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Russian Submariners Watch by the American House of Hampden
About the Item
FACTORY / HOUSE: Russian by The Hampden Watch Company
STYLE / REFERENCE: Utilitarian Military Style
METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel
CIRCA / YEAR: 1950's
DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 77mm X Diameter 60mm
MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 15 Jewels / Caliber 16 Size
DIAL / HANDS: Original Black Dial with Luminous Blued Steel Hands
ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Original Canvas Material, 25 mm / Full Length / Original Factory Box
WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement
While this is a Russian 1950's Submariners Watch, it was originally designed by an American Watch Company called Hampden, from Camden, Ohio. The watch is in its original condition and when we purchased it was still in its original box.
This is a "vault find" watch, it has been locked up for nearly 75 years, which means it needs a service. We will service it for you as part of the purchase price before it is shipped out to you. This will delay shipping for a few days of course.
Note the size of this watch, it is very large as it was intended to be worn over a wetsuit.
HAMPDEN WATCH COMPANY HISTORY
Established in 1877 in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Hampden Watch Company was one of the smaller American Watch Companies, however they produced exceptionally fine pocket watches. In 1888 they relocated to Canton, Ohio. In 1923 the firm merged with a the watch case manufacturer, Dueber, in the same city to become the Dueber-Hampden Watch Co.
In 1925, John Dueber sold the company to Walter Vrettman. However, in 1927, falling sales led to the company going into receivership. Around 1930, the machinery and tools were sold to the Amtorg Trading Corporation, one of Soviet Russia’s buying agencies in the US, for $329.000, it was a princely sum of money at the time. The former Dueber-Hampden employees were invited to go to Russia to teach them how to use the machinery. So, 23 watchmakers, engravers and various other technicians were hired, for one year, to help train the Russian workers in the art of watch making at. The machinery was loaded into 28 boxcars and left Canton, Ohio together with the employees and moved to Russia. It was the First State Watch Factory in Russia. It was set up in Moscow.
The sale of the Dueber-Hampden Watch Company to the Soviet Union was controversial at the time. Some people argued that it was a mistake to sell such a valuable asset to a foreign country. Others argued that the sale was necessary to help the Soviet Union modernize and become a global trading partner. That did not happen however.
In 1931, the factory produced pocket watches that were presented at a ceremonial meeting in the Revolution Theater. The Hampden pattern watch movements were called the Type-1, easily recognized by its distinct twin finger bridge layout, which is what this model is as well.
They continued to produce watches going into the war. As the Nazi army closed in on Moscow, during Autumn of 1941, the factory was hurriedly evacuated to Zlatoust, where more than 300,000 Zlatoust Type-1 watches and clocks were made. By 1943, the Moscow factory was re-established and renamed the First Moscow Watch Factory and continued the manufacture of pocket watches and stopwatches, as well as the Type-1 191-ChS watch for Soviet Navy divers, which is what this watch is. They ended production In 1970.
It is interesting to note that the basic Ebauch of this Submariner's watch is identical to the 16 Size Hampden Movement that was produced in the early 1900's by the original Hampden factory before it merged with Dueber.
I have only seen three of these watches in my 60 years in the watch business. They all come in their original boxes as well.
- Creator:HAMPDEN / RUSSIAN
- Style:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950'S
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Long Beach, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU422318813062

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MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 15 Jewels / Caliber 16 Size
DIAL / HANDS: Original Black Dial with Luminous Blued Steel Hands
ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Original Canvas Material, 25 mm / Full Length / Original Factory Box
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