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Blue observatory
https://vintagegruen.org/vgforum/index.phpindex.php?t=rview&goto=13403&th=1907#msg_13403
Blue box in the shape of an observatory. With text Gruen the precision factory, measurement marking and a gruen crest. Underneath Gruen Time Hill, cincinnati. Made in USA. Blue velvet insert with watch holder.
The design was inspired by the old observatory shown in the 1929 guild book (probably neuchatel). The exact length of a second was determined by the motion of the earth around the sun. The precise optics in observatories allowed a precision measurement for time.
Period : 1948 -1950
Watch type : veri-thin
Size : tbd
Inventor : unknown
Patents : unknown (patents pending)
Box maker : B. C. N. Design Products, Inc. of Middle Village, NY (doing business also under the name “Braun-Crystal Mfg. Co)
]]>Jenneke2020-08-24T20:41:29-00:00Re: Blue observatory
https://vintagegruen.org/vgforum/index.phpindex.php?t=rview&goto=13405&th=1907#msg_13405
From 1935 gruen switched from guild to “the precision watch”. In 1938 same lettering for Gruen started. In 1939/1940 the crest disappeared in the ads. In 1939/1940 Precision lettering was more graceful Looking (like on the box). In 1941 you see trademark behind precision. Trademark disappeared in 1948. In 1950 the precision writing looks different again.
I have seen this box with a veri-thin Baylor, All star 1 and my ladies veri-thin. She has a movement cal 215 (>1948) and the case style is from 1950.
Thoughts?]]>Jenneke2020-08-24T20:55:57-00:00Re: Blue observatory
https://vintagegruen.org/vgforum/index.phpindex.php?t=rview&goto=13419&th=1907#msg_13419
Thanks for showing! This is a very nice and unique box. A rare and desirable box!
Regarding the maker:
Jenneke wrote on Mon, 24 August 2020 20:41
Box maker : ECB
Sorry, no, the maker isn’t ECB, but BCN. To be exact: B. C. N. Design Products, Inc. of Middle Village, NY (doing business also under the name “Braun-Crystal Mfg. Co.”).
also was made by BCN (btw: BCN stands for Braun-Crystal, Nassau, as the company originally was located in Nassau, NY). BCN’s logo is present also on some Hamilton boxes - and there’s evidence, that BCN was, in fact, the maker of said Hamilton boxes.
Regards
Martin
]]>DRGM2020-08-25T16:17:05-00:00Re: Blue observatory
https://vintagegruen.org/vgforum/index.phpindex.php?t=rview&goto=13420&th=1907#msg_13420
Jenneke2020-08-25T16:41:25-00:00Re: Blue observatory
https://vintagegruen.org/vgforum/index.phpindex.php?t=rview&goto=13423&th=1907#msg_13423
Ephemerald2020-08-25T20:10:04-00:00Re: Blue observatory
https://vintagegruen.org/vgforum/index.phpindex.php?t=rview&goto=13495&th=1907#msg_13495
Jenneke wrote on Tue, 25 August 2020 16:41
Where did you find the patent of yours?
Hi Jenneke,
I found the design patent regarding the “gray egg” on google patents:
Searching for pre-1976 US design patents is a frustrating job. At least, you may find some on google, but only few. Obviously, google is using some kind of OCR technique making it possible to find some, but not all patents. The USPTO has - in principle - all design patents on its site, but you can find these pre-1976 patents there only by the number or by the US patent class. And that’s a sophisticated system, to say the least. Watch boxes can fall in US Patent class D03 or in D09, maybe in other classes, depending on the official who decided. Let’s take a look on D03 (“Carrier or Storage Container”):
The first Curvex box (US Design Patent No. 101,129) is in class D03/294 (“Enclosed - Hinged closure”), while the “gray egg” is classified in class D9/420:
As I said: sophisticated and if you don’t guess the matching class right, it’s next to impossible find the design patent you are after.
Well, I tried to find the “observatory” patent - without success.
Regards
Martin
]]>DRGM2020-08-27T16:42:26-00:00Re: Blue observatory
https://vintagegruen.org/vgforum/index.phpindex.php?t=rview&goto=13502&th=1907#msg_13502
And I would like a google search option for the site you suggested. 😂 that site is vast.]]>Jenneke2020-08-27T18:53:51-00:00Re: Blue observatory
https://vintagegruen.org/vgforum/index.phpindex.php?t=rview&goto=14056&th=1907#msg_14056
https://vintagegruen.org/vgforum/index.php?t=msg&th=1853 &start=0&]]>Jenneke2020-12-05T22:32:18-00:00