It's always time for character
watches...Watches with Character.
Vintage American Patriot-Winchester, Archie, Bach, Barbie, Beethoven, Betty Boop, Bicentennial, Big Blue Marble, Big Jim, Bozo the Clown, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Cat in the Hat, Charlie Chaplin, Charlie Owl, The Chipmunks, Cinderella character watches.
I
chose to break down my listing of character watches by studio,
character or group so of course we have some uncategorized watches that
have to be presented, these are some of the more popular from the 1970s A - C. - in alpha order.
for other 1970s, See 1970 D - O
or 1970 P - Z
Here is an early 1970's Buren (Hamilton) 17 jewel American Patriot holding a Winchester 30 30 rifle. This hand painted dial depicts an American Patriot dressed appropriately in his hat, white shirt, vest, pants and high socks with one foot up on a tree stump holding a Winchester 30 30 rifle on a silver background with 30 at the 3, 6, 9, & 12 positions and just marks for the other numbers and silver hands including a second hand to tell the time.
Archie by ACP Inc. Rouan, marked Swiss movement 1972. Archie is a long running American comic book that started back in the 1940s. Here is red headed Archie's head that rotates as the seconds tick against a black background with white numbers and red hands to tell the time.
Bach from The Off Beat Time Company has J.S. Bach sitting in a red formal wear, blue socks and black shoes at an upright piano on a white background with black 3,6,9, & 12 and gold notes for the other numbers his arms as the hands and a black second hand to tell the time. Marked Swiss made.
Barbie's 1964 watch sold so well they made this almost full body version in 1973. Barbie by Bradley for Mattel. Here she is blond again wearing a blue dress on a white background with black numbers with her arms to tell the time encircled in a shiny cut glass looking material to catch the light. Marked Bradley, 1973 Mattel Inc. A registered trademark, Swiss made. This came in just a regular gold case also instead of this unusual blue one and i've seen one with a second hand also.
Here is a 1970's Beethoven by Off-Beat Time Co. Beethoven is dressed in a blue tuxedo with blue shoes sitting in front of a small open lid grand piano with black 3,6,9,& 12 numbers and pink dots for the others all on a white background with a red second hand and his arms to tell the time. Marked Swiss made.
Here is Betty Boop by Asa Inc. marked Rega Israel internally which has sweet Betty in her iconic black dress with a heart on it wearing her bracelets and earrings and looking like her hips are moving with her slogan "BOOP BOOP BE-DOOP" above her along with music notes as if she's singing it all on a white background
with red 3,9,12 numbers and white hands with red tips to tell the time while her eyes move to tick off the
seconds. Marked Swiss made and unadjusted one 1 jewel internally.
This Bicentennial watch by Rouan (marked Clarawatchus internally) contrasts a clipper ship with a lunar module to show the USA advancement from 1776 to 1976 with blue stars to represent the numbers and silver hands, including a second hand to tell the time. Marked Swiss movt, Hong Kong dial and internally marked one jewel unadjusted.
Here we have a 1975 super rare Big Blue Marble watch by Bradley for the PBS series that ran from 1974-1983. "Bluey", the Big Blue Marble is smiling with his big eyes and antenna as he points out the time on a white background circled by the names of cities around the globe with red numbers and black minute marks and Bluey's super blue arms to tell the time along with a red second hand. Marked 1975 ALPHAVENTURE, Swiss made.
Big Jim, who was one of the first early
male action figures was produced as a watch by Bradley for Mattel in the early 1970s. His
action figure came in these same boxer shorts with muscle flex bands and a button on
the back for “karate chop” arm action. You could dress him up as a boxer,
fisherman, ranger, football, kung fu, hockey, safari, firefighter etc. Even
today you can get SO MANY accessories it’s amazing. Here is Big Jim flexing in
his red 1970s shorts with bold black numbers, black minute marks and his arms
to tell the time. Marked 1973 Mattel a U.S. trademark of Mattel Inc. Swiss made. These watches were only available by mail order so you don't
see them too often today.
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Big Jim came in the usual Bradley coffin style boxes with original faux leather band.
Here Bozo the Clown is portrayed
in a
bright blue costume appearing to juggle both pins and balls. Smiling
Bozo is on
a yellow background with black numbers, black minute marks and has his
arms to
tell the time. The later version is on a white background and even later
has a rotating disk with the balls and pins on it for the second hand.
These
came in the standard "coffin" style watch boxes that Bradley was making
at the time. Marked "Larry Harmon's Bozo the Clown Wristwatch" as he
had purchased the creative rights in 1956.
Casper the Friendly Ghost by Bradley for Harley Famous Cartoons. Smiling Casper is on an all blue background appearing to be flying over a city (that looks like scratches) with white numbers and his arms to tell the time. Marked Swiss made Harley Famous Cartoons.
Cat in the Hat by the LaFayette Watch Co. has the Cat with his red & white stripped hat, red bow tie and a large grin. It has blue numbers with red minute numbers and his arms to tell the time, the blue gloved one is the hour while the red gloved is the minute. This is a glass back watch (as shown below). Marked Swiss made.
Cat in the Hat back showing the glass back and the LaFayette Watch Co. did a great job of documenting everything. 1972, Dr. Seuss, Swiss made, the LaFayette Watch Co.
These came in these nice plastic covered boxes, what's not to love!
Cat in the Hat jump hour by the LaFayette Watch Co. has the Cat wearing his stripped hat, red bow tie and a big grin on a blue background pointing his white gloved hand to the time display. Marked 1974 Dr. Seuss, Swiss made.
They came in these amazing colorful boxes with plastic tops like the super rare mint one.
In 1972, Bubbles Inc. for Cadeaux (A Milton Bradley company) produced this Swiss made Charlie Chaplin watch with a black & white Chaplin reminiscent of his old films. Charlie is dressed in a black suit, tie and bowler hat on a white background and has his cane rotating as the second hand with black hands and black numbers.
In 1975, The New Zoo Revue produced three watches made by Philmar. Here is Charlie the Owl with something on his mind wearing his red graduation cap and red vest with a white collar on a white background with black numbers, black minute marks and gold hands including a gold second hand to tell the time. Marked New Zoo Revue 1975. Hard to find these.
Here is a 1974 Cinderella by Bradley. This is the Bradley non Disney (which is why its here and not under my Disney blog) version with Cinderella dressed in a blue gown excited to see that her foot fits the glass slipper on the velvet pillow on a white background with blue hands and blue numbers and black minute marks to tell time. Marked Swiss made.
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
How much is your character watch worth???
For Legal info: https://characterwatchtime.blogspot.com/2019/03/legal-info.html
For Legal info: https://characterwatchtime.blogspot.com/2019/03/legal-info.html
