It's always time for character
watches...Watches with Character.
Vintage Walt Disney Pre 1970s Character Watches
Vintage Alice in Wonderland, Bambi, Bongo Bear, Cinderella, Daisy Duck, Danny the Black Lamb, Donald Duck, Dopey, Fiddler Pig, Jiminy Cricket, Joe Carioca, Louie Duck, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pinocchio, Pluto, Snow White, Three Little Pigs character watches.
In 1933, Walt Disney, along with his merchandising man Herman 'Kay' Kamen started the
"Character
Watch" concept with Mickey Mouse when they began selling merchandise
based on Disney characters. Disney contracted with Ingersoll-Waterbury
to
produce a complete line of Mickey Mouse wristwatches, pocket and lapel
watches & clocks. You can check out my blog dedicated just to the vintage Mickey Mouse watch here:
In 1934, Ingersoll created the Three Little Pigs animated pocket watch and wrist watch. Here is the pocket watch with animated evil wolf eye that ticks off the seconds. The three pigs are shown, one with a trowel standing on a brick, one playing the flute and one playing his fiddle while the evil wolf looks on. Dial should be bright red but after 90 years and the paper dials they used.... Marked Ingersoll at the bottom and Made in the USA at the very bottom. Both watch and pocket watch are hard to find especially with the box.
The back must be engraved with the good luck slogan from Walt Disney "MAY THE BIG BAD WOLF NEVER COME TO YOUR DOOR".
A star since 1934, Donald got his first wristwatch in 1936 and this pocket
watch in 1939 produced by Ingersoll. Both are hard to find today as they didn't
sell as well as the Mickey Mouse watches so the Mickey Mouse decal was placed
on the back (as shown below) to help sell them. Smiling Donald Duck is in his
blue sailor suit, blue hat, and red tie straddling the second-hand dial on a
white background with black numbers, black minute marks and black hands to tell
the time. Marked 1939 Walt Disney Prod. & Made in the USA at the bottom…
scarce today.
As mentioned above, many of the Donald pocket watches have the same decal that is on the back of the Mickey Mouse lapel watch of the same time, here is one example.
After the war, in 1947 Disney had US time (formerly Ingersoll) mass produce the latest
Mickey Mouse watch along with some of these other stars.
Again in 1947, Danny the Black Lamb got his first and last watch. From the 1947 movie "So Dear To My Heart" (which mixed animation with live action & was known to be Walt Disney's personal favorite). Danny the Black Lamb was rejected by his mother and raised by young Jeremiah Kincaid despite his grandmothers objections Danny the Black wool lamb is cheerfully standing with a big smile on his gold face with matching gold stomach standing out against a bright orange background with black minute marks, large black numbers and his black lamb arms to tell the time. Marked Ingersoll and WDP (Walt Disney Productions), this great watch is probably the hardest to find of this time series and is treasured among collectors.
In 1947, Donald Duck got his second wristwatch (Ingersoll had a round 1936 one) when
Ingersoll (US Time) produced this large size watch marked Ingersoll, WDP (Walt
Disney Productions). Smiling Donald is in his blue sailor suit and blue hat on
a light blue background with large dark blue numbers, blue minute marks and his
wings to tell the time. These came in silver & gold tone with the gold tone
costing a dollar more, just like Mickeys.
From Disney's 1933 "The Three Little Pigs" short
cartoon, here is the 1947 Little Fiddler Pig by US Time marked WDP (Walt
Disney Productions). The smiling and
waving Fiddler pig has his fiddle in one gloved hand while dressed in a dark
blue hat and blue top on a white background with large red numbers, blue minute
marks and red hands to tell the time.
Ingersoll US Time also produced this 1947 large Louie Duck watch. Marked
WDP. Donald Duck's nephew Louie from "Huey, Dewey, and Louie" is
dressed in green with a checkered green/white hat and a big smile on a white
background with large red numbers, blue minute marks and red hands to tell the
time.
And finally the last of the 1947 series, US Time, Ingersoll produced this large Snow White watch marked WDP. It shows
gracious Snow White dressed in a blue top and yellow skirt bowing sweetly on a white
background with large red numbers, blue minute marks and red hands to tell the
time.
In 1948/49, US Time changed the design
to round faces.
Here is Mickey Mouse's 1948 round design (for
other vintage Mickey Mouse watches, see my specific
Mickey Mouse blog.
Mickey is dressed in his usual red with yellow
shoes on a white background with red numbers, red minute marks and his hands to
tell the time
Here is the 1948 Snow White bowing politely as she waits for
the dwarfs by US Time with this round design. Snow White is dressed in a yellow
dress, blue top and a red bow in her hair on a white background with red
numbers, blue minute marks and black hands to tell the time. Marked WDP.
THE BIRTHDAY SERIES
In 1948, US Time produced a series of 10 different watches to celebrate Mickey's 20 birthday. Each has the character in the middle with a circle around them and numbers outside the circle. Bambi, Bongo, Daisy Duck, Donald Duck, Dopey, Jiminy Cricket, Joe Carioca, Mickey Mouse, Pinocchio, & Pluto.
Here
is Bambi's birthday series watch by US Time. Innocent Bambi stands on his own
with his first watch within a green background on a larger white background
with green numbers, green minute marks and his ears to tell the time slightly
awkwardly in the middle of his eye.
Little bear Bongo's birthday series
watch by US Time, his first watch has Bongo in his red outfit and red hat ready
to do some stunts within a white circle background on a larger grey background
with black numbers, black minute marks and his hands to tell the time.
Daisy Duck's birthday series by US
time, same picture as her 1947 watch, but smaller figure now. Sweet Daisy is
dressed in a yellow top with big blue bow on her head within a pink circle background
on a larger white background, black numbers, black minute marks and her hands
to tell the time.
Donald
Duck's birthday series 1948 by US Time same as 1947 watch but smaller figure now.
Smiling Donald is dressed in his blue sailor suit and blue hat on a blue
background, blue numbers, blue minute marks and his hands to tell the time.
Dopey gets his first watch with this
US Time birthday series watch. Dressed in green with a black belt, purple hat,
smiling Dopey has it covered on a yellow background with black numbers, black
minute marks and his hands to tell the time.
Jiminy Cricket also gets his first
watch with this US Time birthday series watch. Dressed smartly in his black
tails, pink hat and pink cummerbund, Jiminy is the best dressed cricket around
on a blue circle background within a larger white background, with blue numbers,
blue minute marks and his hands to tell the time
Fresh off his two appearances in
1942 & 1944, Joe Carioca gets his first watch with this 1948 US Time
birthday series edition. Joe is dressed in white with his straw hat on a white
circle background within a larger yellow background, red numbers, red marks for
the minutes and his hands to tell the time.
Mickey Mouse had his own US Time
watch to celebrate his 20th birthday for the birthday series edition. Mickey is
all smiles in his red outfit and yellow shoes on a tan background, black
numbers, black marks for the minutes and his yellow gloved hands to tell the
time.
Pinocchio also gets his first watch in
1948 to celebrate Mickey's 20th birthday with this US Time watch. Dressed in
his red shorts and yellow hat with a red feather and brown shoes on a tan circle
within a larger white background, black numbers, black marks for the minutes
and his yellow sleeved hands to tell the time.
and finally, Pluto also gets his first
watch in 1948 to celebrate Mickey's 20th birthday. Just Pluto’s head and green
collar on a black background with green numbers, green marks for the minutes
and green hands to tell the time. Like Bambi, his face is slightly awkwardly
blocked by the hands of his watch.
.
In 1949, US Time redid the entire birthday series for each of the 10 original characters, this time the characters are slightly out of the circle otherwise they remain the same as the 1948 version.
NOTE: Pluto and Bambi don't follow this rule as they remain within the circle. There are also several that were done with luminous hands and numbers known as the De Luxe models (see below).
Here is an example of just one... Pinocchio 1949 birthday series by US Time. Notice his feet are outside of the circle...that's a 1949 birthday series edition.
Here is an example of just one... Mickey Mouse 1949 birthday series by US
Time luminous version. Notice the light greenish hands and outer circle.
Here is an example of a rare Pluto 1949 birthday series by US
Time luminous version. Notice the greenish hands and outer circle as well.
In 1951, the New Haven Clock & Watch Co. produced this Alice in Wonderland with the mad Hatter as an animated watch. The mad Hatter ticks back and forth
to tick off the seconds as he looks up at Alice dressed in her blue and white
dress on a white background with green luminous numbers and luminous hands to
tell the time. Marked USA 1951 Swiss corporation Swiss made. This is
essentially the same watch as Gene Autry's moving gun watch and Li'l Abner's
moving flag or mule watch of the same period.
Here you have a 1950's Alice in Wonderland by Timex (US Time) marked WDP with Alice dressed in her usual blue and white dress ready for the rabbit hole on a light blue background with black numbers, black marks for the
minutes and black hands to tell the time. These simple watches were sold in
simple boxes and came with matching figurines.
Cinderella
by US Time, same watch mechanically as above watch but this time has Cinderella
in a blue and white gown on a pink background with black numbers, black marks
for the minutes and black hands to tell the time. Marked WDP with Cinderella
all dressed up for the prince. Like Alice above, these came in simple boxes
with a matching figurine.
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1955 Donald Duck by US Time, same
watch mechanically as above. Marked WDP with Donald smiling in his usual blue
sailor outfit and blue hat. This '50s Donald is a little harder to find then
Cinderella, Snow White, or Alice in Wonderland of the same period.
Snow White by US
Time, mechanically the same watch as above. Snow White, waiting for the dwarfs
stands quietly in her red cape and big white collar with her usual yellow dress
and red bow in her hair on a white background with black numbers, black marks
for the minutes and black hands to tell the time. Marked WDP and came in the
same simple boxes with a matching figurine.
Alice in Wonderland by Timex (US Time) 1960s marked Walt Disney Productions now. This small child size watch has
Alice dressed in blue and white hiding behind a large pink flower on a white
background with black numbers and black hands to tell the time.
Pinocchio by Timex (formerly US Time) from the 1960's. This hard to find watch is a small child size and shows Pinocchio
with his strings in his red shorts and white shirt happy as ever even though he
isn't a real boy on a white background with black numbers and comes with his
hands to tell the time, always a plus with character watches. Marked Walt
Disney Productions.
1960's Cinderella by Timex. Cinderella is fully made up and dressed in a two tone blue ball gown to meet the prince with his castle showing behind her all on a white background with black numbers and black hands to tell the time. Marked Walt Disney Productions.
1960's, here is Donald Duck smiling in his
blue sailor suit, blue hat, and red tie all on a white dial
with black
numbers, black
minute marks and his own hands to tell the
time. Marked WDP, Swiss made for this one jewel watch. Back is marked
Walt Disney Productions and is hard to find today as they were only sold
for Italian market, one character in a series of four... Mickey,
Minnie, Donald, and Pluto. See others below.
1960's, here is Mickey Mouse dressed smartly in a blue top, red pants and yellow shoes all on a white dial
with black
numbers,
black
minute marks and his own hands to tell the
time. Marked WDP, Swiss made for this one jewel watch. Back is marked
Walt Disney Productions and is hard to find today as they were only sold
for Italian market, one character in a series of four... Mickey,
Minnie, Donald, and Pluto. See others above and below.
1960's, here is Minnie Mouse dressed smartly in a blue top, red skirt with matching red bow in her hair and yellow shoes all on a white dial with black
numbers, black
minute marks, a thin second hand and her own hands to tell the time. Marked WDP, Swiss made for this one jewel watch. Back is marked Walt Disney Productions and is hard to find today as they were only sold for Italian market, one character in a series of four... Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Pluto. See others above and below.
1960's, here is Pluto's first full figure watch has a smiling Pluto wearing his red collar all on a white dial with black
numbers, black
minute marks, a thin red second hand and his own hands to tell the
time. Marked WDP, Swiss made for this one jewel watch. Back is marked Walt Disney Productions and is hard to find today as
they were only sold for Italian market, one character in a series of
four.. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Pluto. See others above.
By the late sixties, the character watch market had been in decline and 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....
For post 1970's Walt Disney Character Watches, click here.
Any thoughts can be emailed to characterwatchtime@gmail.com
It's always time for character
watches...Watches with Character.
Here
is Robin Hood by Bradley Time Division for the animated adventure
musical comedy which used animals rather then humans. Robin hood the fox
is dressed in his green felt medieval times garb including green shoes and along
with a bright yellow felt hat with a red feather while he carries his
bow with arrows in his quiver on his back all on a white back ground
with black numbers, black minute marks and black hands to tell the time.
Marked Bradley, Swiss made, Walt Disney Productions. Hard to find today.
x`
