Friday, October 6, 2023

Vintage Walt Disney Post 1970s Character Watches

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

  Vintage Alice in Wonderland, Black Cauldron, Bongo Bear, Cheshire Cat, Cinderella, Donald Duck, Elliot Pete's Dragon, Figment, Fox and Hound, Goofy, King Louie, Louie Duck, Mary Poppins, Mickey & Pluto, Minnie Mouse, Penny of the Rescuers, Snow White character watches.

For earlier pre 1970's Walt Disney Character Watches, click here.

In 1971 Ingersoll, US Time, now called Timex ended their Disney contract after over three decades. Disney moved onto Elgin with their Helbros & Bradley divisions....

 The 1970's and 1980's

1970s Snow White and a dopey by Timex, marked Walt Disney Productions. The same small child size watch as above. Smiling Snow White with Dopey being Dopey on a white background with black numbers and black hands to tell the time. 


Here is a 1970s Alice in Wonderland by Bradley. Alice is looking sweet as ever in her blue dress with flowing white apron and even a bow in her hair on a smaller yellow background all on a white background with black numbers, black minute marks, a black second and her hands to tell the time. This harder to find Alice is marked Swiss made, Walt Disney Productions.
Cinderella by Bradley marked Walt Disney Productions, Bradley Swiss made. Cinderella is ever the princess wearing a blue and white gown with her castle in sight behind her on a white background with black numbers, black marks for the minutes and her blue gloved arms to tell the time. 
 Donald Duck by Bradley has Smiling Donald in his usual blue sailor suit and blue hat on a white background with black numbers, black minute marks and his wings to tell the time. Marked Walt Disney Productions, Bradley Swiss made.
Here is an unusual Donald Duck I believe for the European market with a happy dancing Donald wearing his usual blue sailor suit and blue hat on a white background with black numbers, black minute marks and black hands including a black second hand to tell the time. Marked Disney Land, Made in France with a jeweled unmarked movement.
 Elliott from "Pete's Dragon" marked Walt Disney Productions, Bradley Swiss made. Who can resist this hard to find full figure Elliott with his pink wings and pink scales on a white background with black numbers, black marks for the minutes and his arms to tell the time?
In 1972, Helbros (an Elgin division) produced this now rare Goofy backwards 17jewel original marked Walt Disney Prod. known as the “Backwards Goofy” which runs "backwards" or counterclockwise. Helbros produced a Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse (see below) also. These were high priced at $19 each and high quality which makes them highly sought after today. Here is Goofy in his red patched shirt, black vest and blue pants wearing his green hat and big brown shoes on a silver background with silver numbers and his arms to tell the time...backwards.
Goofy by Bradley marked Swiss made Walt Disney Productions. Goofy is again in his red patched shirt with a black vest, blue pants and now in a yellow hat on a white background with black numbers, black marks for the numbers and his hand to tell the time. This Bradley version does NOT run backwards. .
Seiko produced this Bongo Bear via Disney Time for the Japanese market. Marked Walt Disney Productions and Disney Time. These are hard to find in the US. Bongo is sitting with a big smile wearing his red top on a yellow background with black numbers, black marks for the minutes, and a second hand and his hands to tell the time.
Seiko also produced this (among other characters) Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland watch for the Japanese market. Marked Walt Disney Productions and Disney Time. These are hard to find in the US. Grinning Cheshire Cat appears to be dancing and his head rotates for the seconds on a white background with black numbers, and black minute marks for the minutes and his arms to tell the time.
Seiko also produced this (among other characters) King Louie from Jungle book watch for the Japanese market. Marked Walt Disney Productions and Disney Time. These are hard to find in the US. King Louie appears to be dancing and his head rotates for the seconds on a white background with black numbers, and black minute marks for the minutes and his arms to tell the time.
Mary Poppins by Bradley marked Walt Disney Productions, Swiss made. Practically perfect Mary Poppins appears to be flying smartly dressed smartly in a light red suit with her bottomless flowerf carpet bag and black umbrella on a white background with purple numbers and her purple scarf as the hands to tell the time.
Mickey & Pluto animated by Bradley Walt Disney Productions. This has Mickey holding a bone for Pluto whose head ticks back and forth as the seconds tick off. This hard to find watch has simple red numbers with black marks for the minutes and red hands to tell the time.
1972 Minnie Mouse by Helbros marked Walt Disney Prod. is a high quality 17 jewel watch with Minnie smiling in her yellow polka dot dress and red top with her orange gloved hands to tell the time and a second hand to count off the seconds.
Minnie Mouse by Bradley marked Walt Disney Productions, "Animated" as her head nods back and forth to count off the seconds. Minnie also had a non nodder Bradley watch that looked similar.  Mickey Mouse also had a nodder watch (see my Mickey Mouse blog).
Smiling Minnie is looking good in her red dress (the non nodder dress is sometimes a floral print with yellow bow) with blue top and matching bows and shoes on a white background with black numbers with her gloved hands to tell the time.
Here is Penny from the Rescuers by Bradley Time. Penny is sitting, dreaming with Rufus and her teddy bear. Penny is dressed in blue overalls and a white shirt all on a white background with black numbers, black minute marks, black hands and a red second hand to tell the time. Marked Swiss made, Walt Disney Productions. Super hard to find today.
Snow White by Bradley marked Swiss made, Walt Disney Productions has Snow White in her yellow dress and blue top with black corset. She has birds flying around her on a blue circle background with a larger white background, black numbers, and her arms to tell the time along with a yellow second hand

NOW in the 1980s....

Here is Cinderella by Bradley for Walt Disney Productions. Cinderella is dressed to the nines in a full blue and white ball gown shown dancing with her well dressed prince as she models a glass slipper with a view of the castle tower in the background. This watch is not marked Walt Disney productions on the dial, but came with a plastic Bradley box with paperwork showing its the "official watch of Walt Disney Productions" & Cinderella written just like on the watch. It has black number and hands to tell the time. (i've sen blue also). Marked Bradley, Swiss made, US dial, BTD (Bradley Time Division) 1980.
Figment Epcot Center mascot marked 1982 Bradley Walt Disney Productions. Pink Figment is opening a jar with a rainbow coming out on a white background with purple numbers and black hands to tell the time.
 Fox and Hound by Bradley marked Walt Disney Productions 1980 for the release of their movie. The Fox and the Hound appear to be playing and smiling at each other on an off white background with black numbers, pink hands including a pink second hand to tell the time.
The Black Cauldron, a Frito-Lay mail in promotional item offered in conjunction with the release of the Disney movie.  Marked Disney pictures, Walt Disney Productions 1985. A steaming cauldron with four Roman numerals and regular black hands and a silver second hand to tell the time.


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

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