Any Rolex Canadian Military watches from WWII out there?

[skyman51]

Let's see some pics and what model(s) do you have? I have become very interested in them I would next like to find an all original Sky Rocket model.

[Brenngun]

Here's a black face SkyRocket. Most were silver dial. Keep in mind that these are 29.5mm so it's a small watch.

[Alcan]

This one originated on the other side of the pond. A late 1930's British military pocket watch, caliber 548, stem wind & stem set. The case back has the correct British broad arrow, originally used by the Board of Ordinance and more recently used by the Ministry of Defense. The B designation indicates it was a backup timepiece carried in a holder in a vehicle or vessel. This one has been verified by the Toronto RSC, overhauled recently, and it still runs like a champ. Nothing for show on this one, just a purpose built, no frills, piece of equipment.

[sleddog]

Originally Posted by Alcan

This one originated on the other side of the pond. A late 1930's British military pocket watch, caliber 548, stem wind & stem set. The case back has the correct British broad arrow, originally used by the Board of Ordinance and more recently used by the Ministry of Defense. The B designation indicates it was a backup timepiece carried in a holder in a vehicle or vessel. This one has been verified by the Toronto RSC, overhauled recently, and it still runs like a champ. Nothing for show on this one, just a purpose built, no frills, piece of equipment.

I had almost exactly the same one Al.....
Here are the pics from the FS section, and now sold piece I had a while ago!

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=126560

Reminiscing, I wish I still had it!

[skyman51]

Originally Posted by skyman51

Let's see some pics and what model(s) do you have? I have become very interested in them I would next like to find an all original Sky Rocket model.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/230766056689...84.m1423.l2649

How rare is this one? What is it really worth?

[Lody]

[skyman51]

1

[skyman51]

Which is a more desirable and collectable watch? A pillow oyster case Skyrocket in gold or a round black dial Skyrocket in SS?

[Brenngun]

Originally Posted by skyman51

Which is a more desirable and collectable watch? A pillow oyster case Skyrocket in gold or a round black dial Skyrocket in SS?

You pick'em. High end $1500.00

[dddrees]

Some real nice looking watches, thanks for sharing everybody.

[BrentYYC]

I have my father's military Rolex from when he was in the air force in WWII. I finally decided to get it restored, so it's out of my hands at the moment, but it's identical to this one, but with better condition numbers (pic borrowed from horologist.com)

[BrentYYC]

Over a decade or so ago, I asked my father if I could have his old military Rolex that he acquired while in the air force during WWII (trained in the Commonwealth Air Training Plan and went on to crew Lancasters). A couple of years after being discharged, he decided to re-enlist and make the military his career and for a number of years after that he flew bombers that had been re-purposed for Atlantic coastal patrol. Eventually he became a senior officer within the Directorate of Intelligence for NORAD. During a forty or so year period he wore his mil Rolex daily, even while doing yard work, and eventually it became beaten up to the point where it was a complete mess (trashed acrylic crystal, badly worn gold case). After close to 60 years, though, without service of the movement, it still kept perfect time. I kept the watch in a drawer for about a decade, until my father passed away about two years ago, at which point I started to think about having the watch restored in his memory. I finally got around to discussing the restoration with my local Rolex AD, and they said they knew the best guy in the business when it came to doing such work. After almost five months, which included shipping of the watch across the country to a variety of experts in the fields of case restoration, gold plating, and vintage movement servicing, I finally received the watch back this week. It's the perfect reminder of a man who was a true gentleman in every sense of the word, and who answered his country's call in its darkest hour. I miss him every day.

I took a few pics today of the watch along with some of the bomber crew equipment I found while going through his personal effects after he passed away. The tag inside the flight gloves is dated 1943. The last pic is taken of him (on the left) in the NORAD SAGE Combat Control Center at McChord AFB Washington in 1965 (think of the movie "War Games" and you get the idea). From that room, they kept an eye on everything that was happening in the Eastern Bloc and watched over the air space of the western U.S.A. and western Canada.





http://forums.watchuseek.com/attachm...dsc01573_s.jpg

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by BrentYYC

Over a decade or so ago, I asked my father if I could have his old military Rolex that he acquired while in the air force during WWII (trained in the Commonwealth Air Training Plan and went on to crew Lancasters). A couple of years after being discharged, he decided to re-enlist and make the military his career and for a number of years after that he flew bombers that had been re-purposed for Atlantic coastal patrol. Eventually he became a senior officer within the Directorate of Intelligence for NORAD. During a forty or so year period he wore his mil Rolex daily, even while doing yard work, and eventually it became beaten up to the point where it was a complete mess (trashed acrylic crystal, badly worn gold case). After close to 60 years, though, without service of the movement, it still kept perfect time. I kept the watch in a drawer for about a decade, until my father passed away about two years ago, at which point I started to think about having the watch restored in his memory. I finally got around to discussing the restoration with my local Rolex AD, and they said they knew the best guy in the business when it came to doing such work. After almost five months, which included shipping of the watch across the country to a variety of experts in the fields of case restoration, gold plating, and vintage movement servicing, I finally received the watch back this week. It's the perfect reminder of a man who was a true gentleman in every sense of the word, and who answered his country's call in its darkest hour. I miss him every day.

I took a few pics today of the watch along with some of the bomber crew equipment I found while going through his personal effects after he passed away. The tag inside the flight gloves is dated 1943. The last pic is taken of him (on the left) in the NORAD SAGE Combat Control Center at McChord AFB Washington in 1965 (think of the movie "War Games" and you get the idea). From that room, they kept an eye on everything that was happening in the Eastern Bloc and watched over the air space of the western U.S.A. and western Canada.





http://forums.watchuseek.com/attachm...dsc01573_s.jpg

Nice story

Thanks for sharing !

HAGWe

[linesiders]

Originally Posted by Kingair

Nice story

Thanks for sharing !

HAGWe

Agreed

[BrentYYC]

I didn't link the close-up properly in my previous post, so here it is again. The dial was left untouched, so aside from some fading of the red 24 hour markers, it's in remarkably good shape for a watch that's about 70 years old. The only thing they did was re-lume the hands.

Another interesting part of the military story is that of the very small number of intact Lancasters that are still flight worthy (2), or are restored or in restorable condition (20), out of 7,377 built, my father flew in two of them. One of them is restored and on display at the Duxford Air Museum in the U.K., while the other is restored and on display at the Calgary Aerospace Museum in Canada (which by freeky coincidence is where I now happen to live).

I discovered the above facts this summer while reviewing his flight logs. What really blew me away, was discovering he had crewed the Lancaster that had done the Parliament Building flypast for Queen Elizabeth's coronation, fifty years ago this summer. He had never mentioned it to me, ever. That particular plane, like almost every other Lanc', was eventually turned into scrap.





One of the 22 'survivors'. My father had over 103 hours flying time in this one, now restored and on static display at the Calgary Aerospace Museum.

[Mike Wood]

Not a Canadian watch, but this little Rolex Oyster Royal was bought by a Royal Air Force pilot during the Second World War whilst he was stationed in India, and worn by him constantly throughout the War...



The dial is signed by the retailers, P. Orr & Sons.

MW

[johnbeth]

Some very nice watches there! Thanks for sharing to all of you!

[Johny]

Originally Posted by johnbeth

Some very nice watches there! Thanks for sharing to all of you!

very interesting. thank you.