Vintage Walter Lantz Character Watches

It's always time for character watches...Watches with Character.

Vintage Andy Panda, Chilly Willy, Cuddles, Space Mouse, Splinter, Woody Woodpecker character watches.

Walter Lantz, American cartoonist, animator, film producer, director and actor founded Walter Lantz Productions in 1929. Ten years later, in 1939, he created Andy Panda and in 1940, after inspiration from a bothersome woodpecker on his honeymoon, he created Woody Woodpecker who appeared in an Andy Panda short entitled "Knock Knock". So popular he was, Woody had his own show the next year.  Lantz went on to create many characters including famous Space Mouse in 1953.

Here you have the earliest....

In the 1950's, Ingraham produced this large Woody Woodpecker watch marked WLP (for Walter Lantz Productions) on the left of Woody's tail, USA at the bottom, his name and several "HA"s to show him laughing. Smiling, running Woody is his usual blue and white with his white gloved hands, yellow feet and beak and his red plumage on a white background with blue numbers, red minute marks and red hands to tell the time.

These came in these nice but simple boxes with a picture of the dial and Woody's name.

In the 1950s, Ingraham produced a smaller round face watch that is hard to find today. This is the same model Ingraham used for several watches at the time, the Ballerina, Howdy Doody, Junior League, Junior Nurse, Punkin Head, Porky Pig, Tom Corbet etc. You have the same design as before with Woody running and laughing marked WLP (for Walter Lantz Productions) on the left of Woody's tail, USA at the bottom, his name and several "HA"s to show him laughing. Smiling, running Woody is his usual blue and white with his white gloved hands, yellow feet and beak and his red plumage. The numbers are a matching blue with red minute marks to tell the time.

In the 1970's, Citizen produced this Woody Woodpecker watch for the Japanese market marked Walter Lantz Productions Japan at the bottom. This is a beautiful bright red hard plastic watch around the outside. Here we have a happy smiling bright-eyed Woody. He is his usual blue and white, this time with red gloved hands, orangish feet and beak and his red plumage on a white background with black numbers and Woody's hands to tell the time, always a plus with character watches and includes a orangish second hand

Here is another 1970's Citizen produced version of Woody Woodpecker marked Walter Lantz Productions Japan at the bottom. This is a beautiful blue hard plastic watch around the outside. Here we have a concerned looking Woody walking. He is his usual blue and white, this time with red gloved hands, orangish feet and beak and his red plumage on a white background with black numbers and Woody's hands to tell the time, always a plus with character watches and includes a orangish second hand.

               One of the unique features of these Citizens watches is they have small glass backs to see the movement. 

 

Also in the 70's, Citizen produced this seldom seen Woody Woodpecker with Buzz Buzzard watch for the Japanese market. This is a cream-colored hard plastic made watch around the outside. Here is Woody running from Buzz with a football. Citizen produced several different ones but didn't mass produce them. Woody is dressed in blue/white with his red hair and hands. The numbers are black with Woody's hands and a red second hand to tell the time. This also has a glass back to see the movement. A rare find.

  Also in the 70's, Citizen produced this seldom seen Splinter and Cuddles watch for the Japanese market. This is a beautiful red hard plastic watch around the outside. Here is Woody's niece Splinter laying on a ball with sweet Cuddles, the great Dane. Splinter has the same blue/white/red coloring as Woody normally does and Cuddles is all in yellow with his red collar. The numbers are black with black hands and a red second hand to tell the time. This also has a glass back to see the movement. A rare find.

Also in the 70's, Citizen produced this seldom seen Andy Panda with penguin Chilly Willy watch for the Japanese market. Marked Walter Lantz Productions, Inc. Japan. The outside of the watch is green hard plastic. Here is Andy Panda dressed in his blue pants & red shoes walking with Chilly Willy. It has Andy's hands to tell the time, black numbers and a blue second hand. It also has a glass back as noted above to see the movement. A rare find. 

In 1972, This Andy Panda watch was produced marked Walter Lantz Productions and Swiss made at the bottom. Smiling Andy Panda is in yellow shoes, orange pants, a blue hat and black vest with black numbers and Andy's red gloved hands to tell the time.

Also in the 70's, Webster produced this woodpecker watch with no mention of Woody as its most likely unlicensed. It has two woodpeckers sitting in a tree with the smaller one moving as it ticks off the seconds looking as if its pecking at the tree. The larger woodpecker has more of a Woody look. Only marked Hong Kong at the bottom with black hands to tell the time. You'll see many of these on the secondary market.

In the 1970's Marcel produced this Woody Woodpecker watch with smiling Woody standing proud on a white background along with black hands and with a red second hand, marked Walter Lantz Productions, Inc. and Hong Kong at the bottom.

In the 1970s, Citizen produced this nicely made Space Mouse watch marked Walter Lantz Productions, Inc. and Japan at the bottom. Smiling Space Mouse is wearing his reddish-purple space suit with his large belt and grey space shoes. There are several stars and an orbiting planet next to him on a white background with black numbers and black marks to show the minutes and has Space Mouse's black and gloved reddish hands along with an orange second hand to tell the time. Space Mouse is also part of my Vintage Space and Science Fiction blog.

Also in the 70's, Dynasty (i think via Bradley) produced this bubble style dome watch with Space Mouse marked Walter Lantz Productions, Inc. at the bottom, Dynasty Swiss made at the top. Smiling Space Mouse is wearing his reddish space suit, white shoes on a white background with black numbers and has red hands to tell the time.

Also in the 70's, Dynasty (again I think via Bradley) produced this bubble style dome watch with Andy Panda marked Walter Lantz Productions, Inc. at the bottom, Dynasty Swiss made at the top. Smiling Andy Panda is shown wearing his blue hat, red pants, white shirt, and his bow tie with yellow shoes along with a big smile all on a white background with black numbers and his red hands to tell the time. A rare find today.

Also in the 70's, Dynasty (again I think via Bradley) produced this bubble style dome watch with Woody Woodpecker marked Walter Lantz Productions, Inc. at the bottom, Dynasty Swiss made at the top. Smiling Woody looks his usual self with his blue/white body, yellow feet and yellow beak with his bright red plumage on a white background with black numbers and his red hands to tell the time. They also came in red and white, all not seen too often today.

In 1972, Bradley also produced this Woody Woodpecker, the same image as above Dynasty bubble watch (via Bradley). Smiling Woody in blue on a white background, black number, and with his hands to tell the time. Marked Endura Swiss made at the top and Walter Lantz Productions, Inc. at the bottom.

Bradley also produced this super rare Woody Woodpecker with Buzz Buzzard, the same image as above Citizen watch (minus the football). Smiling Woody in blue looking back at Buzz who appears to be chasing him, with Woody's hands to tell the time, black numbers and a black second hand. Marked Swiss made and Walter Lantz Productions, Inc. at the bottom.

Here is a Woody Woodpccker with just his smiling face and smartly combed red plumage by Q&Q on a reddish orange circle on a white dial with black numbers, black minute marks, black hands and an orange second hand to tell the time. Marked Japan 0-120852e Walter Lantz 78.

Here is a Woody Woodpccker full size with his smiling face, bright red plumage tightly grasping onto some colorful balloons appearing to be soaring off by Q&Q on a white dial with black numbers, black minute marks, black hands and an orange second hand to tell the time. Marked Japan 0-1308578 Walter Lantz 78.

In 1984, A & M Hollywood produced this Woody Woodpecker with smiling Woody standing proudly with his hands extended. It has just the 3, 6, 9, & 12 numbers in black with standard silver hands and a red second hand, marked Walter Lantz Productions, Inc. at the bottom of this hard to find watch.

Also in the 1980s, Rouan produced this Woody Woodpecker with smiling Woody tipping his yellow hat and carrying his yellow suit case with his name on the side all on a silver background with black numbers and Woody himself as the second hand that rotates. Marked W.L.P. Inc. De Lauce, Swiss Movt, Hong Kong dial at the bottom on this harder to find watch that you'll most likely need your watch repair person to fix when you do find one. 

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/
 

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It's always time for character watches...Watches with Character.