It's always time for character watches...Watches with Character.
Vintage Jump Hour Character Watches
Vintage Cat in the hat, Ford Mustang II, Funny Face, Johnny Horizon, Mickey Mouse, Moppet, Mr. Peanut, Punchy, Raggedy Ann, Skippy, Winnie the Pooh
character watches.
Jump hour watches, sometimes known as "direct read" or "digital time display" have been around for years. Josef Pallweber filed the first patent for a jump hour movement on a pocket watch in 1883. The first wristwatches appeared after world war I during the art deco period (1920s & 1930s) where the tank style was very popular and continues to be even today.
In the 1970's a revival began when electronic watches started selling. Electronics started out far more expensive than mechanical so why not make a mechanical that had the same look as the new digital. Thankfully for us some character watches got caught up in this revival and are still considered treasured additions to any collection.
In alphabetical order:
Cat
in the Hat jump hour by the LaFayette Watch Co. has the Cat wearing his
stripped red and white hat, red bow tie and a big grin on a beautiful 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.
This cool Ford Mustang jump hour has a Bradley case, one jewel unadjusted movement by Trice Watch Inc. has the Ford Logo for the second generation Mustang on a beautiful blue background with the direct read numbers on the left and in white on blue all in a polished chrome case.
1970's Funny Face watch sold at Sears department stores has this wonderful yellow face look on this amazing jump hour watch with eye balls that move around as the watch moves, a big orange nose and the direct read time within the red mouth. This one includes its original 1970's mod band for this hard to find beauty.
1976 Lafayette
produced this Johnny Horizon jump hour watch for the U.S. land
management bureau to fight littering and clean up our national parks. Here
is smiling Johnny's head wearing his hat in blue with "digital"
hours and minute numbers to the left of him all on a light gold
background. Marked Johnny Horizon '76 in red and Lafayette Watch Co.
Swiss made 1976 U.S. Dept. of the interior. This amazing jump hour watch
is hard to find today. 
Mickey Mouse by Bradley Time produced this great smiling Mickey with his hand pointing towards the digital time display all on a white background. Marked Mickey Mouse, Bradley, Digital, Swiss, Walt Disney Productions.
1978 Mickey
Mouse by Bradley Time produced this great smiling Mickey with the same exact Mickey pose as the previous jump hour with his hand
pointing towards the digital time display all on a white background.
Marked Mickey Mouse, Bradley, Digital, Swiss, Walt Disney Productions. These beautiful gems came in both gold and silver tone.
These came in these nicely made felt lined boxes.
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In the 1970's, Custom Time Corp.
produced this Mr. Peanut "jump hour” watch with a one jewel movement,
Swiss made and rarer today then the regular watch. Very nicely painted face
with a deep soothing blue background and always smartly dressed Mr. Peanut posing next
to the time display. Who wouldn't want one of these!
Here
is Moppet "jump hour" watch by E. Gluck Trading Company. Moppet goes with Skippy below similar to Raggedy Ann and Andy. Red headed smiling Moppet looks like she's dancing in her usual blue and white summer dress with white pantaloons, red socks and black shoes all while she's holding a huge flower on a white background with the time display to the far left, the hours are white numbers on red background while the minutes are white numbers with black background. Marked Swiss made.
In the 1970s, Macky Watch Co and Sonlenn Trading
company produced this Punchy Hawaiian "jump hour" watch with a
Swiss movement & typical large 70's MOD band. Punchy has a big
grin wearing his blue and white stripped shirt and holding his Hawaiian punch drink on a white background. Very hard to find
today especially working, you'll need to have your expert watch repair
person to attend to these.
Here is Raggedy Ann by CustomTime from the 1970s, This jump hour Raggedy Ann is more doll like then other versions dressed in a white apron, blue shirt, black shoes and her bright red hair on a white background pointing to the left where the direct read dial is in black with white numbers. You don't see this one very much, marked Digital, Swiss made.
Here is Skippy "jump hour" watch by E. Gluck Trading Company. Skippy goes with Moppet above similar to Raggedy Ann and Andy. Skippy sits happily next to the time display in his blue and red sailor suit with a black tie, white and blue hat, striped socks and black shoes on a white background with a sailing boat drawn behind him and the time display to the far left, the hours are white numbers on red
background while the minutes are white numbers with black background.
Marked Swiss made.
In the 70's, Bradley produced this Winnie the Pooh digital "jump
hour" watch with smiling Winnie the Pooh in his standard red shirt and a
honey pot on a white background with black numbers to tell the time.
Marked
Bradley, Winnie the Pooh, digital, Swiss made Walt Disney Productions.
Super rare
today.
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
