It's always time for character watches...Watches with Character.
Vintage Political Character Watches
Vintage Democrat, Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon, Republican, Ronald Reagan, Uncle Sam Character Watches.
In 1942, Ingraham produced this Uncle Sam pocket watch. A DC comics superhero, Uncle Sam first appeared in National Comics #1 July 1940 (created by Will Eisner). Here he is depicted in his usual red, white, and blue hat, tales and pants (covered by the sub second hand) on a silverish white background with blue stars around this small inner circle with blue numbers on a bold red outer circle and blue minute marks on an outer white
background with gold hands and a detailed sub second hand lower circle which depicts a white two engine prop plane to tell the time. Marked Uncle Sam and Made in the USA in red in the sub second hand circle. This came as a wristwatch also, see below.
These came in these simple small cardboard boxes with simple graphics.
In 1942, Ingraham also produced this large pre-war Uncle Sam watch with him wearing his red, white, and blue hat, tales and pants on a white background. It has white numbers on a bold blue background and blue minute marks on an outer white background with black metal hands to tell the time. Marked Uncle Sam in red at the bottom. This came as a pocket watch also as shown above.
Political Character watches started in mass in the late 1960's, early 1970's. All American Time Company, Dirty Time Company, Fraxe, Goober Time Company, Honest Time Company, Peace Time LTD, Sheffield, & Timely Creations are some of the more frequently seen named makers.
Here is a 1970's Uncle Sam pocket watch by Westclox which depicts Uncle Sam pointing his finger at you and telling you he wants your vote as it states "I want you...To Vote". Uncle Sam is wearing his red, white and blue star'd hat, blue jacket, red tie and a white shirt on a white background with red stars for the 3,6,9, &12 indicators and red hands to tell the time. Marked Made by Westclox Lasalle Ill USA all encased in a beautiful red plastic case.
The Birmingham Watch Company Inc. (unmarked except for original paperwork noting the maker) made three different political watches which included this Uncle Sam watch (see below), a democrat donkey and a republican elephant, all three are the same watch movement which includes a date indicator and similar look and bands. These were advertised by Kodak. You'd send in a few film box tops and $4.95 and choose which one you wanted. Commonly found still today. He is ripping open his white shirt encouraging you to VOTE. Uncle Sam is wearing a white and blue star'd hat, blue jacket, red bow tie and red & white striped pants held up with a black belt on an all white background with the 9 & 12 numbers in red and the rest in blue stars with the aforementioned date indicator at the 3 position with black hands and a red second hand to tell the time.
There were also separate generic democrat and republican watches by Dirty Time Company that you don't see too often. Such as...
Here is the smiling Republican GOP elephant mascot dressed in blue with a red/white/blue straw hat on a white background, red/blue 3,6,9,12 numbers and red stars for the others, a red second hand and his arms to tell the time. Marked Dirty Time Company MCMLXX (1970) GOP Original.
Here is the smiling Democrat Donkey mascot dressed in blue with a
red/white/blue straw hat on a white background, red/blue 3,6,9,12
numbers and red stars for the others, a red second hand and his arms to
tell the time. Marked Dirty Time Company MCMLXX (1970) DEM Original.
Here are a few other political examples in date order:
Spiro Agnew had several different watch version, all very commonly seen today. The one marked "official" has him dressed like Uncle Sam with him giving the peace sign by EGTC. Dirty Time Company had a similar look, him in red/white/blue giving the peace sign.
Richard Nixon also has several different. One marked "official" (see below) and two different "I'm not a crook" watches, one with moving eyes.
Here is Dickey Nixon's Official watch by Dirty Time Company with Nixon dressed in red and blue with stars on his shoes on a white background with red, white, blue 3,6,9, & 12 and stars for the other numbers and his peace sign hands to tell the time along with a red second hand.
Gerald Ford by Dirty Time Company watch has Ford in a suit and wearing his old football helmet driving a vintage old car to the white house where he is pointing all on a white background with blue 3,6,9 & 12 numbers and red stars for the others with gold hands and a red second hand to tell the time. Marked Original "...a better idea." Swiss made, internally marked One jewel Constructa Watch LTD.
Ted Kennedy by Fraxe with a baby likeness in a red/white diaper.
Jimmy Carter also has several different, all with large smiles. Here is the one with Carter wearing a top hat and holding a cane and with his body depicted as a peanut, to represent the peanut farmer on a white background with blue 3,6, & 9 and blue stars for the other numbers with a red star for the 12 along with gold hands including a gold second hand to tell the time. Marked Goober Time Company 1978, "Original Jimmy Carter From Peanuts to President" 17 jewels, Swiss movt, Hong Kong dial.
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Ronald Reagan also had several versions, sometimes depicted as a cowboy. Here is smiling & waving president Reagan riding the republican elephant mascot on a white background with a blue 3,6,9, & 12, red stars for the other numbers with gold hands including a gold second hand to tell the time. Marked Timely Creations, Original 1980, Swiss movt, Hong Kong Asym.
Reagan was the last of the manual wind president watches.
Other lesser political figures also had character watches.
ie Richard Daley, Howard Jarvis, Jesse Helms, Lester Maddox, George Wallace etc.
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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