
Scooby Doo, created in 1969,
was a Great Dane and main character who was friends to Shaggy Rogers who
treated Scooby like a human. They formed “Mystery, Inc." with Daphne
Blake, Fred Jones, and Velma Dinkley and solved mystery’s but the truth is
Shaggy and Scooby preferred to sit around and eat.
Here we have a rare Scooby
Doo made by American Time from 1970. Scooby is smiling with his tongue out wearing a blue collar on a yellow background with black numbers and his arms to tell the time. One jewel Swiss
made & marked "Scooby Doo" and 1970 Hanna Barbera Prod, Inc.
These
came in nice presentation boxes with Scooby and the mystery van on it. Watches
are rare (box is super rare today) ....and came with large, thick MOD watch
bands of the 70's.
Below is the same watch with
a white background again with Scooby Doo made by American Time from 1970 with
moving arms, Swiss made one jewel & marked "Scooby Doo" and
1970 Hanna Barbera Prod, Inc.
This slightly smaller rare Scooby Doo was also made by
American Time from 1970. This time Scooby is walking with a goofy look and his tongue hanging out on a yellow background with black numbers and now with regular black hands to tell the time. One jewel Swiss made & marked "Scooby Doo" and 1970 Hanna
Barbera Prod, Inc.
1971 Josie and the Pussy Cats by Bradley. Having aired on Saturday morning television a year prior, Josie and the band got their own watch showing red-headed lead singer, songwriter, guitarist and leader of the band Josie in her yellow tiger stripped pussy cat outfit (including ears) holding her pink guitar with a big smile on a white background with music notes for the 3,6,9,12 numbers, black numbers for the rest with black minute marks and the fives marked off along with black hands to tell the time. Marked Swiss made, HBP Inc. (for Hanna-Barbera Productions) and AC Inc. (for Archie Comics) 1971. A super rare find today.
Dastardly and Muttley
("in Their Flying Machines") was a cartoon that aired September
1969. Dick Dastardly and his dog sidekick & always snickering Muttley
try to catch Yankee Doodle Pigeon who carried secret messages, hence the title
theme "Stop the Pigeon".
Here
is a super rare Muttley & Dasterdly from the Wacky Races with Muttley and Dasterdly wearing their flying gear in their pink flying machine on a blue background with black numbers and the planes
propellers to tell the time. Swiss made 1972 and marked 1972 Hanna Barbera
Prod Inc.
The Flintstones was a cartoon
set in the Stone Age and aired September 1960. It was the first animated series
to hold a prime time spot. I've only seen watches for Fred, Peebles and Bam
Bam.
Here
is a 1970's Fred & Pebbles Flintstones by Bradley with Smiling Fred wearing his orange tiger skin and blue tie looking at playing Pebbles with her hair up on a white background with blue numbers, black minute marks, black hands and a red second hand. The standard Swiss
movement and original band signed Flintstones at the top, Swiss made at the bottom.
Here is a 1972 Bamm Bamm Rubble by Bradley again with their standard Swiss movement marked H. B. P. 1972. Bamm Bamm is in his red skin outfit with matching hat carrying his club with a side ways view on a white background with black numbers, black minute marks and silver hands to tell the time.
Here
is 1972 Fred Flintstones by Bradley again with their standard Swiss
movement. Fred is in his usual red tiger skin with a yellow tie smiling and dancing on a white background with black numbers, black minute marks and Fred's arms to tell the time. Marked "Yabba Dabba doo" and
H. B. P. 1972.
These came in this simple plastic covered top boxes. Hard to find today.
Here is a 1972 Pebbles Flintstones by Bradley again with their standard Swiss movement. Marked
H. B. P. 1972. Pebbles is dressed in green on a white background black numbers and black minute marks. Notice they moved her head up so it isn't in the exact
middle which makes her body seem "disconnected". I've seen both with her
hands and without as the hands of the watch, but probably should have
them since she has none without them.
The Banana Splits Adventure
Hour was an American hour-long variety program. A fictional rock band composed
of four animal characters. Fleegle on guitar/vocals, Bingo on drums/vocals,
Drooper on bass/vocals, Snorky on keyboard. Aired in 1968 with Sid and Marty
Krofft designs, it mixed animated & live action. I believe these watches were
sold at the Kings Island amusement park in Ohio in the 70's.
Here
is a super rare 1972 Banana Splits Drooper made by Nan-ric with a Swiss
movement. Drooper has his red hat and bass on a white background with yellow numbers and red hands to tell the time. Marked Hanna Barbera Production Inc. Israel 1972 Swiss made.
Here is a super rare 1972
Banana Splits Fleegle made by Nan-ric with a Swiss movement. Fleegle has on his red hat, red bow tie and is standing with his bass on a white background with blue numbers and his arms to tell the time. Marked Hanna Barbera Production Inc.
Israel 1972.
NOTE: Drooper and Fleegle are the only
ones I've ever seen of the four in the Banana Splits band and Fleegle will
sometimes have regular hands to tell the time or his own (which is more
desired) as the example below shows.
The Funky Phantom was a
Saturday morning cartoon which aired in 1971. Three teenagers find shelter from
a storm where a grandfather clock displayed the wrong time, when set to the
proper time, it released the Revolutionary war era ghost, an American patriot
named Jonathan Wellington "Mudsy" Muddlemore (the Funky Phantom) and
his cat Boo.
Here
we have a super rare 1972 Funky Phantom by Israel showing the Phantom flying
out of the grandfather clock with Boo on his shoulder on a blue background, white numbers and black hands to tell the time. Swiss made with original
band. Marked Funky Phantom Hanna Barbera Production Inc. 1972.
Hair Bear Bunch was a cartoon
that aired September 1971. Three bears comprised the Hair Bear Bunch who live
in a zoo. Not a popular show so rare today.
Here
we have a rare 1972 Hair Bear by Nan-ric. Ever cool Hair Bear is wearing a red and yellow jacket and belt on a white background with red numbers and his hands to tell time &
original band. Swiss made. Marked 1972 Hanna Barbera Productions - Nan-ric.
Here is a 1973 super rare Peter Puck for the NHL, a concept by NBC
executive/NY Rangers ticket holder Donald Carswell who partnered with
Hanna- Barbera to help introduce hockey to kids. Here is smiling Peter
Puck with a large yellow mouth on a gray face and big eyes & eye
brows, wearing red skates all on a white background with black numbers,
black minute marks, a red second hand and his red gloved hands to tell
the time. What a prize! Marked Swiss made, 1973 Hanna Barbera
Productions Inc. I've include this on my Sports Blog also. Very few of these around.
Hong Kong Phooey was a
Saturday cartoon which aired September 1974. Clumsy mild mannered Penrod
"Penry" Pooch worked at a police station as a janitor who would
disguise himself as Hong Kong Phooey by jumping into a filing cabinet to
change clothes and always ended up getting stuck in it AND then having his pet
cat Spot help get him unstuck.
Here is a super rare Timex
Hong Kong Phooey watch (also shown under my vintage crime fighter’s blog entry). Karate chopping Penrod "Penry" Pooch is hard to resist with his hands to tell the time dressed in a red with white trim gi, masked Penrod is on
a blue background with black numbers and a black second hand to tell the time.
One Jewel, Swiss made and marked Hanna Barbera Prod Inc. at the bottom, a rare find
today.
In
the 70's, Citizen produced this brown plastic Yogi Bear, Boo Boo and Yakky Doodle Duck watch for the
Japanese market. Smiling Yogi is wearing his green hat and tie while plucking a purple cello that Boo Boo contently strokes with the bow dressed in his pink tie as smiling Yakky peers out from behind. It reads "Lets sing a song!" all on a white
background with black minute five minute marks and thin gold hands
along with a white second hand with a star near the end of it to tell
the time. Marked Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc.
In the 70's, Citizen produced this red plastic Top Cat watch for the Japanese market marked Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. Here you have Top Cat on the PD phone with fellow gang member Benny the Ball. Top Cat has on his pink vest and hat. It reads "Hello! this is Top Cat" on a white background with black minute five minute marks and thin silver hands along with a white second hand with a heart near the end of it to tell the time.
In
the 70's, Citizen produced this white plastic Top Cat watch for the
Japanese market marked Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. Here you have smiling Top
Cat sitting on a blue trash can eating a sandwich off a plate. Top Cat has
on his brown shirt and hat. It asks "I'm happy. You. Too?" on a white
background with black numbers, thin silver hands including a second hand with a red star near the end of it to tell the time.
In
1972, Basis produced this one jewel Yogi Bear watch for Hanna Barbera Productions, Inc. Smirking Yogi is standing pointing wearing his regular green tie, colar and green hat on a white background with black numbers, black minute marks and black hands to tell the time. Marked HBP 1972 Swiss Made. Hard to find today.
In 1974 this super rare Quick Draw McGraw watch was produced for Hanna-Barbera. Quick Draw is shown in his standard red cowboy hat and
light blue bandana with his gun belt on a white background with black numbers and a gun in hoof as his
arms are used to tell the time, always a plus with character watches. Marked Hanna-Barbera productions Inc. 1974 with a Swiss movement.
In
the 70's, Citizen produced this wonderful green plastic Quick Draw McGraw watch for the
Japanese market marked Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. Here you have Quick Draw McGraw riding a blue scooter out to right a wrong while he's got his gun in one hand and wearing his hat and gun belt saying "This is my business" on a white
background with black numbers, thin silver hands including a second hand with a blue star near the end of it to tell the time.
In
1977, Timex produced this Fred Flintstone watch with smiling Fred
wearing his orange tiger skin and blue tie on a blue background, black
numbers and black hands along with rotating stone as the second hand.
Marked
1977 Hanna Barbera Productions.
Here we have two SUPER RARE 1978 Scooby Doo's made by American Watch Co. with the same "wlaking" Scooby dial as the previous version but this time with high quality 17 jewel Swiss movements and non-colored backgrounds, very nicely made, probably for executives at Hanna-Barbera (i've only ever seen these two).
Marked H.B. P. and on the back "Incabloc". Two of my favorite finds.
In
1978, Picco produced this plastic Yogi Bear & Boo Boo 7-jewel movement watch with Yogi & Boo Boo walking in the park with a picnic
basket both dressed in a tie on a white background with yellow numbers, yellow hands and a silver second hand to tell the time. Marked 1978
Hanna Barbera Production Inc. - Singapore
In
1978, Picco produced this plastic watch with Fred Flintstone and Dino, a 7-jewel
movement with Fred laying against a tree stump looking up at a flying bee and Dino in the background all on a white background with blue numbers, blue hands and a silver second hand. Marked 1978
Hanna Barbera Production Inc. - Singapore
In 1978, Picco produced this plastic
watch with Pebbles & Bamm Bamm, a 7-jewel movement with Pebbles &
Bamm Bamm sitting on the grass smelling flowers and watching the butterfly on a white background with green number, green hands and a silver second hand. Marked 1978 Hanna
Barbera Production Inc. – Singapore
Also in
1978, Picco produced this plastic Scooby Doo 7-jewel
movement watch with Scooby "walking" in scary scene with a ghost, moon and tree in the background all on a white background with brown numbers, yellow hands and a silver second hand. Marked 1978
Hanna Barbera Production Inc. - Singapore
Also in
1978, Picco (by Lafayette (marked on case)) produced this SUPER RARE metal Scooby Doo 7-jewel
movement watch with Scooby "walking" in scary scene with a ghost, moon and tree in the background all on a white background with red numbers, red hands and a black second hand to tell the time. Same dial graphics as the plastic model above but in a metal case. Marked 1978
Hanna Barbera Production Inc. - Singapore. What a super Scooby Doo find!
In 1984, Images of Los Angeles produced this rare Scooby Doo marked 1984 Hanna Barbera Productions Inc. Scooby is looking confident in a seated position with his blue collar on a white background, black numbers and gold hands including a gold second hand to tell the time. These were limited to 500 and came with a note thanking the employees of DFS Program Exchange for a very successful year.
For more Information on Watches see:
The National Watch and Clock Museum: https://nawcc.org/index.php/museum
The West Coast Clock & watch museum https://www.agsem.com/West-Coast-Clock-and-Watch-Museum.php which is located at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum http://www.agsem.com/
Any thoughts can be emailed to characterwatchtime@gmail.com
It's always time for character
watches...Watches with Character.