[greatpotfarm]

One of the best parts of servicing time gages is the many stories that their owners tell about them. From time to time, an especially unusual piece comes in. Such is the case with this little Bulova.
It is not unusual in a horological way; it has a regular 15j , handwind movement inside a presse brass case. What is unusual is the way it came into the owners possession.
He received it as an award for selling the most magazine subscriptions as part of a middle school contest in 1950.
I think that's pretty cool!! I mean, it's 1950! Before automatics came out, before 5ATM cases, when owning a watch really was something, especially one with a heavily jeweled movement from a brand headquartered in New York City. It's quite the award for selling magazines.... This watch was only worth 10 bucks, maybe a bit more, when new, but that is when a new car cost about 2 grand.
Although it is now monetarily only worth slightly more than a service, when it comes to it's history, for the family who owns it, it is priceless. I feel fortunate to play a part in it's preservation.
Does anybody else have any other watches that have been awarded or presented for any feat or accomplishment? Please share with us

 

[Roarry]

My wife gifted me a Sinn 556i for my 60th birthday. I think this counts.

 

[AtomicTom]

I don’t unfortunately GPF and Roarry, but those are two amazing
award watches. 🥇🥇Honestly watches are wonderful right guys?!
However, a lot of times the stories behind the watches are really
something special. And I love the word you used above too GPF,
in ‘priceless’. Because it IS true with watches that have
such great stories behind them, or were given by special people
as with yours Roarry. 😀

Fantastic stuff really guys. ..Thanks so so much for sharing !!!

 

[HobHoner]

I worked for a company called Candle Corporation a Software firm that developed monitoring solutions for mainframe applications and later for distributed systems. After 18 years with Candle IBM bought the company and I became an IBM'er. The good news is that all us ex-Candle employees new to IBM were allowed to keep our seniority. Unfortunately, when I reached 25 years of service I was awarded a watch, the problem was that IBM made the decision to cut costs was no longer providing a pension for anyone that started after 2004, which meant all the Candle Employees and other employees hired after 2004, and then stopped giving away Rolex as they awarded in the past. So after 25 years of service, no IBM pension, and all I got was a friggin Pulsar.

 

[greatpotfarm]

Oh man! A Pulsar? Not even a Seiko? That is a bummer...
I've never worked for a big corporation, so I don't know what that's like...
Hopefully they paid enough that you could buy yourself the watches you wanted...
A Rolex would have been nice though. I did not realize companies give out such parting gifts.

 

[greatpotfarm]

My wife gifted me a Sinn 556i for my 60th birthday. I think this counts.

You must have done something right. 🙂

 

[HobHoner]

Oh man! A Pulsar? Not even a Seiko? That is a bummer...
I've never worked for a big corporation, so I don't know what that's like...
Hopefully they paid enough that you could buy yourself the watches you wanted...
A Rolex would have been nice though. I did not realize companies give out such parting gifts.

IBMers used to get pretty good 25-year anniversary gifts before the 2000s from Rolex watches to Jaeger LeCoultre Atmos clocks.

 

[sixtysix]

I had a vintage watch here that was an S.S. Kresge (forerunner of K Mart) award for 25 years. Not sure which one it is though. I actually have 2 watches that were awarded to me. The Citizen for 20 years and the Tissot for 25 years. I retired 5 months before my 30 year so I didn't get one for that. They came with a company logo you could attach to strap, not engraved:

 

[AranaWhite]

I had a vintage watch here that was an S.S. Kresge (forerunner of K Mart) award for 25 years. Not sure which one it is though. I actually have 2 watches that were awarded to me. The Citizen for 20 years and the Tissot for 25 years. I retired 5 months before my 30 year so I didn't get one for that. They came with a company logo you could attach to strap, not engraved:

Two practical pieces, a functional handsome piece, and then the sexy, both tool watches too. I wonder if the one who selected these is a watch guy...could be a rewarding assignment.

 

[greatpotfarm]

Two practical pieces, a functional handsome piece, and then the sexy, both tool watches too. I wonder if the one who selected these is a watch guy...could be a rewarding assignment.

.
That is exactly what I was thinking! Both are great choices.👍

 

[greatpotfarm]

I had a vintage watch here that was an S.S. Kresge (forerunner of K Mart) award for 25 years. Not sure which one it is though. I actually have 2 watches that were awarded to me. The Citizen for 20 years and the Tissot for 25 years. I retired 5 months before my 30 year so I didn't get one for that. They came with a company logo you could attach to strap, not engraved:

Wicked awesome choices for award watches! The PR guy who chose them should get an award as well!
Can't help but wonder what 30 years would have brought....
Thanks for sharing.

 

[AranaWhite]

Here it is farmer, yesterday we went through things having belonged to my grandmother-in-law, who passed in September. Since we're WFs and it's in keeping with your topic... I was given this Elgin Shockmaster that was her father's. Engraved on the back is given in appreciation for 25yrs of service at Shell Oil Refinery, dated 1956. He passed 25 yrs ago. This and two of the Timex still run, they're autos. Yesterday I wound and set them. I wore the Timex on the lizard skin, it kept better time than the Turtle it was next to, but not overnight once removed. I'm going to polish the crystals and follow up with thoughts on them. They're not worth anything, but they're mechanical so I took them to fiddle with. The round Timex without a strap is simply stem-wind.
I also took an old Barlow, made in Ireland; it's in excellent condition though. Yeah, I put my edc beater in there too, it was in my pocket and I like to see what guys are carrying.

 

[greatpotfarm]

Wow! The Elgin is a beauty! Very worthy watch for 25 years of service. Really like the way the hands match the lugs!

I have one of them ancient easyreader timexes. Love it! Brought it back from the dead and added a splash of color.

The other tool in the photo is what lives in the holster on my belt.

 

[AranaWhite]

Wow! The Elgin is a beauty! Very worthy watch for 25 years of service. Really like the way the hands match the lugs!

I have one of them ancient easyreader timexes. Love it! Brought it back from the dead and added a splash of color.

The other tool in the photo is what lives in the holster on my belt. View attachment 146486

I like the pop on that seconds, nice.